About
The Baitinger Family
Welcome to Exline Iris Garden! We are the Baitinger family, proud new owners as of 2024.
Gregg, a fourth-generation farmer, wears many hats; from caring for the irises to handling orders. Tonya, the heart of our display garden, is the friendly face greeting visitors and managing office operations. Sara, our daughter, is the person behind our website, social media, and newsletter.
We're excited to share our passion for irises with you and hope to see you at the garden this year. If you can't visit in person, thank you for exploring our website and supporting us from afar!
Mr. James Exline
Mr. Exline is the original owner of Exline Iris Garden. He built up the garden to over 1,300 varieties of bearded irises after purchasing his first irises from a local couple (Whrelda and Harry Pittman) in 1973.
Jim has always cherished the joy and wonder the garden brought to others, from the"oohs” and "aahs" of guests to the heartfelt memories shared by visitors whose lives intersected with his. For him, the garden was never about wealth but about sharing beauty and creating connections.
His philosophy of combining a great product with genuine kindness was the foundation of his success and the enduring legacy of Exline Iris Garden.
Stop in during bloom season and visit the garden; if you're lucky, you may see him there soaking in the beauty of the flowers. He loves to chat with visitors and has a wealth of knowledge about irises that he would love to share.
