We have many stinking irises in our garden-they are very hardy and will survive almost anything including very vigorous hack backs by myself! They are so prevalent that I sometimes forget how pretty the flowers are and how striking the seeds and seedpods too…..
And here’s the seed pod….
Now sometimes I can be inspired towards poetry and today I found myself pondering the rather brutal name of such a pretty flower and why someone would have called it a ‘Stinking Iris’ when I have never detected unpleasantness in its vicinity…..ahem…..
An Ode to the Stinking Iris..
1) Oh what, pray tell, did you ever do
To deserve such a horrid name?
For surely you are pretty
Who can be the one to blame?
2) Was it that chap who crushed your leaves
And you, in your defence,
Released a rather pongy smell
An odour quite immense!
3) “Oh me oh my,” he shouted
“What stench assaults my nose?”
He glares at the poor dear iris
While the stink around him grows!
4) He snarled, “I am a botanist
And you have got me thinking
Your name is no longer just ‘iris’
I’ve added the adjective ‘stinking!”
Well-if you wanted to find out more about “Iris Foetidissima” click here.
That’s All!
See Ya xx
