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Article: OLD GLORY 300 SPECIES OF IRIS MEAN WAVES OF COLOR FOR THE HOMESCAPE.(Spotlight on Home and Gardening)
- Article from:
- Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
- Article date:
- June 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Rocky Mountain News. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Dialog LLC by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Joan Hinkemeyer Special to the News
Old-timers call them flags. Plant books refer to them as iris. By any name though, irises are a vibrant part of the spring to summer landscape.
According to history these lovely regal flowers were known as the fleur-de-lis, a name of royal derivation. Word is that Louis VII, having distinguished himself during the Second Crusade, decided to choose, as kings did in those days, a symbol to appear on his coat of arms. He chose the iris. Commoners were said to have shortened the name Louis to Luce and finally to Lis. Thus, tradition has it, the iris assumed the name of its royal admirer.
Whether or not ...