Oncos 2013

[BULBISSIME]

for sure this one is the true species !!  another excellent and well grown plant, again  very good season for you Hans , here, again 0°C this night... 

[Peterwg]

Hans, Another beautiful species!   As for the bees, I wouldn't expect the same species in the Balearic Islands, but fairly similar irises are endemic through southern Europe and I'd expect similar bee species to be co-distributed throughout the area.   Your pictures support this view.   I will be fascinated to see just what species they are.   Well dome!

[Hans A.]

Thanks a lot Fred and Peter!
Re Bees: Doubt  if I will ever find out which species are here around, there are no native Iris on the Balearic Islands so perhaps it is a "newer"adaptation of the bee species to use Iris flowers at night.

[Miriam]

Hans, you are living in paradise 
In my garden, there are hardly any pollinators because I live in the center of the town.

Iris nigricans is in flower in my garden.

[Miriam]

Back to nature...
In the north of Israel 3 Oncos are blooming now (a trip with one of the forumists  )
Iris haynei on Mount Gilboa, Iris lortetii and a beautiful sight of Iris hermona on the grave of a Moslem sheik in the Golan Heights.

[BULBISSIME]

Seems to be a nice trip Miriam, and my best regards to our 'forumist' 
Iris hermona is stunning ! Did you also see Iris petrana ( I. yeruchamensis ) ?

[Miriam]

Thanks Fred...I did not go to see Iris petrana this year.

[Peterwg]

Hi Miriam, Lovely, lovely pictures, as always.   Thanks for sharing, I never get tired of them.
Hans, they must be clever little B's!

[arillady]

It would  be so great to be able to see these arils in their natural settings - as well as on a grave.

[Hans A.]

Thanks a lot Miriam - for someone who is interestest to keep the pure species  it is a paradise ... and a nightmare with all the insects.

Great pictures Miriam! Grows Iris hermona only on this grave or does it also grow in the surroundings?

[Hans A.]

Here some more pics of the garden - seems to be a good year.

First the third Iris damascena-hybrid, then Iris kirkwoodii calcarea, Iris bostrensis, Iris atrofusca and Iris lycotis.

[Gail]

Such amazing flowers, beautifully photographed. Thank you!

[BULBISSIME]

It's a FANTASTIC year for you Hans !!!   
The I. bostrensis and I. kirkwoodiae clumps are stunning !!!

[Peterwg]

Hi Hans, those are just awesome.   And well photographed!  Well done.

[Otto Fauser]

Miriam and Hans , such  wonderful healthy ,free flowering clumps in your gardens - we will never see such an abundance here in Australia .
  Hans ,ich bin ein klein wenig neidisch ,   herzliche Gruesse   Otto.