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Region 21 Fall Meeting August 11-12, 2017 Kearney, Nebraska

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Our annual Fall Meeting is in Kearney, Nebraska this year on Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12.  The form for registration was in the Spring Region 21 Bulletin and you can also download the form: Registration Form Aug 2017 (PDF).

A quick recap:  Friday afternoon there is an optional tour of the G. W. Frank Museum of History and Culture, followed by a Welcome Reception, an Affiliate Panel and Roundtable Discussion, and a Board Meeting that everyone is invited to.  Followed by continuing the reception.  Saturday begins with Jean Morris presenting Judges Training/Education sessions on Tall Bearded Irises and Ethics.  Then a potluck lunch and Awards Program, Membership meeting, and Iris Auction.  There is also an Iris Swap Meet Table.  And we finish at 3.  Come and enjoy with your friends!

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Wanda Lunn in Iowa Gardener

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Part of Lunn Garden 2010

Region 21 member Wanda Lunn and her garden will be part of the July/August 2017 issue of Iowa Gardener.  You can see part of this article “New and old grow in harmony in Cedar Rapids, Iowa” online.  The complete article “Harmoniously Blending the New and Old” can be found as a garden profile on pages 58-63.

I should also mention that in April the Heart of Iowa Iris Growers had Wanda speak to us on historic irises and HIPS.  She was a great speaker, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic.  Thank you Wanda!

Region 21 Hybridizers at the AIS Convention

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Region 21 was well represented by guest irises from its hybridizers at the recently concluded Convention “Rhythm of the Prairie”.  The hybridizers were:

Links are to each hybridizer’s page on the Iris Encyclopedia.

Their introductions competed for the President’s Cup voted by all registrants at the Convention.  The results, you may have seen these on Facebook and they will be in the Irises Bulletin, are:

All seedlings, Region 21 or not, compete for the Lloyd Zurbrig – Clarence Mahan Seedling Cup.  LeRoy Meininger’s seedling LM-14-03 was the 1st Runner-up for this cup.

Thank you to all our hybridizers for the guest irises and congratulations to all the winners!

Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks Coming to Minnesota November 6

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Another nearby iris meeting for Region 21 members to enjoy.  Region 8 has Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks for its speakers this year.  They are in Madison, Wisconsin Saturday, November 5th, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota Sunday, November 6th.  See the details on the Minneapolis meeting here.  Their presentation will be on their hybridizing program and will include one hour of judges’ training on Species Iris.

The Iris Encyclopedia has more information on their hybridizing accomplishments.  You can see photos of many of their irises on the Iris Encyclopedia and at Joe Pye Weed’s Garden where they have many of them for sale.

Bonnie and Hooker Nichols in Kirkwood, Missouri October 16, 2016

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 Well-known hybridizers Bonnie and Hooker Nichols will be speaking this coming Sunday, October 16, 2016.
The event will take place on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 1 PM at the American Legion Post 156 which is located at 314 South Clay, Kirkwood, MO 63122.  The entry is in the back.  The program will be on Novelty Irises (by Bonnie) and Louisiana Irises (by Hooker).  It is not a Judges Training, but, two separate talks.  There will be light refreshments.  The event is hosted by the Kirkwood Iris Society (KIS) but they are inviting the Greater St. Louis Iris Society (GSLIS) and anyone else in  (or out of) the area to attend.

 

New Affiliate Forming – Heart of Iowa Iris Growers

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The Heart of Iowa Iris Growers is a new American Iris Society affiliate forming in Iowa.  Our first meeting was September 8 and the enthusiastic members agreed to have our meetings the last Thursday of the month beginning in October, 2016.  Come to our meetings and help us grow!

Heart of Iowa Iris Growers members would like to invite interested people to their second regular meeting Oct 27, 2016 at 7 pm.  The meeting will be held at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Please inquire at the desk to be directed to the meeting room.  Our speakers that evening are Kelly and Libby Jensen who will be sharing preparation for entering iris for judging at an iris show.  We will discuss the yearly calendar and future meeting site.  All are welcome who love Irises!

Region 21 Bulletin News

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bulletinuptosnuff

The Region 21 Bulletin will be published again in 2017 with two issues, the first in March and the second in October.  Acting editors Pam and Wayne Messer  will be following the format used by Gary White as editor.  We will be contacting the Affiliates’ Presidents for officers, calendars, and events, members for articles, and will include a message from the RVP.

Please let us know what you would like to see in the Bulletin.  Email wrmesser@gmail.com or comment below.

Bulletin Cover Photo: ‘Up To Snuff’ (Ensminger 1998) Photo by Linda L. Rader

Symposium Voting Deadline September 1st

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The deadline for submitting your votes for the 2016 AIS Tall Bearded Iris Symposium is approaching.  They need to reach our current RVP, Linda Wilkie, by September 1st.  You can email or mail them to her.  And you do not need to attach the ballot, just let her know the names or numbers of the irises, up to 25 from the list mailed with the Winter 2016 Irises Bulletin, that you are voting for.  Her contact information:

Region 21 AIS RVP:  Linda Wilkie, 15115 Grant Circle, Omaha, NE 68116
phone: 402-493-3808 e-mail: lrwilkie@gmail.com

Did you know, there is at least one iris from Region 21 on the ballot, ‘Beneath My Wings’ by LeRoy Meininger (2005), which came in at number 78 in the voting last year.

Possible Pop-up Judges Training and Programs

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In an effort to improve services to our independent members, along with our clubs, we are exploring the possibility of adding half-day pop-up Judges Training and/or programs throughout the year, throughout the Region . This is in addition to our regular Spring and Fall Region 21 Meetings. We would appreciate receiving your views, comments, thoughts, and suggestions.

Contact person:  Wayne Messer email wrmesser@gmail.com .

New Club Forming In Iowa

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Exciting news: formation of a new club in Central Iowa is getting closer! Thanks to Sue Witt, there will be an organizational meeting September 8th as shown in her notice below.  Thank you Sue!  Looking forward to the meeting.

Welcome to Heart of Iowa Iris Growers Affiliate

 Hello, my name is Sue Witt and I recently attended Region 21 Fall meeting in Sioux City. I expressed interest in central Iowa having our own affiliate organization. We have many  iris lovers in this area, who are knowledgeable, supportive individuals, with a desire to  share information with the public and each other.  With encouragement from attendees at the regional meeting, an awareness of previous efforts, and a belief we will be successful please join the newly established Heart of Iowa Iris Growers affiliate.
    Our first meeting is September 8th, 7pm at our home-2649 Moonlight Dr, Des Moines, 50320. We live in Three Lakes development off of Army Post Rd between Indianola Ave and IA 65.  My phone number is 702-498-6413.
I volunteered to be President, Pam and Wayne Messer volunteered to assume any office assigned (Pam Messer is Vice-President and  Wayne is Treasurer). I will be asking Kristin Jurik to be secretary. AIS members are eligible to hold office and additional opportunities will exist.  I am excited about our affiliate and anticipating a great meeting. There will be dessert!