Two popular flowers that are in bloom right now are iris and peony. Generally speaking, they hit full bloom right around Memorial Day (sometimes give or take a few days).
I wasn’t sure if my iris would still be in bloom and if my peonies would be open for the holiday, but it looks like they will be just about perfect.
There are a couple of species of iris that are in bloom now and are the most common grown, the bearded and the Siberian.
Bearded iris has larger flowers than the other two and come in a wide range of colors. In fact, with so much breeding for color, bearded iris come in almost every color combination you can think of.
My grandma Esther always called bearded iris “flags,” a well-known common name for this plant.
Siberian irises bloom around the same time and have smaller petals and a large clump of them can be quite showy. These plants have fibrous roots as opposed to the fleshy, thick roots of the bearded iris.
Siberian iris can spread easily from seed (I have lots of little seedlings that I pull each spring since I don’t really want them to spread) and benefit from dividing around every three to four years.
Siberian irises are also great for damp areas and can be grown around the edge of a water feature or pond.
Peonies make great cut flowers and smell wonderful as well. The foliage of peonies looks great all summer in the perennial garden. Be sure to deadhead (remove the dead flower) the plant to keep it looking good all season.
The idea that the peony blooms need ants in order to open up is just a myth. The ants are attracted to the sweet nectar secreted by the bud. If you are going to bring a bouquet in the house, simply turn the flowers upside down and gently shake to remove ants.
There are a few other flowers and plants that look pretty good right now and can be used in mixed containers to place on a gravesite.
The perennial salvia is in full bloom now and looks good in an arrangement. The spikey purple flowers add an upright dimension to the mix.
I also like to use hosta leaves as a filler around the outside of the container. They also add a little contrast in color if you use variegated or bluish-colored leaves.
Even if you don’t have an opportunity to decorate a gravesite this weekend, enjoy a bouquet of cut flowers in your home. And remember to thank a military member or Veteran for their service to our country, the greatest in the world.
I am proud to say that my husband is in the military (Air National Guard), and I thank him and all others for their sacrifices.
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