A lot of the iris's long history traces back to the Greeks. Its name comes from the Greek word for rainbow and messenger. It's believed that these flowers were named because their blooms come in so many colours of the rainbow. In Greek mythology, the goddess Iris delivered messages to the gods, travelling on rainbows to get from heaven to earth and back. Ancient Greeks would plant irises on the graves of their loved ones in hopes that the goddess Iris would help connect their souls to heaven.
~ Better Homes and Gardens

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