Three Calls for Beardless Irises for 2017
When it rains it pours! Or in this case, you have three chances to see beardless irises in 2017! The AIS 2017 National Convention, the Spuria Iris Society Convention, and the AIS Region 13 Spring Convention in cooperation with the Society for Japanese Irises.
Which means this is the year for hybridizers to submit their beardless irises for the host gardens for these Conventions.
First up, as far as our seeing the irises, is the Spuria Iris Convention in Los Angeles. Late April/early May 2017. They are accepting plants from September 1 to October 15, 2014. See the details and contacts in the Spring AIS Bulletin, p 39 or go here.
Next will be the AIS 2017 National Convention in Des Moines May 22-26, 2017. The details and contacts should be in the upcoming AIS Bulletin. Or contact Kelly Norris, Convention Co-Chair at kellydn@frontiernet.net .
Finally, the Region 13 Spring Convention and Garden Tour in cooperation with the Society for Japanese Irises is in early July 2017. They would like the plants shipped between August 25 and September 5, 2014. Details are in the Spring AIS Bulletin, p 37 or contact the Guest Iris Chair Dwayne Booth at DBooAnn1@msn.com .
And for the rest of us, now is a good time to mark our 2017 calendars. |
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Welcome to the thirteenth regular issue of the AIS News & Notes - which I just realized means we are starting our second year! 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. |
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Aril & Arilbred Plant Sale - Deadline July 5th
Something I should have had in the previous News & Notes. There is just so much happening in the world of irises that it's hard to keep up! A members only plant sale where you can join as you order.
If you have ordered, the Aril Society International thanks you for your support.
If you have been procrastinating, now is the time to act. Over 20 varieties have sold out. The sold outs are noted on the online ordering sheet. Don't be disappointed by waiting too late to order.
At this late date I recommend you order online at www.arilsociety.org - payment is by credit card or PayPal only. You DO NOT need a PayPal account to order online. When it is time to check out you will be asked "PayPal" or "Credit Card". Select "Credit Card" and fill out the needed information. This is a secure payment site.
If you want to mail your order, check online for availability and please drop it in the post quickly.
Dell Perry
ASI Plant Sale Co-Chair 972-816-3418 seandelirises@yahoo.comHere is the page for ordering which will tell you the ones that are sold out. Be sure and check the Full Catalogue (PDF) for the beautiful pictures and the first two pages which are a guide to ease of growing the arilbred hybrid types.
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| Is Your Group on Facebook?
As you probably know, the American Iris Society is on Facebook. Did you know that many of the Regions, Affiliated Clubs, Sections, and Cooperating Societies are also on Facebook? While we have lists of the websites for these groups on the AIS website, there has not been a list showing where to find the Facebook pages. Until now that is! We have created a page on the Iris Wiki where you can help us list these Facebook sites. See the list here. Then help us add to it. You can edit the page or leave a comment there for us to add (in both cases you need to have registered at the Iris Encyclopedia) or email wrmesser@gmail.com and I'll be glad to include them. Thank you for your help! Note: Here are the lists on the AIS website for the websites by Region, Affiliated Clubs, Sections, and Cooperating Societies. If your group has a website that is not included, please let us know. |
| Tall Bearded Symposium Underway
The 2014 Tall Bearded Symposium to select the 100 most popular TBs has begun. All AIS members are eligible to vote by September 1st. See all the rules here. This year there are 462 Tall Beardeds for you to choose your favorite 25. Those on the list are: The 100 top varieties in last year's Symposium The tall bearded irises eligible for 2014 Dykes Medal The tall bearded irises eligible for 2014 Wister Medal The tall bearded irises eligible for 2014 Awards of Merit The tall bearded irises that won 2013 Awards of Merit The tall bearded irises that won 2013 Honorable Mentions You can download the ballot (PDF) listing them here. And for the previous 8 years of results, see the links to PDFs at the bottom of this page. |
| Virtual Iris Show Deadline - July 31
The Virtual International Iris Show is underway and the deadline for entries is approaching. You have until July 31st to send your entries. The complete details are on this Iris Encyclopedia page and its links. It also has links to the different Tables where you can see the current entries. There are 22 different Tables that you can enter. In addition to the different types of irises, there are also Reblooming, Historic, and Novelty Tables. To see some of the current entries, look at the Arilbreds (Table 6) as an example having several entries. |
| Mass Plantings in Public Spaces
The AIS World of Irises blog always has great postings and irises to check out. This month was no exception; I've been drooling over many of the pictures in First Year Blooms, Surprise!, Louisiana Irises (in New Zealand), Oldies, well you get the idea. One of the other topics was Mass Plantings in Public Spaces by Mike Unser. In this case, highlighting the Olympia Hands On Children's Museum plantings. I liked his photos and it got me thinking. We have a Gardens Web in the Iris Encyclopedia. It currently contains Display Gardens and National Collections to see irises in bloom. Should we also be including iris displays such as Mike is writing about? If we want to make it easy for us and the public to find where to see irises, what should be included? I know some clubs have gardens they maintain and we would like to include more of those. Please let us know what you would like included - or add it to the Iris Wiki yourself! |
| Ongoing
Something new - a collection of something old. Reminders of previous items that you may still want to check or check again. These are not those with near deadlines; such topics have their own separate entries. And we may not put in everything that is continuing in every issue because there is so much happening in the world of irises. This month's items:
Fuller versions of these topics can generally be found in earlier News & Notes in the Archives in addition to the links shown in the above list. Please let us know what you think. Is this useful to you? How can we make it better? Comments, suggestions, questions to wrmesser@gmail.com . Thank you for your help! |
| How Hard Do You Like Your Jigsaw?
The favored suggestion for last month's jigsaw was 'Lent A. Williamson', a hardy historic. It looks correct and the vigor is consistent with its identity. Thank you again to everyone for your help in identifying irises! This month I thought we might try something a little different. Both the iris - not a bearded - and the jigsaw. I've been judging how difficult to make the jigsaws by how long it takes me to solve them. Which may make them too easy for you. So this time we have two versions for you to try. The same image in each case; but, the second version has twice as many pieces. The iris is from a clump I saw at the Iowa Arboretum. I think it is a Spuria; but, I could not find a label. Can you help identify it? And please let me know your jigsaw preferences. This is the standard difficulty jigsaw. And here is the harder difficulty jigsaw. Please send your suggestions and comments to wrmesser@gmail.com . Thank you for your help. |
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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 in earlier issues.
The Emembers Login link can now be found in the Quick Links in the left column. You will need your username and password which comes from the AIS Membership Secretary (aismemsec@irises.org).
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The American Iris Society 
