Garden History
Breezeway Iris Garden is a family business started by George Bacon and his mother Doris Bacon. The garden is located just outside of Madison, Wisconsin at the family home on 80 rolling acres we have owned since 1960. Our current house was built in the spring and summer of 2003 and the first Iris were […]
Keith Keppel writes, “I began selling irises when I was in high school — during the 1950’s — and shortly after that began the mail-order bit. (This was in California…moved to Oregon in 1993 after retirement from the post office.) My “specialty” would be tall bearded irises. I’m particularly interested in the plicata and luminata […]
The American Iris Society’s (AIS) beginnings can be found on their website, www.irises.org/history.htm. “The Founding of the AIS: A New York Story” includes this excerpt: John C. Wister, a young landscape architect who played an important role in planning the AIS and became its first president, often said that America’s rebirth of interest in garden […]
The Portland Japanese Garden’s yearly Plant Sale gives garden enthusiasts an ideal opportunity to browse a wide selection of plants native to Asia as well as plants found in Asian gardens. Stephanie Moss Portland-area nurseries sell an outstanding selection of conifers, peonies, orchids, camellias, hydrangea, bamboo, bonsai, Japanese maples, azaleas, rhododendrons, and more. These native […]
The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens was established in 1927 to honor Frank H. Presby of Montclair, a leading horticulturalist and a founder of The American Iris Society. This living museum, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Sites, offers a spectacular display of thousands of iris varieties to visitors from all over the […]
The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Canada’s newest botanical gardens is now in development. Located just 50 km east of downtown Toronto, Oshawa is home to approximately 1,100 acres of parkland, 10 km of bicycle and walking trails and has a reputation for outstanding success in gardening. The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens Peony Garden was established during […]