Rainbow on the Hill? That’s what locals lovingly call the Presby Iris Memorial Gardens. This garden is more than just a collection of flowers. It is a living museum. The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens stands as the largest public iris garden in the United States.
Established in 1927, the Presby Iris Memorial Gardens honors Frank Presby. He was a local resident known for his work with the American Iris Society. For over five decades, Barbara Walther curated these gardens. Today, the Essex County Presby Memorial Citizens Committee maintains them.
The Presby Iris Memorial Gardens boasts nearly 14,000 irises. These irises represent about 3,000 varieties. Each May, over 100,000 blooms explode with color. Some iris varieties date back to the 1500s. Imagine that!
The annual spring bloom season spans from mid-May through the first week of June. Certain beds even bloom again in October. The arching slope of the garden beds gives it the nickname “rainbow on the hill”. You can see why people call the Presby Iris Memorial Gardens this.
A recent addition to the Presby Iris Memorial Gardens is the PresBee Sanctuary. It supports 10 active hives. Over 100,000 Italian honeybees call it home. These bees help pollinate the gardens.
Besides the irises, the Presby Iris Memorial Gardens has the historic Walther House. This building dates back to circa 1865. It serves as the headquarters for Citizens Committee offices. It also houses the Bloom Room gift shop.
The overall site is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Sites. It is also a facility of the historic Essex County Park System. The Citizens Committee handles the gardens’ daily operations.
You will find specialty varieties named for Frank Presby. These include Presby’s Crown Jewel Iris and the Presby Honors 9/11 Iris. The blooms display a spectrum of colors. Expect to see yellow, burgundy, white, and orange in addition to purple.
The Presby Iris Memorial Gardens offers walking paths. You can relax at the gazebo or the reflecting pool. Visit the museum and gift shop. The paths are grassy. The highest elevation is near Highland Avenue.
The Bloom Room Gift Shop is in the Historic Walther House. It is open select days. Picnic tables are available above the gardens if you want to bring food with you.
The Presby Iris Memorial Gardens faced challenges. The non-profit organization struggled to survive. There was a danger of having to sell the Walther House. In 2009, Essex County formed a partnership. They worked with the Citizens Committee’s Board of Trustees and the Township of Montclair. Essex County purchased the land. The Citizens Committee continues to preserve the gardens. They also maintain records.
Take a stroll through the Presby Iris Memorial Gardens. It is a rainbow of colors. It is a testament to preservation and community collaboration. The Presby Iris Memorial Gardens offers a peaceful escape. It is a vibrant celebration of nature’s beauty.