An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan May 12, 2025

An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan

Flower viewing is a beloved tradition in Japan, with each season bringing its own natural spectacle. Just as the last sakura (cherry blossom) petals drift away, Tokyo"s gardens start gearing up for their next big show: the iris bloom. Featured here is an iris garden in Tokyo. The iris is a flowering plant genus that has 310 recognized species, known for their bold and beautiful blossoms. The genus is named after the Greek word "îris", meaning "rainbow," which is also the name of the Greek goddess of rainbows.

© M.Arai/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

May 12, 2018It’s World Migratory Bird Day
May 12, 2019The parenting of a piping plover
May 12, 2020Nursing the world to health
May 12, 2021A visit to Limerick on Limerick Day
May 12, 2022International Nurses Day
May 12, 2023Wild lupines
May 12, 2024Happy Mothers Day!
May 12, 2026Atlantic puffins, Wales

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 6, 2020Welcome to the Ring of Fire
Aug 20, 2022World Honey Bee Day
Nov 21, 2024Lion cubs, South Africa
Nov 2, 2018Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
Feb 22, 2020It s not always sunny in Abu Simbel…
May 16, 2020Let s run em up!
Feb 3, 2018Rooftops in the walled city of Urbino, Italy
Sep 23, 2024Sea Otter Awareness Week
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
May 27, 2021Listening to the sea
Feb 6, 20262026 Winter Olympics
Jan 23, 2020Across the great plains of Africa
Oct 1, 2023Lake Bled, Slovenia
Jun 4, 2021Islands that turned the tide
May 19, 2022Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
Aug 24, 2026Brooklyn Bridge, New York City
Jul 24, 2018Flock together for Cousins Day
Aug 17, 2018Illuminations on the Gulf of Poets
Oct 13, 2022Alaska moose
Oct 15, 2019The globe skimmers return
Feb 28, 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Apr 30, 2018Swinging into International Jazz Day
Dec 28, 2019Did they forget to fly south?
Jan 7, 2023Yarn for Distaff Day
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California
Jun 27, 2019The roots of invention
Aug 11, 2020Sea fireflies at the seashore
Apr 5, 2025Gaztelugatxe at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
Jul 8, 2021A storied trail marks a century
Jan 8, 2019A stunning national park in winter white