In the field today: our resident hare (happily he does not munch the irises) and the sun coming out ready for what promises to be the weekend of peak bloom. Come find us at IrisUmbria.it!

For Sunday’s #anirisadayformay I am cheating and giving you a whole bunch. I went out to the field early this morning and was inspired to go full tuxedo and come back with this colour scheme: Skating Party, Ombre, Master Touch, Madeira Belle and other whites and near blacks.

An exciting day today at IrisUmbria.it - a group from the British Iris Society British Iris Society visiting and also Augusto Bianco and friends fresh from sweeping the major prizes at the annual Iris competition in Florence. Lots of chat about what makes a really good Iris

#anirisadayformay if you like dark and mysterious you’ll love Ombre (Bourdillon 2004). But also here is the comparison with Belle Hortense (Cayeux 2009). Same dark palette but transformed by the bright orange beard for a totally different and cheerier vibe…

#anirisadayformay Elizabethan Age (Baumunk, 2005) - petals as if a watercolourist had washed them over with successive layers of pigment. Unlike some modern cultivars this is a robust and well behaved plant growing vigorously in the field as well as in the garden.

Whereas I am enjoying these amazing balls of black tea I was gifted by a mentee, whose mother brought them from China. There seems to be an entire tea bush in each of them. Just what is needed after a day in the iris field and nursery garden.

Larkrise - one of the later bloomers looking fabulous today.

The frogs and the nightingale duelling it out…

The downpours that enlivened Rishi Sunak’s announcement this afternoon also arrived here and kept me out of the iris field so here is a pic from last week- #anirisadayformay Brazenberry (Sterling Innerst 1999), a lovely bright, rich purple and grows like a weed. Fab in my book!

#anirisadayformay We are close to the end of the season here, as everything started earlier than usual. Matinata (Schreiner, 1966) is always one of the very last to flower, normally flowering into early June here in Umbria. Elegantly tailored flowers in a deep, rich purple.

#anirisadayformay this historic iris, Marquita (Cayeux, 1931) is one of our later flowering irises. The flowers masquerade as creamy lotus flowers when they first begin to open but then the lower petals reflex downward revealing the strawberry striations on their upper surface.

#anirisadayformay Au Sommet (Cayeux, 2013) blooming amongst the wild chamomile at the bottom of the field - Just starting when practically all the others have finished.

Lovely Louvois - small but perfect…

#anirisadayformay Stepping Out (Schreiners 1964) pretty frills edged in purple, like a prom dress (but late to the ball…)

#anirisadayformay Medici Prince (Schreiner 2007) - another one that makes a late entrance onto the stage, arrayed on a truly Florentine red velvet. Penultimate iris for this year!

Iris season almost done but other garden stars just limbering up…echinaceas take a bow!

Someone forgot to tell Medici Prince that the iris party is over - oh wait, here come the spuria irises!

Come and find us at stand 33, Orto Botanico, Roma, until 29 September. 40 varieties of irises ready for you to plant out. Something for every taste!

Next weekend (5-6 October) we will be having a flash sale of our irises and olive oil at the iris nursery: 10.30-12.30, 2-5. Enjoy a garden visit and pick up some irises for your own garden- it’s perfect weather for planting at the moment. irisumbria.it

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025 from all of us at Casa Nova. Snow capped mountains behind us today but it has been glorious sunshine and the irises are sleeping peacefully in the fields!