Re: OT:Chat -Thanks (was HIST: Irises and grave sites)

Mickey  --  Here in Virginia, where European settlers have been for almost
400 years, now, there are some pretty old and forgotten grave sites.  I have
found pre-Revolutionary gravestones standing in the woods while hunting.
The farmsteads are long gone; the stones remain.

Several years ago, I was searching some woods in New Kent County for a
couple of Crump gravestones.  My companion was the county historian.  He
advised me to look for myrtle, since, he said, earlier generations had
planted myrtle on the graves to keep them weed-free.  Thinking of a
myrtle-covered area of my back yard, I could see what he meant.  The myrtle
does prevent anything else, and stays low to the ground itself.  I don't
know if iris would be hardy enough to coexist with it, but if you would
rather have myrtle than weeds, it might be your solution.  It's important to
note, though, that while we call this plant myrtle in this part of the
country, it isn't a true myrtle.  It is really vinca minor, sometimes also
called periwinkle.  It has small blue flowers in the spring.  --  Griff

zone 7 in Virginia

- Original Message -----
From: "Mickey Corley" <MCorley@compuserve.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 11:06 AM
Subject: [iris] OT:Chat -Thanks (was HIST: Irises and grave sites)


> John has recommended Chatting should be off-list, but this applies to too
> many people.
>
>  I would like to say at this time that Neil is probably the most
> knowledgable person about the most diverse subjects I've ever come in
> contact with.  Everything from ancient history to micro-biology.   Neil,
> you are a living treasure.
>
> Griff also seems to be almost as knowledgable, plus a lot of you others
> have taught me things I didn't realize I wanted to know.
>
> From a list devoted to iris, I never suspected the education I'd receive -
> all free except for time.
>
>  I'm glad I don't just read the subjects in which I'm interested.  I'd
miss
> so many other pieces of information that I love knowing, such as the
> history of how far back the iris was used in cemeteries and that they had
a
> religious conotation.
>
> Also, the 1st definition in the dictionary for  fleur-de-lis is "the iris
> (plant or flower)".
>
> I am a member of a group that is trying to restore a neglected cemetery
> (1st stone - 1853) where my great-grandparents and many other ancestors
are
> buried.  It is in a flood plain of a creek and many of the stones were
> washing down the creek.  My great grandparents gravesite has iris planted
> on it that have spread all over the family area.  There is no erosion
there
> and over the years has become the hightest spot in the area (2 1/2 acres).
> These are shaded by many creek-bottom huge trees and I've never seen them
> bloom.  There was one bloom stalk in the masses this year so I know they
> still bloom.  I managed to dig some this spring and will determine what
> color they might be.
>
> The only draw-back is that they desperately need to be dug and divided,
but
> the soil is so hard I can hardly get a spade into it, let alone manage to
> get the tubors out of the ground.  I'm quite sure there are broken/fallen
> down stones under them.  Only a strong back and lots of digging may reveal
> these iris protected grave stones.
>
> The group has been trying to decide what to plant to keep weeds and
erosion
> down.  I've tried to tell them the iris will work but so far no one has
> taken me up on it.
>
> Thanks to everyone for sharing information (and photos)
>
> Mickey
> Bethany, OK - Center of Oklahoma, USA
> Zone 6/7
>
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