84 Tall Bearded Iris 



Where waves the bulrush as the waters glide, 

 And yellow Flag-flowers deck the sunny side. 



Scott. 



Apollo, resting at the rim of morn 



Upon the mountain, there espies a shrine 



To Artemis, ruinous and forlorn. 



He speaks. Pillars and altar rise and shine 



Glorious as of yore. Thereat, for fear 



It fall to grief again, his smiling power 



Would give it worship due, virginal cheer 



Befitting. So the neighboring brook's Flag-flower 



At word becomes meet priestess for the fane, 



Lithe-Limbed, with azure eyes and tresses bright, 



And upraised hands to adore the Heavenly Twain. 



The Lad Divine in fair-surprised delight 



Kisses her, brow and bosom, and is gone 



As she and every slope blush sweet with dawn. 



Wallace Rice: The God's Kiss. 



VARIOUS NAMES. The Iris has been called "Poor 

 Man's Orchid", and "Orchid of the North", from its 

 being both cheap and hardy and possessing diversity, 

 delicacy and richness of color and elegance of form. 



More than 250 years ago its bright and varied 

 colors suggested to Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, an 

 eminent French botanist, the name "Rainbow 

 Flower". 



It has sometimes been called "Dagger-Flower", a 

 name suggested by the shape of its leaves. 



