Emerging Benton Ankaret

This is one of Cedric Morris's irises. As well as being an artist he was also a passionate plantsman and with a particular interest in bearded irises. He bred many cultivars, several of which are still available and he used the prefix 'Benton' in the name after his house, Benton End. So often bearded irises are big, blousy, vulgar show offs with huge, ruffly falls. Cedric's irises display their beauty rather more demurely.

I hesitate to say this but I think (touch wood) that the cold/cough/laryngitis may finally be on the wane. It's been around a good two and a half weeks so I really think the bug has outstayed its welcome and it would be polite now to move on.