Irises - Beautiful, but Could be a Problem . . .

One of my favorite flowers is the Iris! My grandma always had such beautiful Irises - since I now live in what was once her house, each year I get to enjoy her irises when they bloom all over again - which is even more of a treat since they were my grandma's irises to begin with! So, as I thought about which flowers to write about this Spring, of course I had to include the Iris - did you know . . .

• Irises were named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow - which makes sense since they come in so many beautiful colors!
• There are nearly 300 species that bloom in almost every color except red. 
• Historically, the iris has been used not only for its beauty but also for its scent.
• While they are beautiful, it's important to note that all parts of the iris plant are toxic to humans and pets if ingested, causing stomach irritation.
• The bloom consists of three upright petals ("standards") and three hanging petals ("falls").
• "Yellow Flag Irises" are able to purify water and remove heavy metals, but they are classified as an invasive species as they spread easily and crowd out other plants.

You will find more fun facts about the Iris at this link.