botanical society of zoo montana

Located at the Koi Pond in the Homestead Collection is the Iris Garden which is administered by the Big Sky Iris Club of Billings. The original specimens are unique in the fact that they all bear an animal's name in it's actual identification which is keeping with the traditions of ZooMontana. It's a great place to pause and reflect on the many varied colors and textures and enjoy the soothing rush of bubbling water from the pond and an unexpected flash of underwater color. (painting above by Elaine Presser)

ZEBRA NIGHT

Type: Tall Bearded (TB)

Style: Variegated

Height: 35.0"

Color: Violet

Originator: Brad Kasparek

Year: 1996

Bloom Season: Mid

Fragrant: Slight

Rebloom: No

ANACONDA LOVE

Type: Border Bearded (BB)

Style: Bitone, broken color

Height: 24.0"

Color: Pink and Purple

Originator: Brad Kasparek

Year: 1999

Bloom Season: Midseason late

Fragrant; Yes

Rebloom: No

GNU RAYZ

Type: Intermediate (IB)

Style: Plicata

Height: 26.0"

Color: Purple

Originator: Brad Kasparek

Year: 1997

Bloom Season: Early Midseason

Frangrant: Yes

Rebloom: No

GOLDEN PANTHER

Type: Tall Bearded (TB)

Style: Blend

Height: 34.0"

Color: Orange

Originator: Richard Tasco

Year: 2000

Bloom Season: Midseason

Fragrant: No

Rebloom: No

TIGER HONEY

Type: Tall Bearded (TB)

Style: Broken Color

Height: 36.0"

Color: Yellow and White

Originator: Brad Kasparek

Year: 1994

Bloom Season: Early Midseason

Fragrant: No

Rebloom: No

OCELOT

Type: Tall Bearded (TB)

Style: Bicolor

Height: 36.0"

Color: Peach and Red-Purple

Originator: Joseph Ghio

Year: 1998

Bloom Season: Early Midseason

Fragrant: No

Rebloom: No

HIPPO'Z TUTU

Type: Tall Bearded (TB)

Style: Ruffled Lace

Height: 32.0"

Color: Cyclamen Purple

Originator: Brad Kasparek

Year: 1996

Bloom Season: Early Mid

Fragrant: No

Rebloom: No

OTHER COLLECTIONS

Many other varieties of Iris specimens can be seen throughout the gardens at ZooMontana:

Dottie's Garden

Sensory Garden

Chris's Garden

UPDATES

Keep watching as updates and new specimens will be added to the gardens every season. The Iris Garden itself was refreshed in the summer of 2019. We will also update with 2019/2020 season photos.