REMINDER: General Membership Meeting, Saturday, Feb 15, 9:30 AM, East Bank Regional Library
This site is a gateway to information on GNOIS and Louisiana irises.
You are invited to explore and get involved to any degree you wish. We would be delighted for you to join us but just as happy to see you at an event, on a field trip, at an iris sale, or in our iris nursery in City Park. Or just use this site to learn about Louisiana irises.
Forms and colors of the four Louisiana iris species native to the State..
We aim for friendly informative quarterly meetings that offer the chance to learn from one another and from guest speakers.
In the spring we schedule:
The general meeting format includes:
Our extensive planting of species and hybrid irises in New Orleans City Park is a unique resource that makes most of our core activities possible. Click above for a brief video that says it all.
The Island Iris Nursery:
We are committed to sharing our irises with the public. We regularly donate Louisiana irises from our Island Iris Nursery to public gardens, nature preserves, rain gardens parks and for other public purposes.
A few of the beneficiaries of GNOIS donations include:
Our members participate by volunteering at the Island Iris Nursery.
Louisiana irises in the wild have suffered a long decline due to development and degradation of their native habitats. GNOIS is a principal participant in efforts to preserve our native irises, and we are also committed to preserving historic hybrids, both natural and human-created.
Making a wide variety of Louisiana irises accessible to our members and to the public is a principal mission of the Society. We hold sales usually twice a year offering plants from the Island Iris Nursery.
A bare root rhizome sale is held in the fall, and when supply permits, a potted iris sale is occurs in the spring.
Members who volunteer to prepare for the sale and for other tasks are offered thank-you irises and an opportunity to purchase at other times.
Members are both the beneficiaries and instruments of education about Louisiana irises. Every event, whether a meeting or volunteer work, involves opportunities to chat with others who know more or less than any individual. There is no substitute for learning through interaction with fellow iris enthusiasts.
In addition, GNOIS:
Each Thursday and the First Saturday of the month are standing workdays at the Island Iris Nursery in New Orleans City Park. Volunteers work together for several hours beginning at 9 AM doing general upkeep of the iris collection, work that is critical to many GNOIS activities. Other days may be scheduled as needed, such as for sale preparation.
9:30 – 11:30 AM, East Bank Regional Library
Planning for Spring Activities and Election of Officers
9:00 – Noon. Lighthouse on Lakeshore Drve.
A great place to find potted Louisiana irises ready for the garden. Well established pots ready to plant. The sale will be at the Lighthouse on Lakeshore Drive. Come early. Limited supply at $10 per pot. Pictures of varieties will be posted on Facebook.
8:00 – 4:00 PM
Stops planned on Northshore, including Joyce Wildlife Management Area near Ponchatoula and Fountainebleu and Riverside State Parks near Mandeville.
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sculpture Garden
Judges Training Thursday, Bus Tour Friday to Palmetto Island State Park, Festival des Fleurs Saturday at Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette.
Details at https://louisianas.org/news-events/
10:00 AM at Longue Vue
Bayli Q. Brossette, Curator, Briarwood, The Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve
Jointly sponsored with Longue Vue House and Gardens
4:00 PM – 7 PM
Enjoy a casual visit in the Wild Garden at Longue Vue at peak Louisiana Iris bloom time. Refreshments and free admission.
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Time to see what all the fuss is about. Best species Louisiana iris collection in the country. Over 500 cultivars.
Directions at ….
TBA
Details to be determined.
9:30 – 11:30 AM, East Bank Regional Library
Program to be determined.
9:30 – 11:30 AM, East Bank Regional Library
Program to be determined.
9:00 AM – Noon at Longue Vue
This is the big one. Huge bare root iris sale. Over 100 varieties
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM – East Bank Regional Library
GNOIS and the Daylily Society team up for joint Holiday Parties. We are continuing the tradition this year. Great food, door prizes, new friends.
All rights reserved 2025