Garden Questionnaire: Iris Garden

Photos and Collage by Hiltrud "Sam" WebberTenth in a series

GARDEN NAME: Iris Garden
Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
2400 S. Scenic
Springfield, MO 65807

When was the garden first created?

2004

Who created the garden?

Dr. Bill Roston and Iris Society of the Ozarks

Who maintains the garden?

Friends of the Garden volunteers along with a few members of the Iris Society of the Ozarks.

How many plants are in the garden?

Eight beds, at least 50 in each bed. 400-500

How many plant types are in the garden?

Siberian, Japanese, some species, Tall Bearded, Louisiana

How many species are in the garden?

five

How many varieties are in the garden?

150-200

Are the plants in this garden grouped in any special way?

Grouped by type

When is the garden in peak bloom?

Bearded Second week of May, Siberian third and fourth week of May, Japanese first week in June

What's especially interesting about this garden that the public might like to know?

The Japanese has a bottom so it'll hold moisture. Some kind of plastic fabric. The more water, more fertilizer the better. Will grow in soil. Moisture affects flower size.

Are there any special concepts or strategies shaping this garden?

No, but it is flanked by the Lily Garden to the north, Ornamental Grass Garden to the south with the Daylily Garden to the east.

Are there future plans for this garden?

Iris have to be dug every two or three years, so it's constantly changing. We try to have at least two thirds of it established plants. The tall bearded have to be replanted every two or three years. The way the bulbs grew was just amazing. We had to dig down and take bulblets from the main bulbs, they were so thick.

Script for the Guide by Cell phone project for the THE IRIS GARDEN

Written by Peter Longley and recorded by Peter Longley on Prompt 41#

You have reached the Iris Garden that fronts our specimen gardens. The Irises displayed immediately in front of you are all Bearded Iris in a variety of colors, and look at their best in early May. Some of these varieties also have a second bloom in September. All paths in the Iris Garden lead to a focal point in two tiers that features spring bulbs and during the summer months colorful Calla Lilies. The further half of the Iris Garden is planted with Japanese Iris that have finer foliage and smaller, but more numerous, purple blooms in late May and early June. The leaves of the Iris remain attractive for most of the summer and the beds are lined with colorful annuals to keep color through summer and fall. As the Iris blooms fade, so the Day Lily beds beyond the Iris Garden take over in their full June glory.