Just a quick reminder, the Region 21 Spring 2016 Meeting is a Whirlwind Garden Tour of the host gardens for the 2017 AIS Convention. This is an opportunity to see all 5 host gardens in one day, May 21st! Indications are there will be lots of blooms. Details can be found in this PDF brochure and registration form. Let us know you will be attending.
The Region 21 Spring Meeting this year is the Whirlwind Garden Tour which is a one day dress rehearsal for the AIS 2017 National Convention. Details have been mailed to Region 21 members. In case you did not receive it or would like more copies, 2016 AIS REGION 21 Brochure is the PDF of the brochure.
Hope to see you here May 21st and next year to enjoy the irises and all the great irisarians!
The AIS 2016 Convention Going East in 2016 has a number of speakers and events. The Convention website has the schedule, currently labeled tentative, here (found under the Convention selection), which does not yet list speakers and topics. Now many of the speakers and topics with dates and times are available in this 2016 AIS Convention Programs (PDF). It looks like a great lineup.
You can still register for the Convention. Information is available on the Registration page which links to the form you will need. Paul Gossett, the Convention Co-Chair has an Invitation to 2016 AIS Convention (PDF).
This year our first iris bloom was much earlier, because of adding Iris reticulata bulbs last fall. Today (March 30th) one was in bloom and two others have color visible at our central Iowa location.
Last year we did a series reporting when and where particular irises began blooming because we thought it could be helpful to have information on when irises are blooming in the Region in more or less real time. So that you, your friends and neighbors, and visitors will know when to see the irises. When/where to see the early irises. When is the peak bloom time in your garden this year? When is the best time to see public displays in our Region this year?
We would like to continue it this year for the same reasons and to see if having more years of observations helps to better understand when irises will be blooming. Do you have some bloom observations we can add to the list? You can either leave them as a comment or email the webmaster wrmesser@gmail.com to have them added. Thank you.
Region 21 has 6 Clubs located in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Manitoba. You can find your closest Club on this map. Or see these in a live Google Map at BatchGeo.
These are:
See the Who We Are page for links for some of these and the AIS Region 21 Affiliates page for contact information.
‘Blue Rhythm’
This is Region 21’s 65th year; so before it’s over a quick look back. Region 21 was formed with Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota on January 1st, 1950. Iowa and Nebraska had been part of Region 18 which had been formed from Region 9 in 1947. Region 9 had been Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. When Region 18 was formed, only Illinois remained as Region 9. Then in 2010, Region 21 was expanded to include the provinces of NWT, Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The first Regional Vice-President was Mrs. Ralph E. Ricker, 1516 Ross St., Sioux City, Iowa, according to the list of RVPs in the Bulletin of the American Iris Society, January, 1950. 1950 was also the year the AIS Spring Convention was held in Sioux City, Iowa and the year that Agnes Whiting of Mapleton, Iowa won the Dykes Medal with ‘Blue Rhythm’.
Thank you to everyone who has made Region 21 great over the years and to all of you who are helping to continue the tradition.
Region 21’s own Gary White was elected AIS president at the Board of Directors meeting in Omaha. A number of Lincoln Iris Society and Region members were there to help celebrate his election and installation. Congratulations to Gary and thank you for your service.
Some photos from the festivities. Jim Morris and Gary. Gary and Linda Wilkie. Gary and Ron Crampton who made the centerpiece shown in the last photo. It was made from irises reblooming at the time.
Thank you to the Greater Omaha Iris Society and Linda Wilkie for organizing and hosting this outstanding meeting.
The Greater Omaha Iris Society is hosting the 2015 American Iris Society Board of Directors Fall Meeting November 6th and 7th. The registration form is here: 2015 Fall AIS Board Meeting as a Word (docx) file.
If you need a PDF instead, use this link. Hope to see many of you there!
2015 November 6 – 7 Omaha, Nebraska
Meeting Chair: Linda Wilkie, 15115 Grant Circle, Omaha, NE 68116
phone: (402)493-3808
e-mail: lrwilkie@gmail.com
Your registration fee includes Friday evening hospitality (light hors d’oeuvres), Saturday luncheon and Saturday evening Banquet. (Friday evening dinner is on your own.) The hotel provides free shuttle service from the airport and registrants will receive complimentary parking in the adjoining hotel garage. Registration does not include your hotel accommodations (see details below for hotel information)
Meeting Fee: $65.00 (banquet only fee $35.00)
Checks should be made payable to Greater Omaha Iris Society and mailed to:
Phyllis Randall
22871 Kane Avenue
Glenwood, IA 51534
Credit Card payment can be accepted. Contact the Registrar, Phyllis Randall for instructions.
(phone: 712-520-7754 or email: pkrandall22871@gmail.com)
Questions may be directed to:
Linda Wilkie, 402-559-7649 (day time) 402-493-3808 (evenings) lrwilkie@gmail.com
Meeting Headquarters: Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown Old Market
540 S. 12th Street
Omaha, NE 68102
phone: (402) 513-5500
website: Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown Old Market
The hotel is located in the popular entertainment district of the Old Market in Omaha, the area has many restaurants, art galleries and upscale shopping. The area retains its brick paved streets from the turn of the century, horse-drawn carriages, and covered sidewalks in some areas. It is not uncommon to see a variety of street performers, artists, and other vendors.
Attractions available in Omaha and within the 5 mile limit for the hotel’s complimentary shuttle include:
· The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo
· Lauritzen Gardens and the Dougherty Conservatory
· Joselyn Art Museum
· Midtown Crossings Shopping and Dining
Within walking distance of the hotel are over 40 dining venues and numerous art galleries and shops. November 6th is “First Friday” in the Old Market and most galleries are open into the evening hours for these open events.
Check: http://oldmarket.com/ to plan any activities for yourself or your travelling companion.
The AIS World of Irises blog has an entry by Renee Fraser Personal Favorites: Tall Bearded Iris ‘Peach Royale’. ‘Peach Royale’ is a TB by Region 21’s LeRoy Meininger registered in 1999. Renee has a number of photos showing it by itself and in her garden. You can also learn more about it and see additional photos in the Iris Encyclopedia here. Congratulations to LeRoy!
The Sioux Empire Iris Society is hosting this year’s Region 21 Fall Meeting in Sioux Falls, SD. Join us for Judges Training in the morning and afternoon, the business meeting, the evening banquet and an iris auction. Also, please bring rhizomes from your own gardens or club sales for a bargain table.
In case you did not receive the notice and registration form, here is the Region 21 Fall 2015 notice as a PDF for you. So send your registration soon and make your room reservations.
Hope to see you there.
AIS Region 21 