Iris in the garden in May

 the 9th of May  in the back corner of the cutting garden with the rosemary in bloom also. I have moved this tall bearded iris all of the garden.  I have lost the name of it.   

 The 17  of May with the white columbines in front of it.  Again, in the Cutting garden.

 The 17th of May in the driveway strip.  It is holding its own in this area where there are self seeded chicory, st. John's wort, arabis,  roses, nasty black berries and other vigorous plants to compete.

the 17th of May shows the dutch irises in the area where the plum tree stump is.  You can see the lovely silvery leaved willow that is next to the pond.  A day ago, I moved the lantern to this bed.  I am thinking of moving these taller plants to the other side of the pond where they will be backed by the green hedging cedars. 

The 24th of May, again, in the cutting garden.  They have a long bloom period and are going to be good in bouquets.   

 May 24th.  This lovely dutch iris is in the boulevard garden in the west side rectangle with the silver leaved lychnis.  I have the boulevard garden mostly cleaned up now.  The lychnis is in bloom.

More of the Dutch irises by the pond  on the 24th of May.  I bought an inexpensive bag of mixed dutch iris.  Of course they are not the best.  You get what you pay for. 

 The lovely tall bearded iris along the driveway strip in front of the cedars.

 Another photo of the dutch iris in the pond area.  Looking at this photo, I can see where they are too tall; especially with the lantern there now, and the wrong color.

 This is the yellow water iris in the tub in the woodland.

 The west side rectangle of the boulevard garden.  More on the boulevard garden later.

 I do have a nicely colored dutch iris in the pond area.  It blooms before the water irises that are a very similar color.  The water irises are almost finished blooming now, though.

 A tall bearded iris in the driveway strip.  It is all this royal blue color, very tall and flopping over every year.   There is also an all golden tall bearded iris beside this one.  I shall have to move them. Not sure where I will find the room, though.

 GAS PLANT DICTAMNUS Albus
    Growing gas plants (Dictamnus albus) reach a height of about 4 feet tall with quite
    woody stems at the base. In the early summer, June and July, Dictamnus gas plant blooms
    with long, spikes of white flowers set off by glossy green leaves. Once the flowers have
    faded, spectacular seedpods remain that are commonly used in dried floral arrangements.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Dictamnus Gas Plant Information – Tips For Growing Gas Plants https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gas-plants/growing-gas-plants.htm
    Once gas plant has been established, it should not be moved or any attempt made to divide it.
    At maturation after several years, the growing gas plant will appear as a clump with stunning
    stands of flowers poking from amongst its foliage. When it comes to gas plant garden care,
    the growing gas plants prefer consistent irrigation, but can withstand periods of drought
    once they are established. Slightly alkaline soil is preferable for more vibrant and vigorous
    plants as well as areas of cool evening temperatures.
    This herbaceous perennial may also be listed as dittany or fraxinella, members of the Rutaceae
    family. Some patience is necessary when growing gas plants as they take several years to mature.
    The strongly citrus-scented flowers and foliage may cause an allergic skin reaction in some people
    and seems to be repellent to deer. Gas plant is a non-aggressive and non-invasive specimen. Gas
    plants can be found in several different varieties such as: ‘Purpureus’ with its mauve-purple
    blooms and deep purple veins ‘Caucasicus,’ which is a taller varietal at up to 4 feet tall ‘Rubra,’
    which blooms with lovely rose pink flowers
    Mine is white and grows in front of the cedar hedge by the sun dial circle.  There is a hebe, some valerine, and campanula all in this same area by the star magnolia shrub.  Its amazing that it 
survives at all.  It hardly ever gets watered in our dry summers.  I will have to give it some compost and more water this summer.  The other day I gave these plants some compost from the old compost bin.  I hope to find another gas plant to get established somewhere in the garden where it can be a feature plant.

The common name, "perennial bachelor buttons," originates from the fact that bachelors traditionally inserted these flowers in their buttonholes when calling upon their lady friends. Centaurea montana and Centaurea macrocephala are perennials, but there is an annual bachelor button (Centaurea cyanus).  The bees like them.  But that is not enough for me to keep them around the garden, except maybe a few in the woodland.  They are very agressive and have taken over any garden bed where I let them grow.