Welcome to the eleventh 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.

 

 

First news from the AIS 2014 Convention in Dallas, Texas.  (See also the topic to the left and the one below.)  The first winner of the Zurbrigg-Mahan Seedling Cup for best seedling seen at the convention was Alton R. Pyburn's seedling #08-6-10 shown here in thumbnail form.  You can also see it and the other Cup winners here.

Time to start thinking about the AIS 2015 Convention in Portland with it's theme "Iris in Wonderland 2015".  Dates are May 18-23, 2015.    And following this on May 24-25 is the Siberian/Species Convention "Another Day in the Garden".

Information about both Portland Iris Conventions can be found on their website here.  It includes all

The Dwarf Iris Society (DIS) in an effort to make Miniature Dwarf Irises better known is  offering 9 discounted packages of Iris. You can view them on their website here.  To order one or more packages add $15 shipping and handling (which includes a year's membership and check out on the shopping cart). The DIS plans more special rhizome and seed offers in the future. These packages are very limited in number, so act fast.

Update - Two of the packages have been sold out!  See them with the remaining packages at the above link.

 

The Fresno Iris Society Iris Show was featured on their local PBS station.  A five minute video was created and you can view it online here.  Great views of irises and the show and probably several people you know.

If you have videos of Iris Shows you would like to share, please let us know.  And did you know you can create a page for your iris show on the Iris Encyclopedia where you can show photos of your show?

 

Thanks to Superstition Iris Gardens for sharing this video of a drones-eye view of their iris.  A photographer testing his skills and equipment flew over the iris gardens.  The thumbnail to the right shows the drone hovering over the iris garden - I know you can't see the drone at that size, so see the full-size picture here.  The drone is in the middle above the fence.   And you can see the drone in the air by itself in this picture.

You can see more of Superstition Iris Gardens and their irises by visiting their Facebook page.

 

Hopefully you make use of the list of Quick Links which you can find in the left column.  We have added to the links and wanted to point them out.

Now there is a link to the EMembers Login on the AIS website.   You will need to be an EMember, with your username and password to use this to access all the goodies there.  (That link is also in the item at the end of this newsletter encouraging you to become an EMember.)

 
What else would you like to see in our Quick Links?  Please let us know!

 

One type of feedback we receive is corrections.  Usually shortly after News & Notes has been sent.  These are very helpful, especially when we can correct something on the spot.  Last month's item on Where to See Iris Shows was a good example of this.  Turns out I had accidentally  truncated the List by State and City just before Texas.  So those of you who wondered why Texas and States after it alphabetically do not have Iris Shows, it was all my fault.  Fortunately an eagle-eyed reader spotted it early and with it being on the Iris Wiki I was able to fix it immediately!  Thank you!!  (That is also one of the reasons I like using the Iris Encyclopedia to point to, it can be readily fixed and you do not have to wait till the next issue for updates.) 

While talking about the list of Iris Shows, we would also like to thank our readers for a suggestion.  Adding show information (or at least links to it) to the lists.  We have begun doing this on the List by Date for the 2014 shows.  And this is something where we need your help!  You can add links you are aware of for the shows.  You just need to register on the Iris Encyclopedia, if you haven't already, and then you can update these and other pages!

Corrections are not the only feedback we appreciate.  We also want your ideas and suggestions for News & Notes and the AIS.  Hopefully there will be more of the latter than corrections needed.  Please send your suggestions, ideas, comments, thoughts, and yes, corrections to wrmesser@gmail.com or robertpries@embarqmail.com.  Thank you for your thoughts and help!

 

 

Thank you again for your suggestions for last month's noid's identity.  Most popular was 'Mountain Melody' and its Iris Encyclopedia pictures certainly look right.  My only reservation is 'Mountain Melody' is an early to medium season bloomer, confirmed by your comments, and my noid was medium to late.  Do the different hardiness zones affect this?

And to this month's iris jigsaw.  From the Bluegrass Iris Society 2013 Iris Show.  Where I learned I need to record the names of irises.  I thought the camera would do it where I had included the tags in the pictures.  Which did not work for me.  Anyway, this iris was one of the winners; but, I'm not sure which or its name.  Enjoy the puzzle.