With blue skies and fresh wind blowing it seems difficult to see why this Gladiolus should be associated with, 'tristis'. Anyhow, it comes up in strange places in this garden, not always in places that I could call moist, as we are told it prefers. If it is sad, it certainly does not show it! http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewrmw/5508026421/ Does anyone know the reason for this epithet? Andrew San Diego