Discriminating botanical eyes from seven countries converged on Dairy Road in Palmerton on Friday.

And it wasn't simply a casual trip to look at flowers.There was some heavy-duty judging taking place at a visit to Glenara Gardens by international members of the American Iris Society, including famed horticulturists and hybridizers.The AIS group didn't go away disappointed."The view here is unbelievable," said Andi Rivarola of Valley Glen, California.Rivarola is second vice president of the AIS.He and some 300 other members arrived in coaches provided by DeCamp Bus Lines of Montclair, New Jersey.The first excursion of three buses arrived in the morning, others in the afternoon.Lunch was served at nearby Blue Shamrock Golf Club.But most of the time was spent studying a wide array of delicate iris hybrids and complementary flowering plants nestled among five acres of gently sloping Carbon County hillside.The visitors - from the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia and New Zealand - scrutinized the iris mastery of George and Carol Boyce, creators of Glenara Gardens."It's a labor of love, five years in the making," said George, retired from a career in broadcasting.It just so happens, the blooming iris attracts love in a special way, according to Gary White, AIS president, of Lincoln, Nebraska."Iris is different, even with the form. It's upright, and there's so much diversity with it."The display at Glenara Gardens celebrates and showcases that diversity, judges said.The Boyces moved to Palmerton in 2008 so that Carol could be near her work as superintendent of schools. She now works in the Montrose area but the vision of Glenara Gardens remains intact at 520 Dairy Road.Glenara didn't happen overnight. It's the result of a lifetime of dreaming and roll-up-your-sleeves labor.But the Boyces wouldn't have it any other way."It's just the two of us. This was all lawn when we bought it," said Carol, pointing to beds upon beds of iris rainbows.Together, the Boyces created a paradise worthy of international attention."It's a dream come true," said George.The AIS Convention Tour also spent time judging blooms at Hildenbrandt's Iris Garden of Slatington and a site in New Jersey.