Tough Beauties

By Felicia Fredd Enchanted Garden Productions

Image: Enchanted Garden Productions

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been gifted about 300 German Iris bulb divisions. This was not in my plan, and yet I couldn’t resist because I picked them out myself about 20 years ago. They are exactly my kind of gorgeous. There are deep rich colors, light transparent colors, early bloomers, late bloomers, repeat bloomers, etc., and more than enough for an actual cutting garden.

I haven’t been too keen on making garden articles focused on how-to garden tips, or even best plants for this or that - unless they’re native - because although I work with plants, I consider what I do to be spatial design. I’m not a horticulturalist (more a plant lover), and I’m most interested in sharing ways to minimize most of the how-to garden chores in the first place by focusing on two things: spatial design, and native plants.
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However, I’m not a purist, and I’ve come to appreciate how multifunctional bulbs can be throughout the growing season. As I am short on time, I thought I could just say a few words about some of the most enjoyable bulbs I have found for local gardens: