and the winner is... [1 Attachment]

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A very slow race has been going on in my garden: which summer blooming
species iris will bloom first. The contestants are Iris domesitica (the
Blackberry Lily), Iris serotina (a small relative of the Dutch irises),
and Iris dichotoma (the Vesper Iris). It was a tie! The first blooms on
both Iris domestica and Iris serotina opened this morning. The most
advanced bud on an Iris dichotoma is showing color but will not open
this evening. Pictures are attached.

Iris serotina started the race back in the spring with two very slowly
developing bloom stalks. The other two species started much later but
develop quickly.

Ken Walker
Concord, CA USA