The American Iris Society 
News & Notes
October 1 2013
In This Issue
News & Notes Archives Available
Time to Collect Seeds for Seed Exchanges
Even More on the AIS 2013 Medal Awards
Siberian & Species Convention Pictures
Beardless Guest Iris Deadline for 2016 Extended
Just For Fun - Iris Videos
How is the Iris Encyclopedia Doing?
Historic Iris Article
And Now for Something Completely Different
News & Notes Archives Available 

For those of you who missed our first issues, they are now available in the News & Notes Archive.   And if you would like to refer back to something earlier, you can also find it in the archives.  We have added it to the quick links below so you can find it in future editions of News & Notes.

Quick Links
 
 
 
 
 
Join Our Mailing List
::

 Welcome to the fourth issue of the AIS News & Notes.  Please let us know what you would like to see here.  And if you have notes you would like to add, or you would like to become a reporter, please let us know!  You can contact either Bob Pries or Wayne Messer with your comments or interest.
 
Time to Collect Seeds for Seed Exchanges

 

For those of you contributing (or who would like to contribute) to seed exchanges, now is the time to begin collecting iris seeds.  Several of the AIS Sections have annual seed exchanges and some are beginning their call for seeds.    

 

To order seeds from the seed exchanges, you do need to be a member of the Section or Cooperating Society; but, you do not have to provide seeds.  This can be a great way to grow some unusual or rare irises!  Another benefit  for joining the AIS Sections and Cooperating Societies.  

 

The Aril Society has just opened their seed exchange to orders.  This page has their guidelines and a yearly timeline of activities.  You can see the 2013 list and order here.  

 

SIGNA (Species Iris Group of North America) has sent out a call for seeds for their seed exchange which is held in January.  

Other seed exchanges are held by the Society for Pacific Coast Native Irises and the Dwarf Iris Society.  

 

Even More on the AIS 2013 Medal Awards

 

We told you about the 2013 AIS Medal Winners in our Special Edition of News & Notes and followed up with the entries in World of Irises (the AIS blog) that had been published by our next edition.  As we mentioned, you can find all the winners listed here, a list that includes links to the iris's description and pictures on the Iris Encyclopedia. The list also includes the 2013 Honorable Mentions and Awards of Merit. 

We conclude our coverage of these awards with the rest of the continuing series in the AIS blog World of Irises which features each of the winning irises.  Ones since the previous News & Notes:
Siberian & Species Convention Pictures
 
The Siberian & Species Convention was held June 6-8 in Lansing and Kalamazoo, Michigan.  For those of you who could not attend, and for those  who attended and would like to relive it, here are some places to see pictures from it.

The most recent issue of Irises, which you should now have, has pictures of Siberian irises, four-year clumps from the Convention, on pages 20-21 (July/August 2013).

The AIS World of Irises blog also had pictures and the results of voting for favorite Siberians and seedlings.  See Bob Hollingworth's report Delayed Gratification - The Siberian-Species Convention in Michigan.

And there is a slideshow on the Iris Encyclopedia showing Siberians and Species iris from the Convention.  Thank you to Glenn and Susan Grigg for the photos and the PowerPoint presentation.  To launch the slideshow, go here and click on the Start Presentation button.  Use either your computer arrow keys or the arrow buttons under the slide to go through the slideshow.

Beardless Guest Iris Deadline for 2016 Extended
 
As we mentioned, preparing for the 2016 National Convention requires planting beardless guest irises soon!  The deadline for receiving these irises has been extended to October 15, 2013.  Contact either Linda Sercus linda.presby@comcast.net or George Boyce glenara@aol.com for details.

And mark your calendar to attend the 2016 National Convention hosted by Presby Memorial Iris Gardens and AIS in Newark, NJ.

Just For Fun - Iris Videos

 

The AIS Facebook page is a place where we can share iris pictures, ask questions about irises, and now see iris videos!  There are two iris videos for you to enjoy from Justin Waldman of South Africa.  Anyone (whether having a Facebook account or not) can see these on the AIS Facebook page - go down to September 15th.  And to make it easier, here are direct links to the short videos (1- 2 1/2 minutes):

 Learn more about Iris florentina L. and the TB 'Florentina' in the Iris Encyclopedia. 
How is the Iris Encyclopedia Doing?
 
The Iris Encyclopedia (also known as the Iris wiki because you can edit it) has been getting better and better!  Bob Pries has some numbers showing where we are now and shares them with you here.  Quick summary:  there are more irises, more pictures, and more use of the Iris Encyclopedia.

Remember, you can help it get even better!  Just register for an account (if you haven't already) and you can add cultivars, photos, and topics, as well as improving what is already there.  What else would you like to see in the Iris Encyclopedia?

Historic Iris Article

 

130 years ago, a timeless, classic piece of iris literature by Sir Michael Foster (Dykes' mentor) on hybridization and what it tells us about the origins of our irises.  It starts with the discovery of a new species Iris milesii.  Now you can read it on the Iris Encyclopedia, an article of his from the Gardeners' Chronicle 1883.   To make it easier to read, it has been split into 6 parts.  Start here to read it. 

Note that the original article did not have pictures.  That's one of the benefits of having it on the Iris Encyclopedia, we, and you, can add pictures and links to related information.

 

And Now for Something Completely Different
 
Different; but, still irises.  Have you tried an iris jigsaw?  Now's your chance - we have one for you to solve and then identify the cultivar.  This Iris Encyclopedia page has the link to the puzzle and a clue.  Or you can go directly to the puzzle.

Check back next month for the answer.
Become an Emember
 
If you are already a member, you might consider adding an American Iris Society Emembership.  This is a way for you to show additional support for AIS.  For just $15 a year, in addition to your regular membership charge, you have online access to Irises, including all the back issues of it and the AIS Bulletin, the Registration & Introductions database, and you help to support our online initiatives!  Find out more here.  And you will qualify for the AIS Voucher Program described earlier.