What a gorgeous pic. Does it look this way every year?

When you preview your message, you can paste the url address in the Optional Link URL box to make a 'hot' link.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamfoxtrax/2538641061/

Looks to me like Loreley (Goos & Koenemann) 1909. It tends to bloom as a "flattie" like this sometimes. Nice photo. The look of the flower is somewhat variable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Loreley on HIPS site

Agree with Iris Nut - this is definitely Lorelei (means a type of river mermaid of the Rhine)

Often, the standards (the yellow part that stands up) have streaks of the purple in them. That is part of this iris' "look".

Thank you, Iris Gal,iris nut, & Shapiro.

Yes, it looks this way every year. There is some variation between blooms, but on the whole they are the same. It is very hardy. I have some planted between the house and sidewalk, under the furnace exhaust. It makes a nice little micro climate there and one time it bloomed at Thanksgiving. Our house is pre-civil war, so thought it might be an heirloom variety.

Beautiful picture of Loreley. How nice that you had a historic that is distinct enough to ID so quickly. That is often not the case.

I just received a small start of that one through the HIPS member rhizome sale. I understand it is quite sought after.