Back in the late 1940s, couple Tony and Dorothy Willott of Beachwood fell in love and went on to devote their lives to irises, planting a lovely garden at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse. On Saturday, May 26, the space where the irises bloom will formally become the Willott Iris Garden, in honor of the Willotts. The public is invited to come out and celebrate. The Northeast Ohio Iris Show, where growers compete for prizes for individual irises and iris arrangements, is also happening the same day.
The Willott Iris Garden has been in the works for the past three years. Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County have spent countless volunteer hours doing whatever labor was necessary to make the garden happen. Other groups who were involved with planning, labor and money-raising efforts include the Friends of the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, Northeast Ohio Iris Society, Gardeners of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Perrin Verzi, head of the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, originally designed the garden with Michael Loos, formerly of Ohio State University Cuyahoga County Extension.
“This garden has been such a big effort by so many people,” Verzi said. “It makes me so proud that we were all able to pull together to make this happen.”
Dorothy Willott, whose husband Tony passed away at age 81 in 2008, said her husband would be thrilled to see his irises getting public recognition.
The garden’s dedication takes place at noon on May 26; followed by the show from 1:30 to 4pm. Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is located at 750 East 88th Street in Cleveland.
