NPR: Iris bubbles

Iris bubbles

If this is the first you're reading of Beverly Sills' death and you find yourself a bit stunned, I might suggest you ease into the news by listening to NPR host Robert Siegel's poignant interview with actress Carol Burnett, one of Ms. Sills' best friends.

Here at Talking Plants, we'd like to offer you a moment of incomparable beauty, a photograph of the young Beverly Sills.

A 37 year old Beverly Sills during a recording session

Not surprisingly, her iris namesake ( Iris 'Beverly Sills') pales by comparison, but does suggest the sheer sweetness and exuberance of a woman who preferred to be called "Bubbles".

German iris 'Beverly Sills' in full flower

The tall bearded iris, 'Beverly Sills', with pale coral-pink petals and a light apricot "beard"

Photo by E A Curley, courtesy of DavesGarden.com, used with permission

I won't pretend this German iris will mingle quite as amiably as the diva once did; after all, it's tough to just work in a statement like this if you're not already growing irrepressibly tarty flowers. But if this plant does nothing more than remind you that such as woman once walked and sang among us, order a bunch of bulbs now and plant them in full sun in the fall.

3:28 PM ET | 07- 5-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

The picture of Beverly Sills is not in costume, but taken at a recording session. I got to be on stage with her many times and what a privilege. Never mind, the tribute was lovely and my family has grown the Beverly Sills Iris for about 10 years - dividing it so that it grows in Ohio Colorado and now in Nevada.

Sent by Billl Russell | 11:17 AM ET | 07-08-2007

So delighted you wrote in, Bill. In keeping with the PLANT thing, I'd love to know what plants you mix the iris with. But moving on to the HUMAN thing, how, pray tell, did you end up on stage with her?

Sent by Ketzel Levine | 1:10 PM ET | 07-08-2007

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