Babs wended her way south and westward and stopped at the iris farm on M-72 in Leelanau County. It’s a grand prospect, that iris farm. [I would love to show it to you, and coincidentally enough Babs sent a really good photo of the place, but between my internet having slowed to a crawl and WordPress having tinkered with the blogging platform until it’s utterly unstable, I can’t post the picture. Not tonight anyway. Do I sound cranky? I am. I am going to bury myself under the down comforter and read a storybook to the Duo. I will feel better in the morning. Stay tuned. Or . . . go read a good book. Heck with the 21st Century.] UPDATE 6-13-2011: This morning we were able to get the photo uploaded and here it is in all its glory:
I have a happy memory of that place. When Chikako Suzuki lived in Chicago, she drove up to visit. “Can we go to the iris farm?” she asked. “Iris farm?” I asked. And so I learned about it. Off we went, over hill and down dale, and came to acres and acres of splendor. Best of all, we were able to “cut our own” for something like $1 a bloom–this was awhile ago, don’t hold them to that–and we came home with armloads of some of the most beautiful iris I’ve ever seen. They lasted a good long time, too.
Torch Lake Views 
Dawn
June 13, 2011
Heck with it indeed! Hope you enjoyed the book! 🙂
Gerry
June 13, 2011
I did! Well, the part I finished anyway.
Joss
June 13, 2011
Ooh, what is their favourite story? If I actually showed it to her, this would be Rani’s favourite book: Piper by Emma Chicester Clark. It was the favourite bedtime story of my son and myself when he was little. We did not know that waiting for us eight years in the future was a little dog that looked just like Piper.
Gerry
June 13, 2011
Their favorite story is whatever one I happen to be reading at the time. They just like the sound of it and curling up one on each side.
Just a note: I deleted the Amazon link because WordPress has rules about that, although I can tell people to look for Piper on Amazon or at their favorite local bricks and mortar bookstore! Which I suppose I just did.
One of my neighbors is a pilot, and named his dog Piper. Took me the longest time to figure out why. I can be so dense.
P.j. grath
June 13, 2011
Allergies still a problem, too, Gerry? Sorry for all the hassles! Today is supposed to be sunnier and drier, and maybe that will help.
Iris. Gorgeous. The most thrilling thing in my yard at present. Only two problems with them: the first is that the blooms will soon be gone, and the second is that my iris desperately need dividing. They needed dividing last year and didn’t get it. Iris are a lot of work.
Gerry
June 13, 2011
Allergies gone until ragweed season. Other aggravations persist but I see a faint light at the end of the tunnel.
Iris are a lot of work. I didn’t know that when we bought our house in Detroit. For several years I enjoyed the lovely iris bed, and then lost it all because I never divided them. Who knew?
Fee
June 13, 2011
Thank you for that bright and cheery picture, Gerry. Fair brightened my day.
Gerry
June 13, 2011
Thank you, Fee. Did a world of good for me too!
Belinda
June 13, 2011
My Irises need dividing too. They are so pretty but they don’t last long enough.
Gerry
June 13, 2011
My theory is that many things delight us exactly because they don’t last long enough. Once upon a time a long time ago I was visiting my mother-outlaw in sunny southern California when it was winter in Michigan. “Isn’t it a pretty day!” I said. She looked out the window for a long moment, remembering the change of seasons back east. She sighed. “Every day is a pretty day here,” she said. Ah. Change is good. Let a thousand flowers bloom.
Anna
June 14, 2011
Gorgeous photo! Love it. 🙂 My irises have already finished the blooming and no more.
Gerry
June 16, 2011
Glad you liked it, Anna. I’m headed to the library this morning and will have a chance to see what’s blooming in Kansas this week!
Karma
June 19, 2011
I love irises! My “beardies” are some of my favorite flowers. I wish I could go cut irises with you!
Gerry
June 20, 2011
I wish I could sit on your deck and look at your whole garden, irises and all. These next few months are going to be glorious, aren’t they!