My favorite flower that blooms in May is the bearded iris. It’s my favorite flower because it is my mother-in-law’s favorite flower, and it was her mother-in-law’s favorite flower, too.

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These flowers are colorful, have a sweet fragrance, and require little care. The soil they grow in is unimportant. They grow in full sun, arid climates, and damp climates. They are almost fool-proof. They spread, which makes them easy to divide. And they typically bloom by Mother’s Day, making them an easy gift to share.

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I think of all the people who have loved these flowers before me and shared them with me, and I can’t help but love them.