Garden Iris, Exposed © 2008 Bo Mackison

A yellow iris from stock that my grandfather grew when I was a young child, nearly 50 years ago. It is a deep golden yellow and it’s mahogany markings are stunning. This photo shows the very depths of the iris flower, at it’s very core.

This view is fitting – it represents the origins of my love of gardening and nature. My grandfather and I spent hours together each day from early spring to late fall out in his gardens. There I learned to tell the difference between a flower and a weed, to plant a seed and transplant a plant, and to care for a garden and then reap its rewards – beautiful flowers, luscious vegetables, and deep satisfaction and joy sharing in the beauty of nature and her gifts.