This is such a lovely garden filled with so many colorful irises, especially shades of purple which I love, but so much more as well. The dirt pathways are lined with endless rows of these beautiful flowers. I also saw some cute animal sculptures placed within the garden, and even some real animals on site (cats, horses, etc.). There are various options for seating and tables to enjoy a meal in this charming outdoor setting. And 1-2 small parking lots make it convenient to visit. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to stop by on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in May, sunshine mixed with a cool breeze, and just a handful of visitors so it didn't feel too crowded. And with peak bloom starting this weekend, how perfect for Mother's Day! A unique experience for sure, and free. read more

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I'm told there's a very short window to see these irises bloom. Luckily a few of us were hiking in the area and got to see all of the varieties. Not sure if anything there was for sale. No one was around except the few of us admiring the flowers. There's a small lot to park not far from the entrance. It was a dreary day and had drizzled earlier so not many people but I could see it could be more popular on a nice weekend day. read more

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I was just going on a drive one day on Sierra Rd and saw a sign for Nola's Iris Garden on the way. My mom is huge into gardening and plants so I wanted for us to go together to check it out! We saw that this was the season, until the end of May. Once you drive in where the sign is there, there is parking near the front and overflow parking around the back. It seems like a huge area, but there are Iris plants all over, and once you start from one side, you lose track of time till you get to the end. There were other families and couples just enjoying the space and looking at the different type of Iris plants that were there. There were some folks getting photoshoots taken too! The people have done so well with the place, with signs for each one, the flowers so neatly organized with benches and paths everywhere. They even have coffee out and sign up lists to be notified of the bloom season for the following year. We came to the latter part of the bloom season where the flowers were withering, so I can't imagine how nice it would be in at the start of full bloom. Now we know what we are going to target next year! Major kudos to the farm for doing such a great job with the place and making it accessible to the whole community to share their love for these flowers. read more

Nola's Iris Garden - Beautiful garden area - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

Having purchased nearly 50 iris from Nola's Iris Garden, I can say they bloom every year and are spectacular. While some were small when I first planted them, they all grew and bloomed by the second year. Worth the wait. read more

Beautiful Iris gardens. Best to carpool as parking is limited. Open a few weeks on spring. To walk through and enjoy. Some use artists allowed upon request? Picnic tables may be available ( plan on packing out all trash) Outhouse may be available. The most incredible selection of Irises!! Some sell out so if you are planning to order do so early You will not be disappointed! read more

The flowers are amazing. We had a lovely Mothers Day here in the beautiful hills surrounded by flowers.

Beautiful place. On a hill bad cell service and gps so try to take a good look at the directions before you get towards the top of the hill. I could spend hours here just looking at the beautiful iris gardens that are all over the property. They do not sell on the spot. You have to order online. read more

Pretty little nursery with lots of blooming iris flowers. They even gave us one iris flower because it is Mother's Day. Worth checking out just to look at flowers and walk around the hills area. read more

Nola's Iris Garden - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

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When I had issues either with what I ordered or what I received they have either refunded my money and sent me a bonus iris or have replaced the one with which I had a problem. Not many business today care about customer service. I should have waited a little longer on my first review. read more

Nola's Iris Garden - This is what was sent as Ziggy - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

