Society for Louisiana Iris 2014 Convention

By Andi Rivarola

Whether you're looking for 'C’est Fantastique,' 'Cajun Cookery,' 'French Quarter,' 'Bayou Bluebird,' 'Big Easy,' or 'Red Velvet Elvis,' you know you've made it to Louisiana iris heaven if you make it to New Orleans for the Society for Louisiana Iris Convention.  

I'm excited to extend a cordial invitation to all of you to take part of the 2014 Society of Louisiana Iris Convention.

Louisiana Iris 'Estelle Egan'

Louisiana irises offer so much in terms of color and form, and are such a feast to the eyes, it is only fitting that it would be held in the diverse and colorful city of New Orleans. 

Patrick O'Connor, the Convention's Chair, put together an outstanding website, and one has to only look at the Tentative Schedule and Program to find that it will be an SLI event not to be missed.

 Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

I am personally looking forward to a very scholarly part of this Convention -- the Symposium, a talk by Benny Trahan about Louisiana iris in the wild and its native habitat. Patrick says about Mr. Trahan: "No one today has more extensive experience than Benny Trahan in observing Louisiana irises in their native habitats.  He has systematically traveled the state with topographic maps leading him to places where the terrain would indicate the possibility of iris populations. Benny has studied fulvas, giganticaeruleas, brevicaulis and, his specialty, the nelsoniis.  For comparison, he traveled to Florida to observe I. hexagona in its various forms. " 

Louisiana Iris 'Deja Voodoo'

As in most iris conventions, the schedule will also include fantastic garden tours, an iris show, and judges trainings, but most importantly if you attend you will be part of a "fortunate" group that will see these events take place at the New Orleans Museum of Art,  the New Orleans Botanical Gardens, The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and the Longue Vue House and Gardens. Imagine, to visit all these beautiful locations plus Louisiana irises in full bloom!

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Be sure to browse through the full SLI Convention Program, where you will find extensive information you won't want to miss.

Also, for updated information follow the Greater New Orleans Iris Society's Facebook Page.

Longue Vue House

Hope to see you there!