Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
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Presby Memorial Iris Gardens Horticultural Center
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Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
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| Location: | 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates: | 40°51′5″N 74°12′23″W / 40.85139°N 74.20639°WCoordinates: 40°51′5″N 74°12′23″W / 40.85139°N 74.20639°W |
| Area: | 7.8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built: | 1922 |
| Architect: | John Wister |
| Architectural style: | Second Empire |
| Governing body: | Local |
| NRHP Reference#: | 80002483[1] |
| NJRHP #: | 1171[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | September 17, 1980 |
| Designated NJRHP: | June 25, 1980 |
Presby Memorial Iris Gardens (6.5 acres) is a nonprofit, volunteer-run living museum specializing in iris flowers, located at 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair in Essex County, New Jersey, USA. Following financial problems in 2008 and 2009, ownership of the gardens was transferred to Essex county, who bought the Walther house for 1.1 million dollars in order to give the gardens a better financial standing. The county then leased the gardens back to the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens for $1.[3]
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[edit] Description
The Gardens are in a park-like setting and open to the public without charge. The blooming season is May 14 to June 4. It is the largest non-commercial garden dedicated to irises in the world.
The gardens were established in 1927 to honor Frank Presby, a noted horticulturalist and a founding member of the American Iris Society. Its well-documented collection now includes approximately 10,000 individual plants, representing 6 species and over 2,000 varieties of irises.
Adjacent to the gardens is the Victorian Walthers House that is home to a museum shop, headquarter for the Citizens Committee, and flanked by the Victorian Garden.
[edit] Vandalism
In August 2005, 157 historic rhizomes were vandalized. One year later, Montclair Police were tipped off to the culprits who were later arrested and sentenced. The three men, minors at the time, had clubbed the plants practicing golf swings, while intoxicated.[4] In 2008, a theft was attempted on some irises, by removing them and putting them in a plastic bag, but they were recovered.
[edit] See also
- Iris (plant)
- List of botanical gardens in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey
[edit] References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Passaic County". NJ DEP - Historic Preservation Office. April 1, 2010. p. 5. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/essex.pdf. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ http://www.baristanet.com/2009/02/county_to_acquire_iris_gardens.php
- ^ Philip Read (2006-08-11). "Alcohol fueled iris vandals, police say". Star-Ledger. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1155272375316680.xml&coll=1. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
[edit] External links
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