Irises are one of the world’s favorite flowers for good reason – their easy cultivation, colorful beauty, and fragrant fragrance make them ideal for gardens everywhere. Their history dates back to Greek goddess Iris who represented rainbows. Later they inspired the fleur-de-lis and Impressionist paintings; currently Irises have been grown since 1610 in New England alone! Thousands of gardeners worldwide cherish them!
The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, commonly referred to as “the rainbow on the hill,” are situated on 6.5 acres within Montclair’s Mountainside Park and are one of the largest public iris gardens in America. Established in 1927 to honor Frank Presby – an active citizen and founding member of the American Iris Society who had amassed and hybridized an extensive irises collection – they offer visitors an experience unlike any other garden they visit today.
Miss Katherine Inness was herself an avid gardener before taking up Presby’s legacy of creating gardens in Montclair with support from City officials, Iris Society members, and local citizens – creating these free public gardens with donations always welcome and appreciated!
Additionally to irises, there are beds of non-bearded perennials like heucheras, hollyhocks and lilies as well as purple weeping beech trees, fringe trees, katsuras and stewartias as well as two bogs that provide wetland habitat for water irises and other plants that thrive there. Each registered American Iris Society member iris has also been labeled with its name and registration year for easy reference!
At its peak bloom, this garden produces over 100,000 irises with various colors and fragrances that attract thousands of visitors each spring. Designed by Harvard University landscape architect John C. Wister as a bow design garden, it ranks 191 on Good Plant Care’s 200 “Best Public Gardens.” Irises planted by Citizens Committee during July-August when dormant can be purchased through Bloom Room gift shop as home garden plants.
The gardens are open daily from dusk to dawn with no admission fee or admission charge; donations to the Citizens Committee help keep them alive. Please respect the beds by not stepping on them or trampling flowers; there is a small parking lot for staff and volunteers, while parking can also be found along Upper Mountain Avenue and Windsor Place roads that rise above the garden site. Be sure to visit their website regularly for up-to-the minute blooming times and weather information as well as long walks through blooming season – it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes when walking through blooming season! Please also observe garden etiquette by not touching or cutting flowers nor picking any leaves or stems!
