Iris flowers are named for the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow. In Greek mythology, Iris was a gold-winged messenger from the gods to mortals. She made her journeys from Mount Olympus on a rainbow—her bridge from heaven to earth. When she arrived on earth, iris flowers bloomed wherever her feet touched.
Named for this rainbow goddess, there are more than 300 species of iris and 3,000 cultivars in countless colors and hues. Simultaneously resilient and delicate, irises’ native habitats include mountaintops, meadows, riverbanks and deserts across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
On a Saturday morning in early May this year, I photographed these irises. I found them blooming in a lakeside garden just after the sun had risen above the horizon. They sparkled in the light, and every detail was magical through my camera lens.