Fantastic hidden pearl by the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve! If you go hiking to one of my favorite preserves in San Jose, the Iris garden of Nola and her husband Gary Prevost is a must visit (if you love flowers as much as I do, and you should, flowers embody beauty and grace and maybe by association you get to smell better and be more graceful too). I missed last year when I found out about this place for the first time, as the season goes only from April to end of May, so is now or...next year. There is no way you can get lost. When you are driving up the hill you will read some cool signs attached to various trees: 'roses are red', 'violets are blue', 'peonies are pink' and 'iris for you!". Needless to say that I loved that nice clic-d'oeil to the visitor and after a hike today, went immediately to get some flowers...to find out you have to buy the bulbs online. There are 2000 varieties! Impossible to get bored, just by reading the names such 'Angelic wings', 'Lascivious dreams', 'Polish princess' or 'Capricious candles' you get to think: am I at a garden or reading the latest collection of OPI nail colors? That amazing. Oh, and the most amazing of all is that is totally free to enter and to park (beware that there is not a huge parking lot as this is mostly a private ranch where also people go pony riding). I am impressed to know that you can go and have a picnic at the pretty new deck with covered ceiling and great vistas of San Francisco Bay in a clear day as today. I asked a woman if she had to rent to do her picnic with a bunch of friends and she said she just called in advanced and informed, but no charge. More pluses: you have coffee and water offered (also free) and some drinks on sale. Everything is so peaceful and beautiful and Nola is so super friendly that you want to just be there the whole day. To top it off, you can get (also free) the 'bearded iris planting and gardening guide' written by the couple with tips on when to plant and how to take care of these precious flowers. Remember: Iris is deer resistant, do not resist my dear! read more

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We enjoyed going to Nola's Iris Garden to purchase some iris plants for our garden. This is a five plus acre nursery. They have many wonderful types of iris plants. Its also a good place to take photos. The drive on the road there is scenic. They also have a good web site describing the plants and prices. read more

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I purchased 3 iris' Sept/2021 - Nola's sent me an extra iris as a bonus. So nice! Anyhow, I planted shortly after and am enjoying their blooms in Jan and Feb. One of the plants did not flower - maybe next year. read more

Nola's Iris Garden - Iris' received! - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

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Hidden gem! We enjoyed Easter Sunday here. We didn't know where to go once we parked so we ate our sandwiches in the car. Once I saw a couple up top, we walked up to the trail to the gardens! We signed in, and I enjoyed a complimentary cup of earl grey tea. I took a brochure and gave it to my son who said he didn't have a notebook. Today was like a mini-field trip for my kids. I told them to stay on the paths, don't touch the plants and walk-good rules to follow that we learned on another field trip. There was a sign that there's another garden behind and to the left of the house so up we went! More beautiful irises and the view and the deck is spectacular! Now I know where we can have our lunch for spring break and a place to bring my mom or lunch picnic with my husband. We had been there once but didn't know to go up and around the house! The deck and the view were my favorite! It's so peaceful and a mini-getaway! Beautiful day, just a little windy! read more

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Beautiful irises everywhere. Looking forward to buying some for my garden. It's a few miles from The main road, but worth a trip to see.

I visited Nola's Iris garden with 3 other friends yesterday (April 17) The Iris Garden looked beautiful even though we visited so early in the spring. Nola is such a good host, she greeted us on arrival and showed us the way to coffee and picnic tables. It was a huge collection of various irises in almost every color imaginable. We took cool pictures and had a wonderful time. Thank you Nola for offering a free outing in your beautiful property! read more

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We were always intrigued by Nola's as we drove by on Sierra Road, and finally visited. The iris gardens are indeed beautiful. They showcase a wide display of color with the name of each variety posted. I have never seen so many irises in one setting. It is generous of Nola to open up her gardens each spring to the public; there is no charge, but a can is set out for donations. In all honesty, though, come with managed expectations. While the setting in the hills is spectacular, there is a lot of junk on the property. I'm not talking working farm junk (they have horses, goats, turkeys, and at least one cow we saw), I'm talking junkyard junk--old cars, appliances, broken furniture, piles of scrap metal, etc. Unfortunately, it does detract from the experience. If you have toddlers, supervise closely. Even so, certainly worth a visit. read more

