#anirisadayformay This is Star Shine (Jesse Wills, 1947) toughing it out in style against a mass of weeds we never got around to tackling.

#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 continues with this cheerful fellow: Charlie (Cayeux, 2011). Very tall and handsome, flowers well spaced out along the stem and the white and plum purple contrast stands out at a distance.

#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.

#anirisadayformay a late bloomer, Lark Rise (Bartlett, 1993). Lovely fresh effect and elegant height.

A shout out to Greg Treverton-Jones for success upholding an important decision on costs for solicitors confronted with disciplinary proceedings: SRA v Tsang [2024] EWHC 1150 (KB) (Admin). Delay a relevant factor in whether (exceptionally) costs should be recovered against the SRA.

#anirisadayformay Silk Road (Keppel, 2007) - flowers smaller than some of the American Divas but with full on couture ruffles and a harmonious colour scheme of pale gold and violet. Plus as today’s bonus, one of the climbing roses and a peony…

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!

So much distraction around us but here is your #anirisadayformay - Libellule de Solagne (Bourdillon, 2015). This type of flower, where the beards are elaborated into flamboyant extensions, is known as a “space-ager”. Shades of Star Trek, or should that be Star Wars?

#anirisadayformay after a morning reviewing Vennels’s evidence in the PO enquiry, I needed a change of scenery. Here is Haut Les Voiles (Cayeux, 1999). The names evokes a ship in full sail on a blue sea. Still looking good though we are practically at the end of iris season.

#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.

#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!

#anirisadayformay a mystery guest who snuck in to our display beds labelled as “Argus Pheasant” (which it is not). Clearly a very lovely historic iris - the falls (= iris nerd word for lower petals) are a dark red velvet with an almost green reflection like shot silk. Name?

It’s a last hurrah for this year’s #anirisadayformay. But here are some gorgeous spuria irises taking on the show after the bearded irises have packed up. (And if you have been inspired to support my iris habit(!) you can come holiday on the farm: casanovaumbria.eu) 😉

Happy May Day! Each year for the last few years I have posted #anirisaday4May - photos of the irises in our collection to spread a little joy. This year they will only be on the instagram account for our little Iris nursery (@irisumbria) but here is one Iris to cheer your day.