Mary Betts played a significant role in the iris gardens that were planted at the display garden at the University of Maine’s Rogers Farm in Stillwater.  She helped to coordinate the donation of over 135 plants of eighty-nine cultivars of iris in the demonstration gardens.  A large amount of the iris were donated by Mary and members of the Maine Iris Society.  

The two fifty-foot long crescent gardens at the Rogers Farm demonstration gardens contain three rows of plants.  Mary explained that Siberians and species varieties were planted on the outside edges and the Japanese and the tall Siberians were planted in the center row.  The gardens contain many iris that were introduced in Maine, as well as some national award winners.  She has returned to the gardens on more than one occasion to deliver a talk on the propagation and division of iris for the Penobscot County Master Gardeners evening program.