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Review #145 - 2018 Special thanks to Kathryn B., for checking into this spot: We showed up around 2 PM on Sunday afternoon and there were a few other cars parked in the front lot; but we only saw 2-3 other people walking around, which actually worked in our favor for photos. The drive up and back down is quite windy so make sure you stay focused and keep your speed low & safe. There's only one entry/exit, from what I saw unless there's another exit that I didn't know about so it would definitely be inconvenient if there was a lot of cars going in/out at the same time. The place is definitely nice and cute; but sadly, we ended up coming when most of the flowers were already wilting. We'll just have to make sure that we come back earlier, during the first part of spring, the next time we do decide to return. Luckily, there were still some flowers that were still alive so I got a few nice photos. My daughter really enjoyed playing with the horses, but it smelled pretty bad so we couldn't stay around for too long. read more

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THIS NURSERY IS ONLY OPEN IN APRIL & MAY. There, you saw the most important part. I've been to other iris nurseries. I love iris. We were visiting San Jose for the weekend in July. BTW, most growers divide their plants in July & Aug. Not sure when she sells iris. Some other iris nurseries grow their plants for sale in containers year round. I though we'd check out this place last before our drive back home to LA. We drove all the way up the hill to find a garden full of iris in the ground. I bet it's beautiful in Spring. We met Nola and she was very nice. She told us there was nothing to see. But she did suggest a drive up the hill to a lookout point with a view of the valley. Sorry I cannot give a better review. I'm sure it's perfectly pleasant in Spring. read more

Beautiful place to spend a couple hours on a weekend! I've been coming back for the last three years since I discovered the place. It has a beautiful scenic view and some animals including horses, turkey, and cats:) and it's all on top of fields of stunning irises. Thanks to the owners for opening their farm to public! read more

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Lovely garden and Nola is so helpful in getting my favorite Iris. It's a place to refresh your mind and I am surprised to see so many Irises there!!! It's a hidden gem in San Jose read more

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I have ordered from Nola's and the bulbs came well cared for and shipped safely. The bulbs all survived the winter except for 1. I will definitely order again! read more

Nola's Iris Garden - Fashion Passion - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

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Nola's Iris Garden is a wonderful place for a Spring visit for plant lovers and photographers. There are hundreds of varieties or Iris in bloom to admire set among the beautiful scenery in the surrounding hills. They have a very nice deck for visitors to rest and enjoy the scenery. They even included free coffee for visitors. Many varieties of Iris are for sale but there's no sales pressure, just welcome and friendship. I highly recommend Nola's for Iris admirers and buyers, for photographers and for anyone who enjoys the beauty of nature. read more

Nola's Iris Garden - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

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What a treasure! Breathtaking vistas, gorgeous irises of a wide range of varieties and colors, and the people are super nice. Disclaimer:,I went as an artist to paint iris in full bloom but found so much more! read more

Nola's Iris Garden - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - San Jose, California

This is my 4th year coming up to Nola's garden to see the irises in blooms. On a sunny day this place truly is paradise: rolling green hills, blue sky, and bountiful blooms. It's amazing that paradise is such a short drive from the hustle bustle of Silicon Valley. Last year when I returned to pick up my order of rhizomes, Nola threw in a few bonuses and some eggs from her own hens(!). So when I went back recently with friends to see the blooms, we couldn't resist and each bought a dozen of her eggs on the spot! I will be returning for a couple more different species of irises again this year. read more

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Up Sierra Road in the Berryessa Area of San Jose (zip 95132) is one of the largest, most magnificent Iris farms in California: Nola's Iris Garden. I visited Nola's every year for many years and basked in all the colors and exquisite beauty of their over 2100 varieties of bearded Iris. The views of the valley and San Francisco from Nola's and Gary's property are exceptional as well. A few years ago I finally bought some of my favorite Irises from Nola's and expanded my own Iris garden. Bloom Season at Nola's Iris Garden is FREE and OPEN to the public, their address is 4195 Sierra Road. The schedule is Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10am-4pm. Nola's has picnic tables scattered around so feel free to bring a snack or lunch during Bloom Season and enjoy the Garden/Ranch or enjoy their new large deck overlooking the garden with a fantastic Bay view. Coffee and Tea are provided and sodas are available for purchase. Dogs are welcome on leashes. Photographers and artists/painters are always welcome. If you have never been to Nola's Iris Garden, I encourage you to go and treat yourself to a casual yet gorgeous setting with views and colors all around! read more

