Vote for Your Favorite Tall Bearded Irises

Posted on July 15, 2013 by wrmesser

Every year the American Iris Society members vote for the 100 Most Popular Tall Bearded Irises. This years voting is now underway with 600 Tall Bearded irises on the ballot for you to chose your favorite 25 (or fewer). These irises were selected from the following:

The 100 top varieties in last year’s Symposium
The tall bearded irises eligible for 2013 Dykes Medal
The tall bearded irises eligible for 2013 Wister Medal
The tall bearded irises eligible for 2013 Awards of Merit
The tall bearded irises that won 2012 Awards of Merit
The tall bearded irises that won 2012 Honorable Mentions

Ballots and instructions are available on this page. Your selections need to be to our RVP by September 1st, either by email or regular mail.

Central Iowa Iris Society First Meeting – November 2, 2013

Posted on July 11, 2013 by wrmesser

The Central Iowa Iris Society will meet November 2, 2013 at the Ankeny Dahls, 1802 Ankeny Boulevard, in the Community Room. Join us at 10 a.m. for our first/organizing/course-setting meeting. All are welcome. Everyone attending will receive a certificate for a free iris next summer (several selections available). Questions – email wrmesser@gmail.com

Historic Irises from Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

Posted on July 8, 2013 by wrmesser

The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens were established in 1927 to honor Frank H. Presby, a founder of the American Iris Society. They are home to the largest public collection of irises in the United States. This year they are renovating their heirloom beds and are offering historic irises from these beds for sale. You can see (and order) the initial twelve historic irises they are offering at their shop on Etsy. Their iris varieties for sale will be updated as they continue to renovate their beds through July and August.

Region 21 Fall Conference – August 9 – 10, 2013

Posted on July 8, 2013 by wrmesser

'San Francisco' - from the 2012 auction

The Region 21 Fall Conference will be hosted by the Greater Omaha Iris Society August 9th and 10th. Join us for an interesting and educational conference. Region 21 AIS members should have/should soon receive the notice and registration form. You can also download the information and registration form here (PDF). Further details below.

Region 21 of the American Iris Society

Fall Educational Sessions, Business Meetings, & Auction to be held:

Friday and Saturday, August 9-10, 2013

Hosted by the Greater Omaha Iris Society

Featuring guest speaker Robert Hollingworth, noted Siberian iris hybridizer and current President of the AIS Foundation

Iris Auction August 10^th at 1:30 PM

Purchase recently introduced iris rhizome from Sutton’s, Stout’s and Ensata Gardens. A selection of new bearded and beardless varieties will be available for bid. (auction is open to the public)

Educational Sessions* (Saturday morning):
Session I: Awards & Balloting
Session II: Judging Siberian Iris presented by Robert Hollingworth
* educational sessions meet criteria for judges training c.e. from the AIS.

Conference sessions and activities will take place at Mammel Hall, located on the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Ak-Sar-Ben Technology Campus. The first NU system building to earn gold LEED certification, the facility is a showpiece of technology and artful design.

Conference cost is $45.00 per person

(banquet only and youth prices are available)

Conference registration includes:

Friday evening reception
Educational Sessions
Saturday luncheon and business meetings
Saturday evening banquet and program presented by Robert Hollingworth

Pre-registration is required for all events.

A limited number of seats for Mr. Hollingworth’s morning presentation are available to non-conference participants for $5.00 per person (10:00 AM Saturday, August 10^th).

The conference hotel:

Courtyard Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Village
(a Marriott Property)

1625 S 67th St

Omaha, NE 68106

(402) 951-4300

Special room rate of $95.00 per night needs to be confirmed with the hotel by July 26^th

Please contact the conference registrar Rebecca Kadel for details and to register. (402) 556-2025 or rebecca.kadel@cox.net

CWIS 2013 Iris Show Results

Posted on June 28, 2013 by wrmesser

Congratulations to the Can-West Iris Society for their great Iris Show which was held June 9, 2013. The total number of stems exhibited were 153 with SDBs predominate. There were 91 SDB stems entered in that section. In addition, there were 123 different varieties exhibited. The results were:

CWIS Section Certificates:
A – MDB – Flea Circus – Brenda Newton
B – SDB – Celebrate – BJ Jackson
C – IB – Blueberry Filly – El Hutchison
D to K – not awarded

CWIS Awards:
People’s Choice Award (voted on by the public) – IB Dragonmaster – El Hutchison
Best Historic Iris in Show – not awarded

Best Canadian Hybridized Stem in Show (sponsored by Chuck Chapman) – SDB Blueberry Tart – BJ Jackson

AIS Awards:
Silver Medal (most first place ribbons) – Brenda Newton
Bronze Medal (second most first place ribbons) – El Hutchison
Best Specimen in Show – IB Blueberry Filly – El Hutchison

Note: The irises names link to their entries in the Iris Encyclopedia. The pictures there are not from this show. We will have some pictures from this show later.

Reminder – Can-West Iris Society Show June 9, 2013

Posted on June 6, 2013 by wrmesser

The Can-West Iris Society has the last of the Region 21 Affiliates Iris Shows, at least that I’m aware of, this Sunday, June 9th, 1 – 4 p.m. at the Bourkevale Community Centre, 100 Ferry Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba with free admission. Details are on their website (PDF).

George Sutton, Well-Known Iris Hybridizer, Passes Away

Posted on June 4, 2013 by wrmesser

George Sutton, the founder of Sutton’s Iris Gardens and a prolific hybridizer, died May 29, 2013 at the age of 80. He registered hundreds of irises including some from most of the iris classes. Two of his Arilbred irises won the William Mohr Medal, ‘Ulalena’ in 2010, and ‘Shabaza’ in 2008. He and his late wife Margaret were instrumental in creating the Porterville Iris Festival.

Obituaries can be found here and here. Our condolences to his family.

Vic Seller’s Memorial Iris Garden Event – June 3, 2013

Posted on June 2, 2013 by wrmesser

A special open garden event for the Vic Seller’s Memorial Iris Garden located at Immanuel Village will be hosted by the garden curator, Ron Crampton. This special open garden event will be held Monday, June 3rd from 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM. Please contact Ron Crampton for details.

Garden details from the Greater Omaha Iris Society website: Vic Sellers Iris Garden (all Tall Bearded Iris). Vic established this wonderful garden several years before his death. Ron Crampton maintains it in Vic’s memory.

Mary Ferguson Birthday Celebration – June 8, 2013

Posted on May 30, 2013 by wrmesser

Mary Ferguson is celebrating her 80th birthday. Her daughter Barb sent a invitation to all of the iris friends that she would love to have them attend.

OPEN HOUSE
Saturday June 8, 2013
1 to 4 pm

Norfolk Senior Center 307 West Prospect Avenue, Norfolk, NE

Please RSVP to Barb Glaser at (540-230-5816) or by email to glaser13@msn.com

Bring your warm remembrances and good wishes, but no gifts, please.

(My suggestion, if you have any fond memories you might put them in writing so they can be included in a scrapbook.)

Thank you to Carolyn Lingenfelter for the notice and suggestion. You can see the Norfolk Daily News announcement on their website.

AIS Region 21

Author Archives: wrmesser