Glad of my Gladdon

The garden is gradually getting brown and dreery, but there are still a few bright spots. The berries of the Stinking Iris or Gladdon (or Roast-beef Plant or Dragon-flower) shine out from some of the darkest corners of the flower border, echoing the scattering of red-yellow crab apples that are now fast being consumed by the blackbirds. This iris, Iris foetidissima, is native to Britain, where it prefers neutral-calcareous soil and survives deep shade and extreme draught. Every garden should have at least one clump, being aware, however, that all parts of the plant are poisonous.