It beautiful here! I will come here every Spring time to see the Iris flowers! The couple here are so sweet to open this place to public. read more

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Nola's is the best in iris. I have been referring them for a long time. Great selection at reasonable prices. Always friendly and easy to deal with. Chef Dan M. Las Vegas, NV read more

Thank you so very much for all the beautiful iris plants. I got to see many rebloomers soon after planting. The quality ,price,,and size of the rhizomes was excellent. I can hardly wait for spring and to order again. Linda Bond /Tennessee read more

The last 3 years we've come up here and picnic for Mother's Day. It's such a beautiful and peaceful place. We've made it a tradition to come up here to celebrate Mother's Day every year. Can't wait to go next Sunday. read more

I went hiking at the Siera Open Space Preserve and came across a hidden gem of a beautiful ranch .Was very impressed with the collection of iris couldn't believe that there is still such a magnificent place and with wide open space . Nola is so friendly showed us around and since we came there early recommended that we come back when the iris are in full bloom.Offered us to use her picnic Table .Hiking enthusiasts pls check this property it is awesome . read more

This is a neat place to see a wide variety of irises when in bloom during the spring, especially if you love irises. I think it's a hidden Bay Area gem! Nola's Iris Garden offers a great selection or irises to choose from. I was quite happy to find so many beautiful irises that I could order from one place, and I think the prices are reasonable. A first-time customer, I placed my first order several months ago. I ordered 17 different types of irises, some in multiples. They were shipped to me at the right time for planting in my zone. The rhizomes arrived in a clean box. They were very clean and healthy, packed with care, equally spaced in layers in something straw-like. Each was attached with a label with the name of the variety. Nothing was missing. Perfect! I was delighted that several additional rhizomes were included, perhaps due to the size of my order or because i was a first-time customer. Not only where they included for free, the ones selected were similar to or complemented the colors that I had chosen! Thoughtful. Nola and Gary answered all of my questions pre-order and after. Nola was quite pleasant to talk to over the phone. The only thing that I wished were different was to have been charged for the order when the rhizomes were shipped, not when the order is placed. Aside from the early charge, everything that was done indicates to me that Nola and Gary care about their customers and run a good business. I highly recommend checking out this place and browsing their web site! read more

Great place to visit! Super friendly!!! Irises are gorgeous ! beautiful views!!! We went there for Mothers day and had a great time walking around! read more

Nola's Garden was a delightful find. It's like a "secret garden". Just keep driving up the hill, you will run right into it. Found it from "The Bulb Guy". Also in the Berryessa area. Open on Mother's Day! PK read more

This was my first visit to Nola's. I have never seen so many different varieties and colors of irises. To choose from. To add to the gorgeous irises was the breathtaking view and we got educated about irises by Nola herself. We had a wonderful day taking pictures and we had a picnic lunch while taking everything in. read more

Spectacular iris gardens and nursery in the east hills above Berryessa. Views of the valley are spectacular too. Great Mother's Day treat for mom. read more

Nola's is indeed a hidden gem! High in the San Jose hills with a beautiful view and rows and rows of spectacular iris. A wide variety and plenty to chose from. Looking to add to your garden slender--then this is the place to go! read more

Beautiful iris farm, Nola is a wonderful host. She personally spent time with the day visitors and greeting them. Beautiful and serene location. A must for locals as well as travelers from outside. read more

I love these gardens. It must be a work of love to keep a plant business like this going. Being able to wander through acres of blooms is pure joy, and the best way to shop for blooms I like. read more

Great views of the hillsides and irises of all kinds blooming in three or four fields. Great fun!

The most amazing collection of irises anywhere. Beautiful views from the gardens as well. You won't be disappointed.