Iris Garden II, Presby Iris Gardens, Montclair NJ

Iris Garden II
12 x 16 Oil Painting
 by Pat Fiorello

The last iris painting was so much fun, I decided to do another while I was at it. This view is slightly further back from the flowers in the garden, so there is less close up detail on the flowers but more of them. I also wanted a hint of a suggestion of more iris fields in the distance in the upper left corner to balance the activity going on in the center of interest area in the upper right quadrant and also give a sense of endless fields of irises.  I gave my client the choice of whichever version he preferred.

Before moving to Atlanta, for many years I lived in Upper Montclair N.J. where there is a place called the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. The garden was created to honor a horticulturist and founder of The American Iris Society,  Dr. Frank Presby,  and his work on irises as a legacy and a beautiful gift for the public to enjoy. It is absolutely breathtaking- a hill of irises with thousands of varieties.  Yes, not only thousands of flowers, but 3000 different varieties of irises-simply amazing!  It is stunning and colorful- but fleeting as the blooms are only out for a few weeks in May each year. If you are anywhere near there during that time of year it is a sight to see. I miss seeing it each year but just learned now through the wonders of technology they have a " live iris -cam" on their website,  so you can check it out and have a virtual tour when it is in full bloom again next spring.

Presby Iris Gardens,
Montclair N.J.
(Photo credit: Irene Jeruss)