The Joys of a Spring Garden - Do you know the name of this pretty Iris?

My favorite plant and flower festival is a fun event with music and food and crafts and antiques and exhibitions, held every year on Earth Day.

We usually make a day of it, since there are hundreds of booths and people from everywhere. 

The serious plant lovers and the experienced shoppers come prepared pulling wagons behind them for their cherished botanical finds, everything from the newest hot Hungarian peppers, to cool sprinkler heads or a long desired antique rose to this years annual Day Lily society competition winner.

The festival is coming up again at the end of April and I am already looking forward to going and visiting with our favorite vendors and see what's new. Of course half the fun is that you never know what you might find, which can be devastating to your garden budget. In order to avoid this, I bring a list but also allow for a certain amount of fun money for garden decor or plants or gifts. 

Last spring I let myself be talked into what I vaguely remember is called a wandering Iris. I was reluctant because the plant I purchased was not in bloom. Raised in Europe I always think of an Iris like the rather huge bearded Iris varieties of my childhood, this plant looked different and I just did not know what to expect.  

The lady was so enthusiastic and convinced me this was a plant I could let naturalize in my garden and that I would love the flowers.

OK, I admit it, so I let the thing languish in a pot with no attention for waaayyy too long. We had a big garden party the next day, I had just returned from a long trip overseas and then it got just plain too hot to garden in Florida. Well, you know how it is.

Last fall I decided to give it a home under the oak tree and hope for the best - it  never bloomed once, but since I liked the leaves and it seemed to spread and provide pretty foliage in a spot where nothing else wanted to grow - I let it be.

Yesterday, while puttering about in the garden I noticed, hmm, this seems to be thickening in the leaves - I wonder if it is thinking about blooming.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

This was taken late yesterday afternoon in the last rays of sunshine

THIS MORNING - A LOVELY SURPRISE

So can anyone name this beauty?

Here you see the entire plant and it's plant babies.

I noticed that the mother plant has another stem thickening - about to give birth again. I can't wait!

Hope you enjoyed your visit to my garden and if you know the name of this plant - please tell me.

All images taken by Rose H. with a digital Olympus D-540 camera.