No apologies for another post focusing on the Iris as they are the highlight of the spring garden. The tall bearded have come into their own in the last 2 weeks, sadly fading now, but they provide so much colour between spring bulbs and tree blossom and the summer flowers.

In the Stone Circle at the end of the parking lot, planted to discourage visiting tradesman from driving over the piping to the geothermie, Secret Rites was the first to appear

Next was Brasero

then “Caramel Delicieux”,

not sure this one is in the best place, it shines out well against the dark green leaves of the Punica, but looks slightly out of place with the other shades in the bed and might be better alongside the other “unusual shades” iris at the drive corner, I may move it in the autumn.

Last in this bed, Poivron Rouge

In the “Hot” bed, planted to conceal the excavations of the fosse, first out were Bold God and Feu Follet

then, a more apricot shade, Amplified

and moving to the coppers, Tabac Blond

and last, rather overwhelmed by the grasses and probably needing rescuing, my favourite in this bed, Hermes,

somehow makes me think more of a silk scarf from an expensive Parisian shop than the winged messenger of the gods!

Jaques Couer and Futuriste in the Mediterranean Garden were quickly followed by Lumarco

and a very lovely gold standard, gold and pink falls iris which I cannot identify

Bois Précieux was a gorgeous deep red, but this year produced only a single spike which fell foul of a passing gale, but I have hopes for it next year.

Next was Haut les Voiles

which has proved substantially more wind resistant, and last in the Med Garden Gold Galore

The blues in the beds beyond the pool have been disappointing this year, probably because I thinned and divided them last autumn, and flowering in the lower terraces has been patchy, with the exception of the planting of Hot Spiced Wine and Rustic Royal which have finally established at the end of Walnut Terrace