Believe it or not, the bearded iris is blooming

Yes, it is true. Early spring comes in February in our Mediterranean climate, but even here this is early for bearded iris. It's normally set to bloom around late March at the earliest with April being it's typical month. I suppose its sheltered spot with lots of morning and mid-day sun made this iris think it was later in the year. I'm not complaining. It's a wonderful spot of deep rich purple in a garden that's pretty devoid of blooms otherwise.