By Andi Rivarola
A warm welcome to those who are seeing IRISES, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society for the first time. If you are a member of The American Iris Society I hope you enjoy this new issue.
The Fall 2026 issue of the AIS Bulletin will be available online soon, accessible via the Emembers section of the AIS website. The print copy is being mailed via the U.S. Post Office.
On the cover, 'Alabama Blue Fin' (Jill Copeland 2017, SPEC-X) photo by Andi Rivarola.
Note: to access this area of the website, you must have a current AIS Emembership. (AIS Emembership is separate from the normal AIS membership.) Please see the Electronic Membership Information are of the AIS website for more details.
- 2 AIS 2026 Award Winners Gallery
- 10 AIS 2026 Awards List compiled by Linda Wilkie
- 17 2026 Popularity Poll by Harriet Robinson
- 18 Sixty+ Years of Hybridizing by Kevin Vaughn
- 26 Remembering John Ludi by Bonnie Nichols
- 27 2026 AIS Photo Contest a Huge Success by Susan Driver
- 28 Iris Heaven in 2027: Oklahoma City Welcomes The American Iris Society April 27-May 1, 2027 by Michael Kowalchyk & Angie Salazar
- 34 The SLI Convention Returns to New Orleans by Patrick O'Connor
- 36 SPEC-X Comes of Age by Bob Pries
- 40 The Magic of Botanic Gardens-The Zig-Zag Bridge in the Japanese Garden Within the Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) in St. Louis by Gary White
- 44 The AIS Special Medals Series: The Sydney B. Mitchell Medal - Its History, Its Winners, and the Man Behind the Name by Gary White
- 48 Digging the Dirt: Advice for Affiliate Clubs What to do with Leftover Rhizomes by Claire Schneider
- 50 Dykes Medal Winners of Michigan by the Bulletin Editorial Board
- 52 2026 Ackerman Youth Essay Contest Results by Debbie Strauss
- 53 Winning 2025 Ackerman Youth Essays
Support the work of The American Iris Society by becoming a member:
Not a member of the American Iris Society? Please see our website for information about becoming one: http://irises.org/
Happy Gardening!
- The Annual Print Membership receives the printed version of Irises, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society, published four times annually.
- Annual E-membership participants can view the online version of Irises, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society. Also, has access to the online iris checklist.
- The Annual Full Membership receives both benefits described above.
- Participate in AIS’s Webinar Series featuring AIS experts from around the U.S.
- Get connected with AIS members via our Facebook Group Iris Lovers, and other social media channels.
- Get to know about lesser known irises, such as species, spuria, Japanese, Louisiana, Siberian and other beardless irises.
- Support AIS's Mission of education, conservation, research, preserving historical archives, and outreach projects.
- Did you know that The American Iris Society is the registration authority for all rhizomatous irises worldwide?
- The Iris Encyclopedia is available 24-7, 365 days a year, and filled with a wealth of iris knowledge. Stop by for a visit!
