Rainy season has set in. It usually runs from early June through mid-July with consecutive cloudy or rainy days occasionally accompanied by thunder and lightning. Hanashobu iris, or Iris ensata var. ensata, starts blooming with the arrival of rainy season.
"Iris" is from the word "rainbow" in Greek; Iris was the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow. From this, I've figured out why the plant "iris" shares the same name with the round colored part of a person's eye. The iris of the eye was named after her to reflect the many colors of the eye in
reference to a rainbow. The plant “iris” was given the same name probably referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.
There are many "rainbows" on earth under the leaden skies.
So far, I
have displayed the photos of 花菖蒲 Hanashobu, or Iris ensata var. ensata, which grows
in the wet land and is the most extensively cultivated variety in Japanese
gardens and is the most commonly referred to as “Japanese Iris”. However, the English term "Japanese
iris" encompasses three species of Irises cultivated in gardens or growing
wild in Japan: 花菖蒲 hanashōbu (Iris ensata), 杜若 kakitsubata (Iris laevigata) and 菖蒲 ayame
(Iris sanguinea), or maybe four species when シャガ Shaga (Iris japonica) is included.
The image below is Ayame iris which grows in wet meadows, damp forest margins, and or sunny dry banks.
It flowers from May to June.
Kakitsubata iris features pale purple-blue flowers at the margin of ponds, lakes, and streams, and flowers from May to June.
 |
| This photo is from Memories of Grandmother and kakitsubata iris. |
Shaga, Iris
japonica, commonly called fringed or Japanese irises, are perennial plants
native to China and Japan. They thrive along the edges of forests, on
rocky hillsides, and in moist, open grasslands, and so on. They are used as
ground cover plants because of their showy evergreen foliage.
Back to Hanashobu irises, they are in full bloom now.
They are more beautiful in the drizzly rain or right after the rain.
They are more beautiful in the drizzly rain or right after the rain.
Now I know when to visit your fabulous place - I love rain and irises which look amazing in your pictures! In my place they are mostly different shades of violet. I racked my brains but failed to remember a single haiku on these unique flowers. Yet, Basho said:
ReplyDeleteО, сколько их на полях!
Но каждый цветет по-своему, -
В этом высший подвиг цветка!
I'll try to render the meaning:
The variety of flowers is abundant, and each blooms in its own way, - that is its greatest deed.
Thank you, Yoko, have an enjoyable summer!
Thank you for these beautiful,beautiful photos. I love Iris and rain too - such a dream-like scene.
ReplyDeleteMary
Dear Yoko - I am delighted by the sight of your rainbows on earth and especially the double rainbows reflected in the water - really beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful varieties of irises. I love all the reflections, too. Such a peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteThese are such idyllic scenes, especially the top photo along the waterfront where reflections are framed by a big mossy branch. It is interesting to learn background information about how the flower relates to the human iris. Dark and pale shades of purple, blue, yellow and even reddish hues, indeed, can be found in flecks of eye colouring too.
ReplyDeleteおはようございます、洋子さん！
ReplyDeleteカラフルなバラの花の時期からみずみずしい花菖蒲の時期にはいりましたね。irisがギリシャ語の虹という言葉からきていたのですか。流石に言葉を大切にされる洋子さんだと思いました。どの写真もしっとりしていますね。さあ梅雨の時期どのように過ごそうかしらと、ふと思いました。
義理母は、まだ家の中をあるいて手がかかりまっすが、半分恍惚になって来まして、穏やかになりました。色々な段階があるのあと思っています。
Ｈａｖｅ ａ ｇｏｏｄ ｄａｙ！
Gorgeous shots of the iris - and how lovely to think of them as rainbows with petals.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a floral paradise ! I love it ! Just an amazing place !
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Sunday !
Gorgeous iris !!! And pictures !!! I have some but not as beautiful !!!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely Sunday !
Anna
beautiful earth rainbows they are!
ReplyDeleteAdmiring those gorgeous blooms and scenic views.
ReplyDeleteVad vackert jag bara älskar irisar det finns många i min koloni. de du visar är så fina speciellt den första ljusa med svagt lila i.
ReplyDeleteDen skulle jag vilja ha hos mig. Får gå på irisjakt.
Här är kallt blåsigt och regn mellan solglimtarna Jag fryser och snart åker vinterjackan på. Det är inte många dagar vi suttit ute och ätit eller fikat.I fredags kväll var en av de få underbara kvällarna vi haft vi satt ute till 11 och bara njöt.
