Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. Here is a beauty at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, South Carolina.
How can you ignore irises at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC? While not completely in bloom in the gardens, there were sporadic signs of irises.
The Bewick’s Swan is a sub-species of the native Tundra Swan seen in North America. The Bewick’s swan is much smaller and has a shorter and straighter neck than the whooper and mute swan. The yellow shape on its beak is like a blob of butter, while a whooper swan’s seems like a wedge of cheese.
Here is Bewick’s Swan on abstract water ripples at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
Swans swimming in water with ripples creates interesting reflections at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
Unlike ducks in yesterday’s post, these swans are swimming away from each other at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
Two ducks swimming in tandem at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
A Whooper Swan framed by abstract water formations swims at Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter, SC
Close-up of a Whooper Swan at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumpter, South Carolina. A distinctive feature is that its black bill has a large triangular patch of yellow on it.
The Whooper Swan, also known as the common swan, pronounced hooper swan, is a large northern hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American trumpeter swan.
Here is a whooper swan with a little bite at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
A swan and turtles coexist at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, South Carolina
Is this swan resting or preening at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, South Carolina?
It almost seems like this Mute Swan is mesmerized by the abstract reflections at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
The Canada Goose is well known for flying in a distinctive V-formation, its loud “honk” and its unmistakable looks. A Canada Goose gander can reach 14 pounds and can have a wing spread of up to 5 feet. Here is one at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC.
A Black Swan creating circular ripples at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, South Carolina
The exotic Mute Swan is the elegant bird of Russian ballets and European fairy tales. The name ‘mute’ derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Here is a mute swan at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
Swan Lake Iris Gardens located in Sumter, South Carolina are home to all eight species of swans. The lake is dotted with colorful islands, wildlife is abundant. Here are images displaying the serenity of the lake.
Gentle ripples distort the reflections of this Trumpeter Swan at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC.
Trumpeter Swans are our biggest native waterfowl, stretching to 6 feet in length and weighing more than 25 pounds – almost twice as massive as a Tundra Swan. Getting airborne requires a lumbering takeoff along a 100-yard runway.
A Great Egret eyeing a bench at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, South Carolina
The Canada goose, or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. Here are a couple of them at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC.
A covered barge with feed at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC attracts a variety of birds
Photos by Ravi 