In A Vase On Monday—Dutch Iris
Each Monday brings the chance to join Cathy’s In A Vase On Monday to share an arrangement using materials gathered from the garden.
When we moved in fifteen years ago I planted Dutch irises near the driveway. The blue ones disappeared after several seasons, but these white ones return reliably in early spring. This may be their best showing ever.
In A Vase On Monday—Dutch Iris
To describe them simply as white would be to under appreciate them. The underside of each flower is pale green and pollinator signals on the falls are yolk yellow. Lavender subtly accents the style arms.
Deep yellow, pale green and subtle lavender accent these Dutch Irises.
Nothing else blooming in my garden seemed a suitable companion, so the irises stand alone as today’s feature. They were photographed in the dining room next to art work by my son-in-law, Owen. The pastel drawing is of Siberian iris growing in the garden one summer.
In A Vase On Monday—Dutch Iris
A cushion of Wintergreen boxwood sits beneath the irises and guides the transition from flower to vase, with the white of the blossoms and the green of the boxwood layer echoing the white and green bands of the pitcher. The dark blue glaze at the base of the container gives a solid foundation for the design, while curves formed by Iris leaves add movement.
In A Vase On Monday—Dutch Iris
Materials
Flowers
Dutch iris (Iris x hollandica)
Foliage
Buxus microphylla var koreana ‘Wintergreen’ (Wintergreen boxwood)
Leaves, Dutch iris (Iris x hollandica)
Vase
Stoneware pitcher glazed with bands of cream, green, blue. (from set of 4 cups and pitcher, Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977).
In A Vase On Monday—Dutch Iris
Unlike bearded German irises, these are bulbous irises. I feel sure I planted more blue Dutch iris bulbs last fall but what happened to them is a mystery.
In A Vase On Monday—Dutch Iris
Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower arranging addiction. Visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday. Feel free to join in.
pbmGarden 
Very pretty, love the container. Think the squirrels ate your bulbs?
Thank you. Yes, squirrels perhaps, or voles.
Irritating rodents!
Oh how refreshing to see white irises – they look even more elegant than than ther coloured counterparts. As you say, they make their own statement and didn’t need anything other than the greenery you added. Very lovely, Susie
Thanks Cathy. I’m partial to white flowers. Glad I went ahead and picked them because we had a rainy weekend that would have ruined them.
That’s good then, glad you got to them in time 🙂
I am going to make a note of white iris for my bulb order for next year – I already have a number of things on it!
Susie, your iris are simply lovely.
Thanks John. It was great to have them bloom together.
I so love white flowers. They clean the color palette of the garden.
Good way to describe white in the garden.
I wish I could grow this iris…it just doesn’t return. Such a gorgeous vase and especially lovely with the layer of boxwood and the iris foliage giving it just the right touch.
Well, some of mine return for years and some never. Not sure what makes the difference. Maybe you could treat the iris like an annual Donna. Many people who grow tulips in my area plant them every year because they don’t return reliably.
Could there be a critter with a particular affection for the bulbs of blue Iris? It’s odd how some cultivars in the same species prove to be so much hardier than others. In any case, your elegant white Iris are perfect for the holiday and a wonderful complement to your son-in-law’s art.
Thanks Kris. I do love the white iris (will try again for blue next year).
I prefer the form of Dutch Iris to a bearded Iris and your white and yellow ones are really lovely Susie. Lovely vase and lovely arrangement too!
Thanks Julie. I love all irises, but this one is definitely easier to use in arrangements than the bearded ones.
Thanks for calling attention to all the subtle colors in the mostly white irises. They stand alone as beautifully as anything I’ve seen. Sometimes I find myself guilty of trying to crowd too much variety into a vase. The simplicity is stunning.
Thanks Ricki, the irises at first seemed rather understated, but when I started arranging them I noticed the color accents were pretty amazing.
That’s a most elegant and pleasing to the eye vase Susie. I’m glad that you included close up views of the exquisite markings on the irises. You must be delighted that they are still going strong after all this time.
Thanks Anna. Really glad I cut the flowers and brought them indoors. We had heavy rains soon after that would have ruined them.
Just beautiful Susie – I need to plant more of these. Easter wishes to you. xx
Thanks Julie. Happy Easter to you as well. I hope to remember to plant more of these iris too.
A beautiful flower, have just put it on my wish list !
Anca, Dutch Iris is easy, but ver rewarding to grow..
Beautiful Susie; I always like white flowers, always so elegant. I like how you used the foliage to add movement; that’s something I don’t think about enough. I always learn something from your vases, thank you.
I appreciate that Christina. I enjoy making vases for sharing here on Monday but haven’t been able to make myself take a disciplined approach any further. Our state museum is sponsoring Art In Bloom again this year, pairing floral designers with art works in the museum. I have tickets for the show as well as for many for demonstrations and am really excited. Couple more weeks. Wish you could be there too.
That would be nice.
Stunning. I have purple Siberian Iris and just ordered some yellow, but I’m thinking I need some white. 🙂
White Siberian Iris sounds like something we all need!
So lovely! I don’t have any Dutch Irises, and I need some! This is a beautiful arrangement, too!
Thanks Beth. I took the Dutch Iris arrangement to my sisters’ for Easter.
You always make a perfect color coordination choice. The white Iris and green boxwood go perfectly with the vase/pitcher.
Thanks Pris, I actually started with a different container but it didn’t feel right. Glad I settled on the pitcher.
This is perfect Susie. One of my favourites of your vases so far this year. You have given it much thought I see, with the design of the vase and the shades and shapes of the foliage complementing the irises. Well done!
Thanks Cathy, these flowers were such a joy to work with.
I’m also going to go with elegant. It’s a perfect composition of white and green, and the blue of the vase really connects to the room.
Thanks so much.
Lovely! For some reason my favorite Irises, like my favorite roses, are white.
Oh, yes, white roses are lovely too.
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