The Clark Gardens Blog

Do you love irises-those beautiful blooms that appear in early spring?

Maybe you haven't had much luck with them or perhaps you don't know how to get started growing them.  This Saturday, September 24, Clark Gardens is offering you an opportunity to learn the basics of growing and caring for the different species of iris.

Every now and then you get an opportunity to learn from an expert.  And now is your chance.  Sometimes the "expert" doesn't consider himself an expert and would NEVER call himself one.  But if walking the walk and talking the talk makes you an expert then Max Clark, co founder of Clark Gardens, is an expert in growing and caring for irises.  Clark Gardens has over 2000 different named irises, including tall bearded, siberica, louisiana, japanese and spuria.  And all 2000 of the Clark Gardens irises are cared for, planted, divided and pruned by Mr. Clark himself.

And long before there was a Clark Gardens Mr. Clark (Max) was planting and caring for irises.  Max grew up in Woodward, Oklahoma where his sister, Theda, was an iris hybridizer. She passed along her love of irises to Max and their nephew Hooker Nichols.  Both Hooker and Max followed in Theda's foot steps.  Hooker and his wife Bonnie operate Hillcrest Iris Gardens in Mesquite and are successful iris hybridizers and actively involved members of the Dallas Iris Society.  Many of the irises in Clark Gardens were hybridized by Hooker and Bonnie.

Clark Gardens was a guest garden for the  American Iris Society Convention hosted by the Fort Worth Iris Society in 1992 and also the convention hosted by the Dallas Iris Society in 2000.  The Dallas Iris Society will again host the American Iris Society Convention in 2013.  Clark Gardens will be one the Master Plantings Gardens, demonstrating over 1100 newly developed irises.

This Saturday Max will teach a hands on class regarding the care and planting of irises.  Class participants will learn how and when to dig and divide iris rhizomes; brief overview of the different species of iris and the best conditions to grow iris.  In addition you will leave with your own iris rhizomes to plant in your garden.  Following the class, a cook out will be hosted by garden staff at the Lake Pavilion, one of the original structures built by Max and his wife Billie.  This unique and rare opportunity will start at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 24th.  Fees:  Members $30.00/non members $40.00.  Are you a member of the Dallas Arboretum or Fort Worth Botanical Garden?  If so, sign up for this class as a member.  Clark Gardens is a member of the APGA reciprocal membership program.