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The Iris and daylily sale and Iris auction will be Saturday, July 28th from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Th3e auction for the premium iris will be at 1:00 pm.
It is held inside the Sugar House Garden Center at 1602 East 2100 South, inside Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake City.
Summary Perhaps no other plant has such beautiful flowers yet is so well-adapted to Utah's climate. These plants, sometimes called "poor man's orchids," are now in full bloom. These tough, but beautiful plants thrive in harsh, urban environments. They are remarkable survivors. Visit a neglected cemetery or an abandoned farmstead and see that these are one of the few surviving plants.
By carefully selecting the types and utilizing different microclimates, irises can grace a garden for many weeks. With the many different kinds, iris will blooms for several months in Utah. This area is a great place to grow irises as we do not have the serious insect and disease problems found in other areas of the country. Bearded irises are tolerant of drought and cold.
The traditional iris most commonly grown in Utah was the blue colored flags that were popular for Decoration Day (as Memorial Day was previously known). Through the years, the look of irises has changed and there are many newer types grown now.
This diverse group of plants has more than 200 species and thousands of cultivars, including one native type. From tiny bulbous iris to the tall bearded iris, they come in all sizes, shapes, colors and bloom times.
The iris is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow or messenger of the gods, who was depicted as a "radiant maiden born in the swift flight on golden wings." Her duties included leading the souls of dead women to the Elysian Fields. As a remembrance of this goddess, Greeks plant purple iris on the graves of women.
According to legend, Clovis I, king of the Franks, was being pursued by the Goths. They thought they had his army trapped by a river, but the king realized they could escape across the river where the irises were growing because the water was shallow there.
In gratitude he adopted the iris as his symbol. The symbol was later readopted by Louis VII, hence its becoming known as the flower of Louis, or fleur-de-lis.
Plant Description Iris blossoms have three upright petals (standards) and three hanging sepals (falls). Bearded irises
