We would like to share with you
our bearded "White Iris."  It was
taken in the Huntington Botanical
Gardensin San Marino, California.
Everything about this bloom is
perfect and it stands tall and proud symbolizing purity.

On May 8th we will celebrate Iris Day.  The iris has been a floral icon for many cultures and has inspired beautiful paintings and perfume.  The name Iris comes from the Greek word for goddess of the rainbow.  Many Greeks viewed Iris as an important link between mortals and the realm of the gods. She used the rainbow to move between heaven and earth.  In the ancient world the Indian and Egyptian cultures used the iris for medicinal purposes and the manufacture of perfume. 

Centuries later, the practice of using dried iris rhizomes was a major industry in the 19th century in Florence, Italy.  The iris became the emblem of Florence.  In Germany iris roots were hung in barrels of beer to keep the beer fresh.  Juice squeezed from the plant can be used to improve the condition of the skin.  In Japan, irises were admired as a symbol of purity, cleansing and protection from any evil energies.  This is why irises can often be found in kimono fabrics, woodblocks and many other items.  In Japan on Iris Day, people put iris leaves in their baths to prevent illness.  They also drink juice from the plant in their Sake to ensure longevity.   

The creator or origin of this day is unknown but appears to be of Japanese origin.Most iris species originate from the temperate zones of Europe and Asia.  They are perennial plants and are available in white, yellow, orange, pink, purple, lavender, blue or brown.  The purple iris is symbolic of wisdom and royalty.  Yellow irises symbolize passion.  The blue iris symbolizes faith and hope while the white iris symbolizes purity. 

The shape of the iris's blossom is one of its most desirable and notable traits.  They have an interesting sword-like shape with billowy petals surrounding an erect bloom.  The delicate petals move elegantly in the wind so that the Chinese word for iris translates to "the purple butterfly."  The shape and brilliant colors of the iris has spawned many different patterns and emblems, such as Fleur de Lis creating decorative ornaments for royalty such as scepters and coats of arms. 

The two largest iris gardens are in Florance, Italy and Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in New Jersey.  The most recognizable form of the iris in art comes from the famed Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh.  In May 1889 Van Gohn painted irises in the garden of an asylum on the outskirts of Saint-Remy-de Provence after mutilating his ear, following a row with Gauguin in the Yellow House in Aries.  He carefully studied their movements and shapes to create a variety of curved silhouettes bounded by wavy, twisting and curling lines.

The iris is the symbol of Brussels.  It is also the flower for the 25th. wedding anniversary.  It is the February birth flower.  The Fleur-de-lis is the emblem for the city of New Orleans.  The purple iris is the state flower of Tennessee.