Iris of Old Shasta

Here's to Ed, a friend of mine,
Who knew we both loved Shasta County,
Oregon, California, Applegate and Nobel's,
Old Immigrant Trails, their history,
And White Iris Bulbs.
In his West Redding front yard,
Ed told me these bulbs were propagated,
From bulbs planted by the Hefflefingers,
In 1852, in their Old Shasta garden.
Mr. Hefflefinger,
Was the mortician, casket, and cabinet maker,
The house he built in the 1850's,
Is the oldest in Shasta County,
Once owned by Caroline Schreder.
These bulbs were transported by wagon,
Over the Oregon Trail,
To Susanville where they were taken, again by wagon,
Over the Noble's Immigrant Trail,
To Old Shasta.
Now in our South Redding front yard,
They bloomed white again this year,
As they have in Shasta County soil,
For one hundred and fifty eight years.
I think of how they came to be,
Came to Ed, and then to me,
My thoughts now drift back to see,
These very old European,
White Iris Bulbs,
Ed Duggan,
& Me.
We will miss you Ed.
Tiger Joe Michiels
May 13, 2010