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Japanese IrisesThe story of how Japanese Irises became my favorite flowers: My grandfather met a wonderful Japanese man, by the name of Kenny Goaka when he was a young man, he was always very kind to us and as far as I knew he was my grandfather's best friend. Their friendship lasted over 60 years, he was my grandfather's friend as long as anyone in our family can remember, and he visited us often, always with these beautiful flowers in hand. I was always very excited to see Kenny when I was a little girl because he always brought GaGa these flowers and she would literally light up when he pulled up, usually without notice, and hurry to meet him. I used to joke with my grandfather that she had a crush on him because he got her flowers, he must like her too. I being so young didn't relise that they had a life before I came along and that many of my lifetimes before she had begged him for the flowers the first time they had met and he had denied her only to show up a week later flowers in hand, roots, bulb, and all. Thus a tradition was born. My grandmother, though she rarely worked in the yard anymore would spend the next day or so planning where they would go and eventually plant them and enjoy them out back tea in hand. Slowly she began to drift away from us, alztimers and demention set in and though she remained a wonderful and happy woman, she was often not all the way "with us". I was only just a teenager when she began to change but I can still remember that everytime Kenny visited it was like she transformed and woke up. She would see him pull up and it was like a switch was flipped she would smile ear to ear and albiet more slowly than before head out to meet him, always coming inside with her hands full of beautiful Japanese Irises and chatting and laughing as if there were no tommorow. The joy this brought my grandfather and I was unmatched. In the following days we would go out with her and help her choose her spot and watch her plant her flowers and then we'd sit and enjoy tea on the patio with her as long and as often as we could. Japanese Irises I never really thought about those days much until now, they would pop in once in a while of course, but I haven't thought of them in quite a few years. I suppose that's why they are my favorite flowers to this day, they were like a bright light in our house when I was little, simple things as they were, they were the most powerful medicine that we ever found. I grew up in Houston with my grandparents until I was 16 years old and my grandmother had these beautiful irises in our small beds. Years after she had stopped working in the beds they remained and every spring and through the summer they would put forth the most beautiful blooms. Inevitably as a little girl and even into adolesence I would pick them one by one through the summer and give them to whomever I had deemed was in need of flowers. My father had lived in apartments and in my grandparents house his whole life and so his idea of gardening was mowing the lawn and by the time I relised how enjoyable working in the garden could be, sadly, my grandmother was no longer around to teach me all that she knew, but her beautiful plants remained. I eventually figured out how to maintain and seperate and sustain her irises getting them to muliply over and over, unfortunatly the roses had stopped blooming and died away by this time. I spent countless hours on those irises and by the time we moved they surrounded the entire backyard and went all the way around the house and into the two large circle beds I installed especially for them. A new family moved in when we left and the woman of the house got rid of almost evey single one of them, hedges went up front and cactus in the back both circle beds were sodded over. Sadly, niether I nor my nieghbor, who always tried to grow bulbs I would give her in her yard, didn't even know what had happened until it was too late and all those flowers were gone to the garbage dump. I looked up the pictures on the internet and found that the type I want are Higiras. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where to find them locally, I haven't had any luck with the big stores like lowes and wal-mart, maybe a nursery, or would I have to go to a specialty shop, or order them? If I do find them I was wondering if I'd have to do anything special to my soil (neutral ph balance w/low Nit and high Pot&Phos) Or if I'd be able to grow them her in East Texas at all? Once I do put in beds I think I want these to be the first thing that goes in so any help you can give me would be much appriciated. Last edited: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:57 am This blog entry has been viewed 598 times
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Such a lovely story, and so sad too. It brought tears to my eyes. It's hard when we realize what we should have done and it's too late, but at least the memories will stay with us.
Thanks for sharing your special story Lily. I really hope you can track down the Iris you are looking for. Fingers crossed for you, good luck!
That is heartrendering. All the best with your Iris search.
Thank you for your very special story.I do understand how you feel.I hope you can find your iris soon.The Quice is one I have been searching for as my mom had one in her yard and loved it but it died and she never found another one.She taught e lots and I know I will remember all her plants as you will your grandmothers. Login or register to leave a comment. |
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