Iris Season

I used to know someone who loved iris. Every time I see one now I think of her. Such great memories! Gone are the magnolias, cherry blossoms, daffodils, and tulips of early spring. In with the azaleas and now the iris. In our old Capitol Hill neighborhood there were so many different kinds of iris to be had. They came in all colors, shapes and sizes. As with all lovely flowers, it seems the most beautiful specimens only last a short while - which is why we love them so much. So on our morning walk in our northern Virginia neighborhood we noticed the iris. The flowers were not in the park where we walk during the week, but along the concrete sidewalks of the “downtown” area. My husband doesn’t like clumps of anything and considers it vulgar. With so many of the same thing in the same spot it’s not as spectacular as seeing just a few. But if you focus in on a flower or two the detail shines. Anyway, it’s the time of year to enjoy the beautiful seasonal rewards. And after last year, it’s all the more enticing. 

Bartholdi Fountain Gardens Starting to Bloom

Yesterday we took a ride to Capitol Hill to visit the Botanic Garden. We used to walk by it almost daily on our morning treks to the National Mall. Now we need to ride in from northern Virginia where we moved ten months ago. I don’t care for metro, so it’s a hassle to find parking in our old neighborhood because we no longer have our visitor pass. We finally found a tight spot, and walked over, first passing through the Bartholdi Fountain gardens. The daffodils and crocus were showing, and the iris weren’t far behind. The vegetable garden still had cabbage and other assorted items. Everything looked so crisp and clean with the sunny and blue skies backdrop. The fountain itself was dry - none of them have been turned back on yet. There was a long line of taxis crawling up Independence Avenue toward the house office buildings. Everything felt different because we no longer live on Capitol Hill. But we are close enough to still visit our favorite spots when we feel like it. 

Cleaning by Iris

I have been wanting to have a housekeeper come in to clean the condo for a long time - especially when we are expecting out of town guests. And since neither of us was feeling up to it with all the doctor visits this week and feeling uncertain about our health, my husband was more amenable to the idea. Someone left their business card on our mailbox a couple of months ago and I kept it “just in case.” So I found it and we called to see if Iris could schedule a visit for yesterday afternoon. She came with an assistant and really did a wonderful job. That condo has not been deep cleaned like that since we bought it nine years ago. I especially like the personal touches - Kleenex, paper towels, toilet paper, and the slight rearrangement of things that gave the rooms a different perspective. Would we call Iris again? Absolutely! 

Happy Mother's Day Iris

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with flowers. I received a beautiful bouquet and love looking at it. This is also the season for Iris in our Capitol Hill neighborhood, and there are so many different colors and varieties. So we took a walk after dinner last evening and pounded the pavement looking for them all - and we were not disappointed. There is a shape, color, and style for every mom out there. As with so many beautiful things they don't last very long, which makes them all the more endearing. Thanks to my Mom for everything she's done and here's to all the folks who are celebrating this holiday. Which Iris is yours?