The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens is renovating four of its garden beds this summer and is making surplus rhizomes available for purchase. The sale runs today, July 20, and tomorrow, July 21, and again on August 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grab bags containing eight unidentified iris bulbs are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $20. People who have pre-ordered are encouraged to bring in their receipts and pick up their goods during this time.
The Garden beds under renovation (numbers 9, 12, 17, and 29) contain a wide range of historic tall bearded irises dated through the 1960s. A large healthy crop has been processed with great care by both staff and volunteers, including a group from the Master Gardeners of Essex County. Planting instructions will be included with each purchase.
During the rhizome sale, the Bloom Room gift shop located inside the Walther House will be open, selling a mix of reasonably priced garden and iris-related items. Also for sale will be a new batch of Presbee Honey that has just been jarred.
The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens is located at 474 Upper Mountain Avenue in Upper Montclair. Outside of bloom season, the garden grounds are open to the public daily from dawn until dusk free of charge. Rhizome sales act as a fundraiser for the Citizens Committee, a registered 501c3 organization that maintains the daily operations of the Gardens.
For more information, call (973) 783-5974.
