Several more Professor Neil irises opened up for me today, eliciting squeals of delight.

(Good thing no one else was in the garden to hear me!)

I think I got better color on these. They are such a warm, plum-like, burgundy-color that I really can’t describe them.

Suffice it to say that they looks so rich and velvet-y that I can’t get enough of them.

That’s why I am gushing about them and why they are getting two posts in as many days.

Guess it’s no secret who my favorites are in the garden, is it? But then, we all have favorites, don’t we?

And disappointments.

Like this next iris.

This is supposed to be a vibrant tall bearded iris called “Ocelot.” If you look at this link to Dave’s Garden, you will see it has a rich buttery color, combined with a royal purple.

Sadly, that is NOT what bloomed in my garden today. I was so careful to choose the iris colors in this bed, and then I’m foiled again by Mother Nature. Sigh.

It’s pretty and delicate, but it’s just a little too subtle to be anywhere in the neighborhood of the engaging Professor Neil, don’t you think?

Maybe it’s our conditions – heat, drought, never-ending rain and then colder than you can imagine for Central Texas. Hmmm… Mother Nature again.

Maybe it’s my soil. Black clay. Hmmm…Mother Nature.

So, has Mother Nature foiled your garden color schemes, too? Who do we see about this?!

I want to know where to file my complaint!