May 12, 2025
Dear Iris Friends
Your orders over the years have meant much to me. As I whiz through my 70's, health issues have accumulated.
Since opening the website, my recovery has been very slow. It is with much sadness that I inform you of my very difficult decision to “temporarily” suspend sales at Rockytop Gardens for 2025, until/if I can reopen the site.
Those very first confirmed orders that arrived will be dug and shipped. To those who have been kind to very recently write and ask when the site will open, I sadly report that it will not happen this season.
Recovery from multiple surgeries remain in the healing process and I must not make promises to you that I cannot fulfill.
Know that you are appreciated and that I am still growing Tall Bearded Irises. My return as an active iris plant grower and provider is my great desire. It has been 63 wonderful years growing and sharing the beauty of bearded irises with so many customers!
Thank you for the decades of orders that you have sent me over these many years. My plan is to be busy weeding and cultivating iris plants in 2025 to share with you in 2026.
With my sincere thanks to each of you!
Happy gardening,
Phil Williams
Rockytop Gardens
615-274-6426
Thank you, once again, for your generous purchases in 2024! We are currently completing inventory of our available irises for year 2025 and they are growing rapidly already! The irises this year have bloomed more heavily and constant than I can recall in recent years.
We continued to have less rain this year than I can recall. The iris stalks have remained upright and strong in the winds as well! As bloom season progressed we had heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds during peak bloom!!
Every single rhizome of our new variety purchases last year were wiped out in a matter of days in late September. Our established varieties were not damaged at all—only the newest and most expensive. Every blade of foliage turned yellow then dried into crispy brown in just a few days. The good soil these new acquisitions were grown in has been abandoned! We had never seen the disease “scorch” and hope to never see it again!
We will be adding older “historic” varieties throughout the summer that we have not grown in quantities for sale previously. We will add them as they are available. There is a strong demand for many of these varieties that do not require pampering and special attention. They will be available for September shipping only in separate parcels. They will require separate handling and shipping fees.
We begin shipments after July 4th through August.
Thank you, as always, for your much appreciated orders! This will mark 59+ consecutive years growing tall bearded irises! I began this journey as a young boy that has turned into a graying old man! Time marches on and I give thanks for every precious year!!
Phil Williams
615-274-6426
Shipments begin after July 4th.
We hope to have our site open for sales early this month, weather permitting.
With my very best wishes always,
Phil Williams
Email: rtgphil@gmail.com Phone: 615-274-6426
914 South Main St, Eagleville TN 37060
Shipments begin in mid July and continue through September; they are typically filled in the order received.