More Beautiful Blooms

This will be the last in the series of Presby Memorial Iris Garden photos. Enjoy the beauty, color, and variety!  

Presby Memorial Iris Garden in Bloom

Peak bloom at Presby Memorial Iris Garden in Upper Montclair NJ was this past weekend. If you didn't get there, I'm sure the 100,000 plus blooms will still be going strong this whole week. Go visit! It's beautiful. Iris come in a rainbow of colors, some have spots or stripes, and some are extra frilly. 

They sell plants at the show and they have a charming little gift shop too. Don't forget to stop by the donation booth on your way in, organizations like these survive on the dedication of their members and the support of the public. Let's keep this garden gem going for future generations to enjoy!

It's Iris Season at Presby Memorial Iris Garden

If you're in the New York City metro area and you love iris, flowers, or just strolling around in beautiful surroundings, it's time to visit the Presby Memorial Iris Garden in  Upper Montclair NJ. The gardens are home to 14,000 irises of about 3,000 varieties, producing 100,000 blooms annually. It is an amazing sight to behold. 

Iris Time!

The flowers are in full bloom at New Jersey's Presby Memorial Iris Garden, as you can see!

We haven't been over there yet this year but I put in a request for an After Work Visit one night soon.  I can't wait to see all the crazy varieties they grow.  It's one of those really specialized gardening experiences that is unique in the age of mega this and big box that.  Where else can you go to view iris, and only iris?  Between May 10th and June 5th?  Presby Memorial Iris Garden!

Let the Salads Begin!

Aside from lots and lots of broccoli, other things are growing in the plot. Yesterday I gathered some homegrown additions to our evening's salad: one radish (a test to see if they were big enough) and a bunch of mixed leaf lettuce.

I pulled out another broccoli and the two that remain are making pretty yellow flowers. I'll leave them until something else starts to bloom (won't happen until i plant something else). 

The rest of the garden is filled with iris, columbine, coral bells, and other miscellaneous blooms. It is so lovely to be there this time of year. 

Broccoli Broccoli Broccoli

I harvested just over 2 lbs of broccoli last week and turned it into soup. Today I took down two of the five broccoli trees to make way for something else. The weather seems to be getting just warm enough to make it bolt and we're having a hard time keeping up.

The warm weather has also got the iris all blooming. I brought home a bunch of purple stems for this week's bouquet. Soon the yellow variety should pop in the garden. Since they've been moving plots around and disturbing some of the perennials, I'm not sure there are enough this year to bring home.

I did a big plot remodel this morning with Josh's help. I'll post pictures soon!

Presby Memorial Iris Garden #7

I will be hitting the plot this weekend to assess the bug situation and possibly to plant some insect repelling herbs.  If I have to take out the broccoli, I might plant some zinnias in its place.  They have always been one of my favorite blooms; I'm a sucker for saturated hues.

Without further ado, here is the final installment of the Presby Memorial Iris Garden series!

Presby Memorial Iris Garden #6

It has been a few days since I've visited my own garden.  We have been having a nice mix of both rain and sun, so everything should be doing fine unless there has been another pest outbreak.  I looked up the worm that ate all my lettuce and it seems I have been a victim of cabbage loopers.  Hopefully they haven't found the broccoli!

Presby Memorial Iris Garden #5



While these iris thrive, my own garden has been struggling all season with various pest invasions.  Over Memorial Day Weekend, bright green worms ate ALL of my lettuce, right down to the ground.  Another worm has been attacking my beet greens.  Something ate the rest of the ripening strawberries.  Aphids have shown up on the flowers, broccoli, and even on the top of one carrot.  Fortunately nothing has touched the tomatoes, cucumbers, or pepper.  I also have some peas that have decided to grow.  We'll see what happens but this may turn out to be a flower year.

Presby Memorial Iris Garden #4

Burgundy

Black

Peach

Fuschia

Mauve

Garden Break

A beautiful miniature orange rose bloomed last week.

I love the color of these iris in the Brunswick garden.

I grew a strawberry!

Presby Memorial Iris Garden #3

This trio is too pretty!  I love the examples with the frilly edges!