Perhaps the only downside to growing irises is that they only bloom for a few weeks, but by planting a variety of bearded, ...

there really is an iris for every backyard. Whether you're a bearded iris fan or want a dwarf iris to plant in containers, it's important to know different irises bloom at different times.

Left: This 126 year-old bearded iris is preserved in the U.S. National Herbarium alongside millions of other plant specimens. (Smithsonian) Right: A close-up of a bearded iris shows the hair-like ...