| Our Story
My name is Ann Granatier and my background includes many years in various horticultural careers - a garden designer, teacher and consultant - and I have finally come full circle. Having retired several years ago, I returned back to the countryside where it all began...in my own garden.
My husband, Bob, started out pleasing his wife, trying to
keep up with her demands for yet another garden, adding more
compost, moving more plants, improving that soil, "tote that
barge, move that bale". Guess what!! Now Bob has caught the
bug and is steering the ship. Most of the photographs are
Bob's work and his patience has paid off. Our children, a good
friend and now Bob himself continue to improve and add to this website
filled with even more stunning pictures.
Canadian Iris Society (CIS)
We are both Board Members and Bob serves as Treasurer for
the Canadian
Iris Society (CIS), a group that promotes the cultivation and development of
Irises. We are also members of the American
Iris Society (AIS) and Co-Presidents of the Brantford Garden Club. I have
been certified by the American Iris Society as a qualified judge and Bob will receive
his certification this spring.
Speaking Engagements
We are often invited to speak and visit with a number of Horticultural groups,
including Canada Blooms and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
If you are in need of a speaker please get
in touch with us. Thank you to all who have been able
to visit our gardens the last few years. We really enjoy chatting
with you about your favourite Irises and hearing your positive
comments.
Reblooming Iris
A few years ago, we were delighted with a wonderful show of
re-blooming
Iris that began flowering again in mid-August and continued this second bloom until
a hard frost after Thanksgiving. We researched and then planted more of these
wonderful varieties. They refresh our gardens when everything else is tired and
ready to close up for the season. Our customers are both surprised and delighted
to see their favourite flowers blooming when they pick up their Iris orders in
the fall.
Award Winning Iris
There are thousands of Iris varieties to grow and since we can't grow them all,
we have decided to focus on Award
Winners and New Introductions, ensuring that we offer the best to our customers.
Trails End Iris Gardens offers only high quality plants, grown with tender loving
care. Bob is so fussy he insists on doing the planting and digging of our Irises
(which is fine by me). This ensures no mix-ups and allows us to provide our customers
with true to name varieties guaranteed to give you the most beautiful flowers in a
rainbow of colours.
Open Gardens
We are very proud of our Iris Gardens and we welcome you to spend some time
browsing our site, either by the web or come for a pleasant drive and pay a personal visit.
Our ten acres of gardens/property is located in the rolling countryside between Hamilton and Brantford, Ontario (Canadian
Hardiness Zone 5b). We have lots more land to develop and Bob is talking about digging yet another large growing bed
for this year's increases. The monster I've created lives on!!
If you live nearby, come visit us in May and June. We have thousands of plants
and over four hundred different varieties; including historic, award winners and
the latest exciting introductions.
Hours of Operation - May 18th thru June 11th
During the peak bloom period, we will be open FRIDAY THRU MONDAY from 9:00am until 5:00pm. All other
times, please call us at (519) 647-9746 to make sure we are
home.
| Early Bloom Period |
Sat. May 5th thru Thurs. May 17th
By appointment: (519) 647-9746 |
Miniature Dwarf and Standard Dwarf Bearded |
Peak Bloom Period
|
Fri. May 18th thru Mon. June 11th
9:00am to 5:00pm |
Late Standard Dwarf, Intermediates, Miniature Tall Bearded, Border Bearded, Tall Bearded
(Early, Mid and Late) |
| Late Bloom Period |
June 12th thru June 30th
By appointment: (519) 647-9746 |
Late and Very Late Tall Bearded |
|
