My world is green again and the gardens are bursting forth, such a joyful time of year. Today’s vase holds old and new cultivars of Bearded Iris; the purple (I. pallida) came with the house over 35 years ago and smells deliciously like grapes. The white (I. germanica x) I bought so long ago, I don’t remember its name, but a favorite all the same. Three globes of Allium aflatunense ‘Purple Sensation’ and Corydalis chelidoniifolia as a filler complete the arrangement.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts the weekly garden meme In A Vase On Monday, featuring flowers from our gardens. Click the link to join the fun or see what others are sharing this week.
Eliza Waters 
Could the purple iris be Iris pallida? It is very popular from old gardens.
It could be, it is scented, and the leaves are also more of a blue colour than the usual green.
Yes, your description fits that of Iris pallida, which smells like grape soda.
Yes!
Yes, thanks, Tony. Apparently, an heirloom from 1600, named Iris pallida ‘Dalmatica’.
I believe that they are technically known as Dalmatian iris, but I know them as grape pop iris. I got mine from my maternal maternal great grandmother.
Thanks, Tony. What a great gift!
Your iris is so lovely! That colour is amazing.
Thank you, Maria! 🙂
So beautiful, and another great vase.
Thank you, Julie!
The allium is gorgeous. It’s interesting that the iris has a grape-like scent. Our purple Texas mountain laurel flowers smell like grape bubble gum; I wonder if other purple flowers have that scent.
Apparently, that one is a 1600 heirloom from the Dalmatian coast. That is some history!
To beat Monday blues 😍.
Yes, indeedy! Thanks, Rupali. 🙂
Look at the size of those things. Beautiful, magic in a vase! 🤗❤️🙏
Thank you, Mark. So nice to bring the garden inside for enjoying up close. 🙂
such a lovely combination, Eliza…
Thank you, J & A!
Lovely to be enjoying your gorgeous irises. I love them but they make such a fleeting appearance, ours have gone over now. They look great with the alliums.
Thank you, Liz. Iris are about peak here; the garden is coming into its own at last.
Bearded irises are a favourite of mine with a growing collection here. They have such delicate and intricate markings. Purple sensation has also always been in flower here in the garden at the same time as the Iris, like yours, making a lovely combination.
I think it is Iris pallida ‘Dalmatica’, it fits the description.
Lovely. I pulled in to pick up a friend on Saturday, and she had a circle planting of dark purple and bright yellow Iris in full bloom. It was a spectacular sight.
Thank you, Judy. Spring is a knockout season! 🤩
So lovely Eliza! You are catching us up rapidly! And I can see how green your garden is in the background! 😁
Thank you, Cathy. After visiting the dry climate of CA, the lushness is stunning!
Spring sprang!! Finally. A glorious bouquet. 💜
Thank you, Catherine!
Plants have such staying power. They can carry on even when a new owner moves in. At my childhood, yellow iris have always been there along with purple columbine. The house has been in the family for 68 years and is 100 years old.
So true, every time I see sweet william, I think of my grandfather, sweet memories.
What a cheerful and pretty arrangement!
Thank you, Barbara. It is fun creating from my garden once again. 💕
What a beautiful and classic spring bouquet, Eliza.
Thank you, Monika!
What a glorious vase to start the week Eliza! 💜✨️ xxx
Thank you, Xenia! xx
I love iris. I have only a couple in my garden, don’t know why I don’t have more. Right now a beautiful one is in bloom. I got it from my neighbor last year. I kind of want to ask her for more. 🙂 I’ve tried painting iris (not painting the actual flower itself, painting an IMAGE of an iris) and they are so complicated that I’ve never gotten it right.
Every year when the iris bloom, I feel the same. So many different cultivars, it’s like being in an ice cream shop trying to decide on a flavor!
I’m so glad your garden is awakening and I’m looking forward to more beautiful arrangements, Eliza.
Thank you, Sandy! A happy time of year. 🙂
Indeed.
So pretty! 😊
Thank you, Pepper!
Love, love, love it. I do not remember Iris being fragrant. Does the allium smell oniony?
Thank you, Amy.. The old varieties are fragrant, but not as many of the newer ones. Alliums always are pungent to me!
It’s sad how much fragrance has been bred out of flowers.
Oh, I love this arrangement! So purple, so pretty!
Thank you, Tina. Purplelicious! 😉
😎😍🤩🤗💜
Thank you, Susan!
Welcome back and such a pretty vase of your bounty. I hate cutting mine 🙂
Thank you, Eunice!
I wish bearded Iris did as well in my garden! I should take a trip down to the treacherous lower slope, though, as it’s the only part of my garden where those flowers bloom reliably to see if they’re doing anything.
Thank you, Kris. Be careful if you head down there!
The purple and white shades look so stylish together – and I love the addition of that corydalis, Does it stay that creamy colour, or is it a yellow variety?
Thank you, Cathy. The corydalis pretty much stays that colour and is long blooming. I was originally attracted to its grey-green, ferny foliage, but yikes, each plant yields a gazillion seeds. It can really take over!
Hmm, that sounds like a warning!
Yes, m’am!
So pretty. Irises can’t be beat–I just love them. I have a similar one and settled on its being Iris pallida also, that grape-like fragrance is a bonus.
Thank you, Susie. Such a addictive scent, I can’t get enough!
Beautiful. I adore bearded iris and miss mine. In this garden I have one Siberian iris which is just starting to bloom.
Thank you, Donna. I do love iris, but wish that they bloomed longer!
That purple is so pretty! I used to have some iris that were a similar color to these. They’ve disappeared over time; I think our hot summer did them in. This is a stunning arrangement, Eliza!
Thank you, Tina. I’ve noticed that some iris are hardier than others, the fussier ones seem to resent competition, like divas wanting the spotlight all to themselves! 😉
Yay to a green world! 🥳💗
I’m a happy gardener. 🙂
Historical beauty 💜💜💜
Thank you, Karen!
What a gorgeous combination! You must be so happy with your gardens. (Yup, in Junk mail!)
Thanks, Alice. Yes, I’ve noticed WP is acting up again, putting proper comments in my spam file. Comments drop down is weird, too. Sigh…
What a delight and the vase complements the arrangement so well 😊
Thank you, Belinda!
So lovely! I can almost smell the purple irises.
Thank you, Laurie! They’re a lovely scent.
The irises and allium go so well together – lovely!
Thank you, Flavia!
I really love Irises – the flower shape is so intriguingly different from the multitudes of daisy-like flowers that, while also nice, can get repetitive… and I can’t believe I just used the word ‘nice’ to describe a flower…
‘Nice’ works for me! 😉 Thanks, Chris.
Love the arrangements and the splendid irises. And allium!
Thank you, Tom!
So pretty! Irises are one of my favorite flowers
My last post was all irises
Thanks, I only wish they bloomed longer!
These purples and whites work so well together. You’ve created a gorgeous vase.
My fairy-garden imagination wants to play in the “tent” formed by your tall, lavender iris. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Thank you, Alys. Lots of fun flowers to play in these days! 🙂 🧚🏻
We’ll be right over. 🧚
A lovely celebration of a garden in full bloom 💜The mix of irises, alliums, and corydalis feels like a quiet reminder of how time, memory, and beauty grow together in the same soil simple, graceful, and full of life.
Thank you. 🙂