The Presby Iris Garden: Oasis in Montclair, New Jersey

Every year around mid May to mid June, iris lovers flock to the Presby Iris Garden in Montclair, New Jersey. The gardens, located in Upper Montclair, are a favorite spring sanctuary for artists, gardeners, photographers and families during the height of iris blooming season. The display of irises is so spectacular and startling to those passing by they can't help but feel drawn in to wander among the multi-colored blooms.

The Presby Iris Gardens began as a memorial to honor Frank H. Presby, a Montclair resident, who was a founding member of the American Iris Society. The iris beds are laid out in a rainbow swept arc over 2.5 acres that border Mountainside Park. A fitting design as the name iris in Greek means rainbow. Adjoined to the garden is the Victorian Walther House, built in the 18^th century, which now houses the staff and offices that support the Presby Iris gardens.

The gardens grow about 3,000 varieties of irises and are dispersed in over 40 separate beds. Some of the original iris rhizomes date back to the 1500's. Each year, a healthy iris plant produces two new rhizomes (tuberous growths) which are divided and provide the source of next year's flower growth. During the height of the iris blooming season approximately 75,000 irises are in full bloom at the gardens. Irises bloom for 1-4 weeks or even longer depending on weather and other conditions so their beauty can be enjoyed into the early weeks of summer.

Each iris bed is grouped by type, year originated or by a special quality like Dykes Medal Winners or Antique historic. Metal markers engraved with iris names such as Black Beauty and Doodle Strudel along with the variety, date of the registration and hybridizer's name are placed next to each cluster of irises.

The majority of the irises at the Presby Iris garden are of the bearded types which have a fuzzy caterpillar looking strip at the center of the flower. Bearded irises come in a variety of colors, grow at different heights and propagate themselves easily. The beardless types are not as glamorous looking as the bearded irises but are less prone to disease.

Volunteers provide visitors with brochures and maps of the beds. At the Bloom Room gift adjacent to the Walther house, bearded iris rhizomes and other gardening books, ornaments and tools are sold on weekends. There is absolutely no smoking allowed in the gardens as tobacco virus's can harm the irises.

The Presby Iris garden has undergone some difficult times in recent years. In 2005, teenagers vandalized almost 150 plants. A rod iron fence was erected along the entire street side of the gardens after this event to prevent entry after closing time at 8 pm. The iris garden's yearly budget of $150,000-$200,000 pays expenses and salaries of regular staff who work with volunteers and but they have been working $50,000 shy of their budget for many years and risked loss of the property.

In an attempt to offset some of the financial woes, Essex County purchased the Presby Iris gardens and the Walther House for 1.1 million dollars with monies from Green space and Open acres fund. In return, the gardens will pay $1 a year rent back to Essex County. Despite this infusion of funds, the gardens will still depend on the generous support of donors as well as the volunteers who lovingly devote their time to the tasks needed to maintain the gardens.

The Presby Iris gardens are believed to be one of the largest iris garden displays in the world and attract international visitors yearly to their lovely site. On any day of iris blooming season, artists set up easels and paint the striking blooms and photographers arrive in early morning or late day to capture the petals in their best light. Hopefully such a wonderful attraction remains financially solid for many years and continues to bring joy and pleasure to generations yet to come.

http://www.state.nj.us/dca/njht/funded/sitedetails/presby_memorial_iris_gardens.html

http://blog.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2009/02/deal_in_bloom_to_sell_presby_i.html

http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/homeandgarden/rainbow-on-the-hill.html