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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The Story Goes Like This . . .

This a short version . . . and all about Japanese Iris . . .

My mom and dad were born in Wisconsin in 1910 . . .
More history here . . . remember though . . . this is a short version . . . somewhat like a chapter.
We . . . my dad, mom, me and my brother Terry, moved to Hampton, Iowa in 1951 . . .
to a small house on Shear Court . . . It was the first home my parents owned . . .

A few years later my parents had a larger home built in Hampton, in 1957, on a hill . . .
with a small pond and ducks . . . and cornfields in view to the east . . .
My parents were educaters, garden, flower, tree lovers, creative, loving . . . honest, fun, steady . . .
Bridge club, cribbage, listening to the Cubs, sitting on the porch . . . overlooking cornfields . . .
Milkman delivery, bacon, eggs, beer, pasty, pies, cookies, meat loaf, potatoes, veggies, breads . . .

My brother went off to college . . . back to Wisconsin . . . me too, a few years later, 1957 . . .
A home was built near my parents home . . . for a farmer who “moved to town” . . .
Many small Japanese Iris grew “at his farm” . . .
The farmer dug some Iris . . . for my “momma” . . . for their Hampton home.
They flourished here and there outdoors around the house . . .

I graduated college, 1961 . . . married a few months later . . .
First teaching job in West Allis, Wisconsin . . .
Husband was finishing undergrad in Milwaukee . . .
Managed a Frank Lloyd Wright apartment building in those newly married years . . .
Husband graduated college, 1963 . . .
Our children were born, Scott, 1964, Susan 1967 . . .
We purchased our first home in Baraboo, Wisconsin, 1969 . . .
Three stories, five bedrooms, four bathrooms . . . our dream home was happening . . .
Another story for another day . . .

My parents, on their first visit to our new (old) home . . . brought us Japanese Iris
from their Hampton home . . .
Iris that came from “that farm in Iowa”. . .
The Iris were “dug in” . . . and thrived . . .

“Flash Gordon Husband, Irish Setter Ginger, Scott, Suzie and I moved to Michigan, 1975 . . .
A bunch of Iris moved too . . . “dug in” at our new home in Montague . . .
Thus . . . the Iris saga went on and on . . .

“Momma Peacock’s” Iris has been “dug in” and shared . . . again and again and again . . .
From Montague to Spring Lake, Twin Lake, Muskegon, Chicago, back to Wisconsin,
to Virginia, Arkansas, back to Iowa . . . plus more places than I can remember . . .
slip after slip . . . shared here and there . . . “dug In” thriving . . .
I keep digging out a slip, sending a “slip” to friends near and far . . .
”Momma Peacock’s Iris . . . lives on . . .

Thank you Joan, Penny, Gail, Carol, Beth, Barbie, Joanie, Judy . . .
and others whose names escape me . . .
for sharing thoughts and pictures through the years . . .
of “Momma Peacock’s Iris vibrant and happily blooming.

‘til next time . . .
remember. . .
it’s the little things . . .
love
lynne

14 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello, your Irises have a nice story. It is great that they have thrived in each move. I think they are beautiful too, we have a few growing in our yard. Enjoy your day and week ahead!

Kim said...

Oh I love this, Lynne! We had Irises from my grandmother's garden and I still have hostas from my aunt and my mother. I love the story that has followed them around. It makes me smile.

Jeanie said...

I love this story more than I can say. Iris is a favorite flower because it reminds me of my Aunt Iris and I love how yours came along through all the years!

Michelle said...

This is such a wonderful story. Glad to see they continue to thrive, no matter.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I love that story, and I love irises, too. I had Siberian iris as part of my wedding bouquet many years ago. -Jenn

MarmePurl said...

I pretty much have the story committed to memory, but it is nice to have it written in your words. That way I can print it out and pass it on when my Mrs. P are ready to be divided and slips gifted to my daughter and DILs. They will love it as much as I.

Beth at PlantPostings said...

They are so beautiful, Lynne! Thank you so much for sharing! I am waiting for mine from you to bloom--second year they have come back, so that's a good sign! I might divide and put some in a sunnier location. I love that shade of blue!

krishna said...

This is amazing, you've told the whole life story in few words.. love reading...

Gail said...

Your irises still flourish in Arkansas. They bloomed beautifully by my old bathtub water garden. They've done so well I will be dividing and sharing this fall. I will tell your story as I share "Momma's Peacock Irises".

Thank you!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

What a lovely "chapter". My Japanese Iris (didn't know the name) were eaten by voles over the winter - ugh!

Marge in Michigan said...

Thank you for sharing that lovely story, Lynne. I so enjoyed reading it. May “Momma Peacock’s” irises live on everywhere you've sent them.

Karen Lakis said...

That’s a wonderful story and I love that your mom’s irises have been planted all over. Your mom’s irises have brought joy to so many and it’s such a nice way to remember her. Now - I’m trying to remember where my grandma lived in Iowa- Hampton sounds so familiar...

Blondie's Journal said...

This is such a sweet story, Lynne! I never realized you had moved so much! You definitely left your mark (and you moms) in every spot! They are such a pretty flower and come back faithfully each year, never asking for much. A long time ago my sister gave me some daylily clumps. They now grow here and at the lake. Funny-a lot of folks in Michigan think of them as roadside weeds!

I hope your weather is as cool and pleasant as ours. :)

Jane x

Sarah Huizenga said...

What a lovely legacy that continues on...