See hundreds of irises in bloom; take some home, too

“Flags” will be flying high this weekend at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center as the Sacramento Iris Society hosts its 74th annual show and sale.

With the theme “Spring Fling,” this huge show featuring bearded irises – also known as “flags” – will be open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20. Admission and parking are free.

This will be a judged show with many different varieties and kinds of irises vying for awards. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the many different color combinations and how to better identify varieties.

And there are a lot of varieties! Bearded irises now include more than 60,000 named cultivars and come in every color from pure white to black with countless shades in between.

The most common colors are blues and purples, closest to the iris family’s native hues. Thousands of varieties feature unusual color combinations on standards (the upright petals), falls (the down-pointing petals) and beards (the fuzzy flower parts that give these irises their nickname).

Take some irises home, too! The club will offer potted irises for sale with plants ready to transplant now.

Bearded iris, the most common perennial iris, is a water-wise wonder that thrives in Sacramento. After showy spring blooms, bearded irises need little summer irrigation – just once a week or twice a month. The plant dies back in August before sprouting new growth in late fall or winter.

Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, in McKinley Park.

Details and directions: www.sgaac.org or https://sacramentoirissocietydotcom.wordpress.com/.