Are Assassins Near You? More Reasons to Plant Irises in Your Garden That May Surprise You

The insect on this Hosta bloom is the perfect example of symbiosis between plants and insects, but it's not the only one. 

Gardening became especially popular when Covid suddenly forced us to become more mindful, and we realized how unimportant shallow, useless things we'd been pointlessly chasing actually were.  Most of us were given more downtime than we ever wanted, and we were more less forced to look back at what made us happy, fulfilled, and stress free, not what we were told would make us happy. 

That's when nurseries and gardening centers suddenly grew in popularity and they ran out of so many items because people were suddenly remembering how therapeutic "playing in the dirt" was again and began gardening in their own backyards. Some of us extended the gardens we'd established, while others spread their creative wings for the first time. And most found the benefits of this new physical activity was surprisingly rewarding.  The satisfaction we felt from the beautiful sight we created and now saw everyday was priceless, so we're seeing more gardens and more awareness of the benefits the natural world can bring to us in 2023.

And speaking of new wisdom and insight, I was surprised to learn that some are convinced that irises “share traits and symbiosis with certain wild animals and insects" as well. "Birds, ladybugs, wasps, and lacewing insects help to protect irises as they prey on the insects that eat iris flowers and their leaves,” says Kristen Stanton. This was one reason I was so intent on including irises in my pollinator bed and garden for wildlife, and became even more iris-enthused after my experiences with Paul Smith and the Master Gardeners of Sumter, SC. Previous posts here explain more about the secrets and hacks the MGs have discovered as a result of their hard work at Swan Lake in Sumter, SC. 

View their facebook = now meta page for more information about their contribution to Sumter and their activities regarding all things iris at, https://www.facebook.com/SumterMasterGardeners/

On her personal “UniGuide,” Stanton wrote an inclusive article quoted above, and explained the symbols and spiritual meaning of irises. Since I have a small “collection” and have worked over the years to cultivate them to include white double bearded ones in my pollinator bed, I found it not only enlightening but fascinating, especially since I like to share iris with friends.  

She goes on to explain, “In addition, irises help to support the ecosystems of meadows and wetland habitats, so they are beneficial to fish, frogs, turtles, dragonflies, and other wildlife who share these habitats,” as seen in the posts here about the MGs and Swan Lake and Iris Garden in Sumter.

You’ll notice I’ve included irises that prefer wet, bog like conditions in my posts, whereas my irises  enjoy the drier climates-merely to accommodate mother nature and the challenging climate I discovered on the coast. Truth be told, it's a very often frustrating relationship with the ol' gal. 

My white irises are early bloomers, so they offer much needed nectar and safe resting spots for the early pollinators like butterflies and wasps here. My other irises bloom later, but join other later bloomers to attract a variety of pollinators, while providing beauty in my landscape. My white iris are evergreen, like many, so I still enjoy the green foliage on the dreariest of days, and the ground feeding birds who enjoy a safe place to forage among their stalks in Winter. 

The Sumter Master Gardeners are again holding their annual iris sale during Swan Lake's Memorial Day festival this year. Visit online, at http://www.sumtersc.gov for more information about all the fun and visit the knowledgeable MGs in person there May 25-28, 2023.

Stanton explains the flowers' religious symbolism as, “In Christianity, the three petals on an iris flower symbolize the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Islam, iris flowers are placed on the graves of loved ones to show honor, devotion, and remembrance.”

She says, “white iris,” like mine “symbolize messages from angels, spiritual faith, and purity.”  Mine only bloom once a year, but some will bloom more than once a year, and one of the whites is named accordingly, “Immortality.”

She adds, “On a spiritual level, the iris shares symbolism with the deer and the stag spirit animals as both represent nobility. The iris flower also shares synergies with the hawk spirit animal as they both symbolize messages and spiritual awareness. In addition, the iris is associated with the owl spirit animal, as both are symbols of wisdom. And finally, iris flowers share symbolic meaning with the dragonfly, the frog, and the turtle spirit animals as they all symbolize spiritual growth.”

She explains that, “In Christianity, the three petals on an iris flower symbolize the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” And “In Islam, iris flowers are placed on the graves of loved ones to show honor, devotion, and remembrance.”

She’s found that, “the name iris comes from the Greek word for rainbow, and it is fittingly the name of the Greek goddess of rainbows, Iris. As a carrier of messages from the mortal world to the gods, Iris was also believed to help bring souls to the afterlife. So, iris flowers were associated with death in ancient Greece.”  As for ancient Egypt, she says, “The ancient Egyptians were cognizant of Greek mythology and were likely intrigued with the goddess Iris as a messenger who could travel between the material and spiritual realms. The Egyptians depicted iris flowers on their artwork and, as with other cultures, they associated the beautiful flower with royalty. As some of the original perfume makers, the Egyptians were also known to use iris flowers in their oils and perfumes.”
I’ve always wondered the origin of the beautiful and intriguing Fleur-de-Lis and this is how Stanton explains it: “By the time the Middle Ages began in the 5th century, the French had created the fleur-de-lis symbol based on the iris flower. They soon associated it with not only their faith, but the French nobility. In fact, the fleur-de-lis became a common symbol on coats of arms, shields, and tapestries.”

I’ve been experimenting with growing different colors and varieties in pots that don’t drain as well as my cement pots, and am happy to report they’re coming back, despite a very wet year and night temps in the 30s and 40s.  They’re still not blooming this year yet, but the stalks look great and I anticipate having to divide them from the looks of their healthy growth and expansion.  Stay tuned!

In some parts of the country, there’s still time to plant irises and I hope this post will both inspire and motivate you to experiment with different colors and varieties with the additional knowledge now of the iris's history, symbolism, and their important significance in your gardens.

COMPOSITION IN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

The first photo is the perfect example of documenting symbiotic relationships in nature and is a Hosta bloom. Fading the background makes ones eye to go immediately to the insect, the focus of the article. The darkness I created around the second, purple iris draws one in to the allure and mystery of these flowers. While the iris photos are enhanced to promote the natural beauty of irises with different lighting, from a photojournalist's perspective, the first is a uniquely beautiful shot that also begs a story. The actual photos aren't photoshopped or enhanced to the point of disrupting their authenticity, which I personally believe is important. 

Composition-wise, the pristine and pure white of the Hosta's rare flower we only see a couple weeks once a year at best, struck me as the perfect background for this particular colorful insect with her just as colorful name and I quickly snapped it before she flew away. She’s an Assassin Bug. While her coloration is not only eye-catchingly beautiful, her name is also just as dramatic. She is however a pro at clearing your garden of unwanted insects that can destroy plants. To add to the allure of the photo on both levels, an equally colorful deposit of her eggs on the pure blossom was included to add more interest and curiosity of the shot, not to mention assures me of even more beneficial insects in my garden for years to come.