Irises are set to bloom just in time for the 22nd annual Franklin Carr Memorial Iris Growers’ Competition in Bordentown.
The event is scheduled to be held at the Old City Hall in Bordetnown City on May 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsored this year by the Bordentown City Creative Team, the annual contest is held in honor of the local famous horticulturist and city resident, Franklin Carr. Carr was a world-renowned hybridizer of irises, and locals celebrate his achievements with a memorial garden in Hilltop Park and an annual iris competition each year.
Carr was commissioned to work for the Vatican and Buckingham Palace, among other noteworthy places. Gardens featuring his irises can be seen in New Zealand, Newfoundland and Scotland, to name a few. His talents in the garden led him to win 12 international awards for his prized irises.
The competition is open to the public, and it is free to enter and to attend. Those interested in participating must register their irises by 10 a.m. at Old City Hall the morning of the event. The event will be judged by a member of the Garden State Iris Society, Catherine Button.
Prizes will be awarded to the first-place winner in five categories: Franklin Carr Iris, Named Variety, Unnamed Variety, Best in Show, and Iris Arrangement.
People who attend the event are encouraged to visit the downstairs of the Old City Hall to visit the Bordentown City Creative Team. The Creative Team said they will be hosting their first “Make & Take” event to promote visual arts in the community, where adults and children will have an opportunity to make something from recycled goods and take it home with them.
The day’s activities also include the opportunity for locals to walk down Farnsworth Avenue to collect bouquets of flowers or to stop in to visit Downtown Bordentown’s eclectic array of shops and restaurants.
The Downtown Bordentown Association will be hosting the third annual Spring into Bordentown event as well, where attendees will be treated to talented musicians, crafters, artists, and artisans who reside in the city.
For more information, people are encouraged to visit the event’s Facebook page at BordentownIrisCompetition or visit downtownbordentown.com.
Old City Hall is located at 13 Crosswicks Street.
