I was out at Wilderness State Park to check on the dwarf lake iris this week. With the cool spring it is only now emerging at a few centimeters tall! We have historical records of it blooming as early as May 11 and peaking around May 26, but I think we'll have to wait a few more weeks for our flowers this year.

Today I had the pleasure of searching for dwarf lake iris populations with Vicki McCoy, LafargeHolcim/Presque Isle Quarry's Environmental Specialist. Our first spot was a bust, but later we relocated a population that hadn't been visited by MNFI or its partners since 1989! On top of that, it was the first blooming dwarf lake iris that I had seen this season. We visited several more blooming populations on Quarry property, then I headed to Besser Natural Area and Rockport State Recreation Area to check up on some other populations.

Vicki McCoy points out blooming dwarf lake iris

Vicki and I both thought much of the dwarf lake iris, including that which was blooming, was smaller than usual, especially the leaves. Has anyone else made such observations?