Irises by the Zig-Zag Bridge

As with the camellias of winter and cherry blossoms of spring, the iris blooms of summer are one of Portland Japanese Garden’s most anticipated times of year. Irises have a presence in the Strolling Pond Garden since 1967 when Kinya Hara, Garden Director from 1964 to 1969, planted them there. The irises of Portland Japanese Garden tend to bloom in late June, just as it officially becomes summer. They have historically been used as a bellwether for seasonal change in their native Japan as well. It is believed that in pre-modern Japan, farmers would plant wild irises aside their rice fields because their blooming occurred as the rainy season began. Farmers would then transplant rice plants from seed beds into fields.