The black iris is amazing in that at sometimes it appears black while at others it appears a rich purple.  I first became entranced in this flower a few years back when I was going through a dark stage.  My garden was full of pink and red but I wanted something deeper and richer. 

One of the most beautiful flowers they do not fair well when cut.  If you cut one of these and put it in the vase it turns the water an inky blue and then furls up and dies.  It is not a flower to be cut and gifted.  It is a plant that needs to be with its root.  At least this variety and color do.  This is a tuberous plant which populates on its own.  The picture above was started with two tubers 3 years ago.  They keep growing and growing. A great plant to grow if you want to get a strong plant that will fill space and be beautiful,

Random Black Iris Facts:  It is the national flower of Jordan

There is nothing like a rose.  A nice fat garden rose. Scents can range from a true rose scent to a violet or citrus smell.  No other flower has such a color or fragrance range.  No other flowers elicits such love as a rose.   

According to fossils the rose is 35 million years old.   Over the years it has evolved through both nature and science to survive most climates and soils.  Roses will grow almost anywhere. There are over 30,000 varieties of Roses.

Roses have a long history of being sought after and loved.   In the seventeenth century roses were in such high demand that roses and rose water were considered as legal tender. In this capacity they were used as barter in the markets as well as for any payments the common people had to make to royalty.  Imagine today if we could make payments with rosewater. Hmm…

In Healdsburg we have the ultimate Rose lovers dream, The Russian River Rose company.      They are open to the public on certain weekends.  They have a demonstration garden as well as a nursery.  One of my favorite spots in the scent bench.  It is basically a bench surrounded by the most fragrant of the roses.  It is a fantastic place to sit, relax and inhale. 

I like to take my son to the garden at least once a year.  We go flower by flower smelling each one and talking about what it smells like.  Very few roses smell like a traditional rose.  Some smell like cinnamon or chocolate or lemons.  There is quite a wide range.  It has helped him identify notes in wine much better (he just smells it).  They have over 600 rose varieties so needless to say it is at least a few hour excursion. 

They also make perfume at the Russian River rose company.  You can actually do a perfume experience where you make your own perfume from the roses.

If you are a rose enthusiast this is the place to go.  I have bought many roses from them over the years and they are the roses I have that do the best.  If you like climber they have one called fairy which is amazing.  I planted one 3 years ago and it has climbed into the redwood next to it over 60 feet and is trailing into our neighbors yard as well as ours.  Luckily we both love roses.

No, apparently my friends field is not common.  Sweet Peas are not easy to find or easy to grow.  They are a fickle flower that with too much or not enough sun will die or just plain out refuse to grow.  I have given up on trying to grow them for now.  My backyard is a haven for sweet pea death as is my front yard, side yard, windowsill, etc…

The lady who I bought these from at the Farmers market told me that she even has difficulty with them even after 65 years of growing them.  That small bouquet is $5 which is a deal! They do not last long.  I would say 6 days at best whereas the Peony will last over a week if given fresh water and lightly trimmed.

They are one of the most delicious smelling flowers in the world.  A room full of sweet peas is perfection.  Good luck though finding a room full.  This is not a flower that you can buy at any florists.  Trust me I have tried.  If I could have sweet peas delivered every week I would.  It is not possible though.  This is a flower where you need connections or a local farmers market.  The sweet pea has been around since before the 1800′s.  It was quite the popular flower in late 1800′s England.  It is  the flower associated with the Edwardian age. 

In the language of flowers sweet peas are associated with blissful pleasure and childhood innocence.