Josef Beery
Josef Beery
Gracing the edges of still water in our neighborhood and at the same time enriching one’s view of a rubbish-filled ditch, Yellow Flag, Iris pseudacorus, is always a joyful discovery. This patch was found in a drainage ditch on my drive into town. Two days later I discovered a tiny pond in our mountain neighborhood completely encircled by the blossoming plants. It’s spectacular presentation is commemorated in stories of the creation of the iconic fleur-de-lis. Although this symbol is often described as a lily, it actually more closely resembles an iris with its trio of erect “standard” petals interspersed between three gracefully drooping “falls” petals. The pseudacorus actually has quite small standards, the flower comprised chiefly of the elegant falls. Folklorists recount that this golden flower claimed as a symbol by France represents the geographic origin of the Franks in riverine Flanders before they entered Gaul. To this day, waterways in this this area may be bordered by stands of this wild iris. In our area, yellow flag is merely an interloper, an immigrant flourishing in the wet corners of our built up environment as well as easily accenting more carefully cultivated cottage gardens.