Welcome to the tenth 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.

 

 

The Median Iris Society has a number of fundraisers underway.  Two of them are raffles that you can enter now where the winners will be drawn after their meeting at the Dallas Convention.  The first is 2014 and 2013 introductions where you can donate $4 for each ticket and choose which iris you would like to win.  Here with pictures are the choices.  The second is chances to win either of two Aitken collections of 2014 introductions for a $8 ticket.  Again with pictures and you choose which collection you would like to win; see the form here.

Another fundraiser that is underway is the sale of four 2014 median introductions and one 2013 introduction (donated by three hybridizers) for $45 (a $100 value!).  There are only 13 sets of these available so use this form soon.  Update - there are now only 7 of these sets left!

The MIS fundraising page here has links to all the forms as well.

 

The 2014 AIS Photo Contest has begun.  You have until midnight June 30, 2014 to enter this year's contest.  You can see details about the Photo Contest at this AIS website page.  There will also be a link from that page to the 2014 entry form as it is updated.  Right now it links to the 2013 entry form which you can see here.

You can see the earlier Photo Contest winners from 2008 to 2013 as slideshows by following the links on this page.

 

For those of you attending the AIS 2014 Convention in Dallas, please take all the pictures and videos you can.  We would love to see them and add them to the Iris Encyclopedia and other AIS websites and literature.  They would be great for promoting AIS to potential members and for promoting irises in general.

Earlier we shared some examples of this: the 2007 to 2012 Conventions photos as slideshows in movie format which you can see from this page from the Greater Kansas City Iris Society website.

We'll be glad to help you incorporate them in the Iris Wiki and share them in other ways.  Also, with the 2014 AIS Photo Contest underway, they could make good subjects for your entries in it!

 

After the 2014 National Convention and the Louisiana Irises Convention, there are two more scheduled for 2014.  May 22-23 is the Tall Bearded Iris Society Spring Meeting in Salem, Oregon.  And July 4-5 is the 2014 Society for Japanese Irises National Convention in Victoria, British Columbia. 

More information about the TB Meeting is here .  This PDF has the registration information and form to mail in.  Deadlines you need to know:  room reservations need to be made by April 30 to receive the special rate and the early registration discount requires your registration to be postmarked by April 10.

Learn more about the Japanese Irises National Convention here.  There is a link to the registration form there or you can go directly to the form.  The early registration discount is available till April 30.  Note that you need to fill out the form and then print and mail it.

 

An opportunity that AIS is considering as a member of the American Public Gardens Association is offering a complimentary subscription to Better Homes & Gardens for our members.  This would be a membership benefit, which currently would be offered to those who join or renew after October 24, 2013 and before September 30, 2014.  Although it is possible that the program will be renewed by BH&G again.  And, if you already have a subscription, this would be an extension of it. 

To judge your interest, we have a quick survey.  One question, whether you would be interested or not.  And a second question, only if you may be interested, for your contact information.  Please help us consider this, and learn more about how to use surveys, by taking this survey here. 

Thank you for your help.  Please send any suggestions or comments to wrmesser@gmail.com or robertpries@embarqmail.com  .

 

Another Seed Exchange for your enjoyment.  This one for bearded iris.  The Median Iris Society Seed Exchange is underway.  You can learn more about purchasing seeds here.  The current list, which is regularly updated, is directly available here.  The seed sale continues until supplies are exhausted.

Two notes:  You do not need to be a MIS member to order seeds.  However, you definitely should consider a membership - learn more about membership here.  Also, they recommend emailing your selections to see if they are still available and reserving them before sending your check.

 

I always learn a number of interesting iris facts from your suggestions and references.  Last month's seminoid - which I believe is 'Dauntless' - was no exception.  One irisarian was also trying to identify a similar noid in their garden and wondered if this was a pbf (purple base foliage) iris.  I checked the Iris Encyclopedia and it did not mention pbf for this iris.  However, this Roots article on pbf of historics did have it on their list.  Also, I learned that 'Germaine Perthuis', another iris along these lines, has a strong root beer fragrance.  Both properties are things to check when identifying noids.

And another noid for your jigsaw puzzle.  Not my best picture; I didn't know when taking pictures that I would be sharing this way.  This one might be on my list; but, I don't recognize it.  Looks to be a TB.  You can see the puzzle here.  Please send your suggestions to wrmesser@gmail.com   Thank you for your help.