I belong to two garden clubs. One is associated with my church, and the other is within our neighborhood. I’ve been exposed to garden clubs and gardening since I was in elementary school. My mother joined her first garden club in her early 30’s (and was invited by her very first client!) I remember (not necessarily fondly) of making dish gardens and entering them in the flower shows. Mother tended to prod us to enter. I don’t recall ever winning a ribbon…did I Mother? I may have not been a fan of these dish gardens; however, my love for gardening has increased over the years.
Last night, I hosted Lily Garden Club which is associated with my church. It is a small group who not only loves to garden but enjoys each other’s company as well. We meet once a month listening to a speaker and then we have coffee and dessert. As we sat on the porch, our speaker, Susan, enlightened us with irises. The program was very informative…
Susan brought samples of iris bulbs from her garden. She explained the root system. The larger part of the bulb at the end is to be broken off; it’s referred to as the “mommy.”
The small white part at the base of this bulb is the start of a new flower.
This photo is of the “Dutch” iris. It comes in all colors. Plant in groups of 3 with the bulbs facing towards each other, and the leaves pointing outward. Plant irises on a mound like a mini raised bed with good soil. Fertilizing irises is important.
The “Siberian” iris can grow to 2-4 feet. It blooms in late March. It also likes to be planted in groups. Iris leaves stay green year round!
Here is an example of a small iris. It amazed me how tiny some irises can be!
The “Bearded” iris is a popular one. It’s call “bearded” due to the fuzzy part which you can see above. Bearded irises grow year round. There are 6 varieties that not only bloom at different times, but also have different heights from “miniature dwarf” to the “tall bearded.” They need full sun.
Stunning varieties!
The Iris Society here in LR takes care of this garden at our state’s capitol. Notice the round metal edging. This is an example of the mini raised bed. The edging protects the irises from the mulch and allows them to enjoy the rich soil.
And here they are in full bloom! A labor of love! All of the above information was learned and gathered from Susan! Thank you for informing us of this beautiful flower. Mother and I are particularly fond of the iris. The iris is also known as a “fleur-de-lis” which is one of our Kappa Kappa Gamma symbols!
After the program, I served Pumpkin Dump Cake, and the Pumpkin Pudding was also offered!
Here is the recipe for the Pumpkin Dump Cake…easy and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz. can Pumpkin Puree
- 1 10 oz. can Evaporated Milk
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter melted
- 1 cup coarsely crushed walnuts
- 1/2 cup toffee bits
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Spray a 9×13 baking pan lightly with cooking/baking spray
- In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine.
- Pour into your prepared pan.
- Sprinkle your entire box of cake mix on top, followed by your nuts or graham crackers and toffee chips.
- Pour your melted butter evenly on top.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set and edges are lightly browned.
Serve with ice cream or whipped cream (or the Pumpkin Pudding too)!
This cake received rave reviews! Another easy recipe to add to your collection!
So, do you have irises in your garden?
Enjoy the day!
Jana