"Suppose a wicked uncle who wished to check your gardening zeal left you pots of money, on condition you chose only one species of plant: what plant would you chose?" This is the question of British horticulturalist E. A. Bowles. His answer? Algerian Iris.
Introducing yet another winter winner, our March Plant of the Month comes from the borders of the Mediterranean and boasts an ideal personality for this time of year. It's exotic, low maintenance, and colorful in the cold and wet. It's an early bloomer, and it needs no babysitting.
How early is early? Algerian Iris starts flowering sometime between October and December, and keeps flowering through February or March. While the rest of the world is just starting to think about spring, it jumps into action, a joyful announcement of what's to come.
Best of all, it's not fussy. It loves poor soil. It thrives on neglect. Just give it sun and don't let it dry out; once it settles in, it'll reply with bursts of blue, opal, gold and mauve. The three most common varieties include the rich purple Mary Barnard, the white Alba, and the Walter Butt in pale violet.
Whichever one you go with, here's something to try. Bring an unopened blossom indoors, and when it unfurls, the sweet scent of lemon, vanilla and honey will perfume the whole room for the next couple days.
Thinking about where to plant it? The truth is, Algerian Iris is so attractive and easy to grow, it's fun to tuck it in wherever you can. It looks great in a rock garden. It can really stand out when planted in a deep pot, hanging basket or rain barrel. When set against green foliage it makes a nice contrast, and it flatters the edges of any pond or path.
At last, spring is on its way, and Algerian Iris is here to lure you outdoors.
What bird can fly but can't walk?
a. Finch
b. Rufus-sided Towhee
c. Hummingbird
d. Kiwi
The answer is C, according to MyBirdHouseSite.com: "A hummingbird has to fly if it wants to move an inch. Its feet are only strong enough for perching. When it takes off it doesn't spring into the air like most birds do. A moving picture of one taking off from a thin twig showed the twig rising before the bird let go."
But for what it's worth, the hummingbird can fly upside down.