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The first iris of 2026!


 I was delighted to find the first iris blooming two days ago! This small purple and yellow iris is one that I added two years ago. The larger purple irises that make up most of this bed are from my friend Bill Asplen. Bill died in 2004, and his cousin encouraged me to take the irises from his garden before she sold the house. They bloom every year with very little help from me - my only job is keeping grass and Virginia Creeper out of the bed! 

In addition to Bill's irises, I also took his little American Eskimo dog Minnie. Minnie died many years ago, but I always think, when the irises bloom, that Bill and Minnie are still watching over all of us at Sanctuary House.



Many more to come:



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