This does not seem to be a particulary good year for wildflowers. Most of the bluebonnet displays I have seen so far have been rather weak. But then I have been sticking pretty close to home lately. The roses and irises are what catch my attention here. Both are looking very good right now.

The latest edition of Texas Highways magazine came a few days ago and has an article about a big iris grower near here. The article says there is no true red iris. (Unfortunately the article is not online). That may be true but this one in my backyard seems awfully close to red. Perhaps a little rusty. An odd thing about it - the buds are a very dark navy, almost black, before they open. I don’t know the names of any of my iris varieties. All of them were pass-alongs.

There are more pictures of this month’s flowers in the photo gallery.

The magazine says that the iris grower is offering tours of their demonstration gardens over the next couple weekends. I may have to brave the crowds.

UPDATE: We visited the iris farm and saw one almost like this called Lady Friend. I think it is enough alike that I am going to assume that is what ours is.