Hoppas att värmen kommer och med den solen Nu räcker det med allt regn och blåst
Önskar dig en fin och bra tid trotts regnperioden
Kram Meta
Amazing post...
ReplyDeleteso beautiful, like in fairy-tale!
ReplyDeleteこんばんは。 いつも、写真がとても美しいです。３番目の写真がとても好きです。 菖蒲、この言葉ほど、困った文字は中々ありません。 アヤメと読めば、文目、綾目、があるのに、と言われ、ショウブと読めば、それは、サトイモ科の別の植物だ、しょうぶ湯、のあれだよ。と言われてしまいます。
ReplyDeleteシャガは３倍体、３倍体は弱い植物の代名詞ですが、シャガはその反対です。 ３倍体が絶滅しやすいというなら、シャガはどうなんだ、といつも反論されます。
植物の多様性でしょうか。 アイリスが虹から来ているのですか。 素敵ですね。
Wow Yoko, they are really gorgeous! I love the variety of colours....and the reflections.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely summer,
Ruby
I do love irises. Our only native (wild) ones are, I think, yellow flag irises, which make a beautiful bright splash of colour in streams and at the edges of ponds. In Greece I always like to see the tiny dark blue irises which come out in March, together with red tulips and many other flowers in uncultivated fields. .
ReplyDeleteIrises are one of my favourite late spring flowers. So many colours, some small and some stately and tall. I had some in my garden when I lived in my big house, but the house is sold now, along with the irises. I hope the new owners are caring for my lovely iris! Your pictures are truly lovely.
ReplyDeleteIrises are one of my favourite late spring flowers. So many colours, some small and some stately and tall. I had some in my garden when I lived in my big house, but the house is sold now, along with the irises. I hope the new owners are caring for my lovely iris! Your pictures are truly lovely.
ReplyDeleteYoko, you invited us to a marvelous iris party, thank you! We came and we are thrilled by all this beauty, these pretty hues of blue and purple, the elegance of the irises. They are princesses and reign in their special period of season time. Each one gorgeous on its own. We have to bow to nature for producing them, and be so thankful for all these wonders in our lives.
ReplyDeleteYour photos, Yoko-san, are masterpieces as always!
Beautiful, fabulous view. The flowers are beautifully and viewing the water while enjoying your Iroda. Regards.
ReplyDeleteYour photos of the beautiful iris are stunning. Each iris, in whatever color, is a unique flower. My cousin in France has many irises in her garden, many are dark red. It must be difficult to stop taking photos of those iris and their surroundings in your area – truly enchanting!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen so many varieties of iris! And your photos are like exquisite paintings as you wrap the lushness of the flowers and the surroundings into works of art! Thank you for sharing all of this glory.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for all of your kind comments! You asked a question about the license plate on the Rolls Royce. In Florida, contrary to the practice of some states, you need a license plate only on the rear of the car. Thus, many people put a "vanity" plate of some kind on the front of the car. Yes, I know, we are very strange folks! :)
Hope that you and your family are well. We're doing fine and enjoying every moment!
Really wonderful photos!
ReplyDelete今更ながらなんですけど、アイリスは日本語で花菖蒲とういうのですか、、、なるほど。 無知ですみません。 えっ？あやめでも通じるんですか？ アイリスは日本的な花なんだなあ、いや日本の風景に良く似合ってる。 優雅で気高い感じも好きです。 今回も超素敵な写真ばかりです。 オレゴンには梅雨がありませんので、楽なんですけど、このところ日差しが強くて、芝生が茶色になってきています。雨が降ってほしいです。 コメントがまとまらなくて、ランダムになってしまいました。すみません。
ReplyDeleteOH my, i am in love
ReplyDeleteyour photos
these flowers
they are sublime!
Amazing photos by the pond.
ReplyDeleteHugs
blueshell.azurara.net
So many Iris to enjoy! The damp days are brightened by these frilly blooms. Not only can you enjoy the flowers, but you have watery reflections that are also quite lovely. There are wild Iris blooming now in our high altitude forests, but only small clumps of them, nothing like you have shown in your photographs.
ReplyDeleteDear Yoko,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry I didn't have the time in the last weeks to come by and visit your blog. The end of the school year is very busy here...
But I am glad to come by today and see such a beautiful scenery, in the first picture the place looks a little bit enchanted :-) Such beautiful flowers and pictures!
All the best,
Ioana