by 
By Jennifer R. Carnes
Spring has sprung. Pops of purple and white can be found throughout all of Oracle – from carefully manicured yards to cactus and weed infested fields.
The Iris happens to be my favorite flower. I love the blue and purple blooms with the gorgeous yellow heart. And the white blooms have this pure radiant beauty.
My mom always had a flowerbed full of Irises. Hers were just beautiful.
So when we moved to the Tri-Community and experienced our first spring, I was blown away by the sheer number of Irises that could be found everywhere! Even this year, I’ve stopped while on my Wednesday route to ask folks with an abundance of these flowers if they’d be willing to share some with me.
Last year, Doug Johnson was super kind and sent me home with several rhizomes to plant in my own garden and to enjoy. I am proud to say that I’ve had several already bloom this spring.
According to Wikipedia, Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. It is a popular garden flower.
Samantha Green of Proflowers.com says, “With history dating back to Greek mythology, irises come in a rainbow of colors, the most popular being the deep blue variety. Their primary meanings include faith, hope, wisdom, courage, and admiration.
“With striking uniqueness and beauty, irises have rich meanings, and when given as gifts, they can convey deep sentiments. With over 200 varieties in a wide spectrum of colors, the iris, which fittingly takes its name from the Greek word for “rainbow,” can be found in virtually every part of the world, growing both naturally and in farms. While garden irises can come in any of these many varieties, the flower’s cut versions are mostly blue (the most popular type), white, and yellow.
“Through its intricate history, the meanings of the iris has come to include faith, hope, and wisdom. Depending on factors such as color and region, irises may bear additional meanings as well. In some parts of the world, the dark blue or purple iris can denote royalty, whereas the yellow iris can be a symbol of passion. Irises may also express courage and admiration. The many meanings of the iris makes the flower a great choice for an array of gift giving occasions: corporate, sympathy, get well, just because, and birthday are just some of the occasions for which irises might be the perfect choice.
“Today, the iris is the state flower of Tennessee, and the fleur-de-lis is the emblem for the city of New Orleans. Irises are cultivated all over the world, and they can be found naturally in Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia, and North America.”
But what I want to know is from where did the Oracle Irises come? I’ve heard one story that one of the original founders of the community loved Irises and brought them with her when she moved to the area. Another person said they grow naturally.
Do you know how they came to Oracle? We want to hear your story. Post your stories on our Facebook page at www.FB.com/copperarea. Or email them to editor@minersunbasin.com.
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