Skyline Garden
In 2006 the Madison Area Iris Society decided to find a space for an iris garden, with the ultimate goal of growing enough varieties to furnish the rhizomes for the annual iris sale. After an extensive six-month search, the sight selected was on Skyline Drive in the City of Stoughton.
The property belongs to John Baker’s Nephew, Herbie Rowin and his wife, Cathy. The Rowins not only moved their personal vegetable garden to make room for the iris beds, but agreed not to charge the Madison Area Iris Society for their use of the land for four years.
The site itself was formerly a farmette until a tornado struck the area in the summer of 2005, wiping out a number of homes and farms in the area and northeast for over a mile. All the buildings on Herb & Cathey’s property were destroyed with the exception of the house and a silo to the West.
The original garden was put together with around 500 varieties from the gardens of Ledra Mohrmann, and 300 varieties from John Baker. There are mainly tall bearded iris, however, there are plenty of BB, IB, MTB and SDB irises as well. When it was decided that the club would host the 2010 convention, another 300-400 irises were added to the club garden. The “Guest Iris” number around 300 varieties and are in the four beds to the South of the main garden.
There will be a small planting of iris inside a large tractor tire to the southwest. These are best described as ‘silver/pewter’, and the variety name has been withheld. A $20.00 prize will be given to the person who identifies the correct name. For those who wish to enter, a form will be available at the refreshment stand, was well as a box in which to deposit them. In case of more than one correct answer, the first correct name pulled from the box will be the winner.
