Raising Flags

My grandmother possessed a bright grass-green thumb, and she raised a wide variety of alluring flowers. Her esteemed irises grew tall and stately along the wall of the barn, and against the lattice of the veranda – boasting blossoms of deep purple and vibrant yellow. She called them ‘flags’ – a name used by gardeners of that era to distinguish certain species of iris. Even today, some irises are fondly referred to as “grandma’s flags.”

 

This excerpt is taken from the book “Holding Her Hand”, where the artist makes a personal commentary on each of the paintings. To read the full commentaries, the book is available for purchase.