Deep Purple

The contrast of the slightly gray morning lent an intensity to the colors of the flowers today. The textures of the irises were like a luxurious velvet, and I could almost feel the golden bearded fibers. The outer petals of the unopened buds are almost black in color-very dramatic. I thought the flower was more interesting left at this angle, rather than rotating the photo.

Our word iris comes from a Greek word for rainbow. Maybe because there are so many colors of irises. The familiar fleur de lis shape is a simplified and stylized version of the iris.