Kelly Norris

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Des Moines, Iowa

Horticulture Manager

Author of A Guide to Bearded Irises that received an American Horticultural Society Book Award; In addition to his “”day job,”” along with his family he operates Rainbow Iris Farm, a seven-acre specialty nursery and is the editor for the American Iris Society.

Favorite cuisine: “”I”m a devout fan of Latin American foods … spicy, mild, saucy or dry, I”m all over it.”” One of his favorite reads: Orchid Fever by Eric Hansen “”probably only because I”ve read it like eight times.””

Depending on whom you ask: Kelly says he is either terribly one-dimensional as “”a big ol” plant geek or a renaissance man”” who is an avid patron of the performing arts and has spent a lot of time singing tenor in different choirs.