field quietly peering down at me from the road. i asked if she needed anything and she asked if it would be alright if she came and wandered among my flowers. of course i said that would be fine, so down she came. she wandered quietly among the flowers while i worked without interrupting my flow, and it was kind of nice to have her quiet company in the garden for a while. after that first visit iris came by a number of more times during the season for a quick chat and to see what was in bloom. after i left to come care for my mother in september 