Monday, August 29, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Payne Medal Winner

'FLAMINGO WALTZ'

The Payne Medal is restricted to Japanese irises (JI). It is named in honor of W. Arlie Payne (1881-1971). W. Arlie Payne was at first especially interested in peonies, but in the late 1920s, he "discovered" Japanese irises. He started hybridizing Japanese irises in 1932. Over the next three and a half decades, he raised many thousands of seedlings. One of the most exceptional aspects of his breeding program was that it was developed in the early years using only six cultivars of the Edo type. Payne took line breeding to a new level of intensity. The American Iris Society awarded Arlie Payne its coveted Hybridizers Medal in 1964. When he died at the age of 90, in 1971, he was universally revered as the world's premier breeder of Japanese irises.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Japanese iris with light pink style arms and darker crests, pink falls and yellow signals.
'Flamingo Waltz'
Photo by Chad Harris

'Flamingo Waltz' (Chad Harris, R. 2013) Seedling 00JF1. JI (6 F.), 36 (91 cm), Early bloom. Style arms light pink (RHS 75D), crest darker pink (75B); Falls pink, signal soft lemon-yellow (7B) turning to green in throat. 'Saigyozakura' X 'Hime Kagami'. Introduced by Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm in 2014.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Sunday, August 28, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Nies Medal Winner

'ODE TO A TOAD'

The Nies Medal is restricted to spuria irises. It is named in honor of Eric Nies (1884-1952). Eric Nies was born in Saugatuck, Michigan, but soon after Nies moved to California, he became interested in irises of all types. He obtained his first spuria irises from Jennett Dean, who operated one of the first iris specialist nurseries in the U.S. Spurias were his special interest. His first cross was Iris orientalis with 'Monspur' He interbred seedlings from this cross, and in the second generation there was a virtual explosion of color: blue, lavender, brown, bronze and cream. During his lifetime, Nies was recognized as the foremost breeder of spuria irises in the world. Marion Walker took over his seedlings and breeding lines after he died in 1952.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'Ode To A Toad'
photo by Michaela Lango

'Ode To A Toad' (Brad Kasperek, R. 2012) Seedling #6SP-120B. SPU, 38" (97 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards rich red-brown maroon; style arms mottled brown and purple; falls orange-gold, rimmed and veined smoky red-brown maroon. 

'Wyoming Cowboys' X 'Missouri Orange'. Introduced by Zebra Gardens in 2012.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Morgan-Wood Medal Winner

'FISHERMAN'S FANCY'

The Morgan-Wood Medal is restricted to Siberian (SIB) irises. It is named in honor of F. Cleveland Morgan (1882-1962) and Ira E. Wood (1903-1977). F. Cleveland Morgan was a pioneer Canadian breeder of Siberian irises and a founding member of AIS. Some of his magnificent cultivars still enhance gardens around the globe. Three of his best known irises are 'Caezar,' 'Caezar's Brother' and 'Tropic Night'. Ira E. Wood, hybridized Siberian irises, but he introduced only one cultivar 'Ong's Hat.' He also served as a director of AIS and as its second vice president.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'Fisherman's Fancy'
photo by Ensata Gardens

'Fisherman's Fancy' (James Copeland, Sr., R. 2011) Seedling 2007-3. SIB, 20 (51 cm), Midseason to late bloom. Standards medium lavender (RHS 85A) overlaid rose, base of standards darker rose (80A); style arms turquoise (109C); Falls light rose-violet (80C), much darker rose violet near signal (80A); signals double lobed chartreuse (149C) outlined in dark blue violet. ( 'Esther C. D. M.' x ((( 'Pink Haze' x 'Dear Delight') x 'Pink Haze') x (( 'Pink Haze' x 'Dear Delight') x 'Pink Haze'))) X self. Introduced by Ensata Gardens in 2012. 

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES. 

Friday, August 26, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 DeBaillon Medal Winner

'WATERMELON WIZARD'

The DeBaillon Medal is restricted to Louisiana (LA) irises. It is named in honor of Mary Swords DeBaillon (1888-1940). Mary DeBaillon realized how varied Louisiana irises were and what lovely garden plants they were. Mary DeBaillon amassed the largest collection of Louisiana irises in the world. She was tireless in promoting these irises as good garden plants and in encouraging any who would listen to grow them. She gained considerable fame as a naturalist and native plant collector.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.


A Louisiana iris with pink standards and falls, darker magenta veining and lines throughout; signals small gold line.
'Watermelon Wizard'
photo by Riley Probst

'Watermelon Wizard' (Hooker Nichols, R. 2011) Seedling LA 05-70. LA, 36 (91 cm), Late midseason bloom. Standards and falls salmon-raspberry blend, darker veining and lines throughout; signals small gold line. 'Heather Pryor' X 'Guessing Game'. Introduced by Hillcrest Iris Gardens in 2011.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Thursday, August 25, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Mitchell Medal Winner

'GOING BANANAS'

The Mitchell Medal is restricted to Pacific Coast Native (PCN) irises. It is named in honor of Sydney B. Mitchell (1878-1951). Professor Sydney Mitchell was an educator. He became Acting Librarian at the University of California during WW I, and later founded and became first director of the Graduate School of Librarianship at that university. He was also one of the organizers of the American Iris Society.

Tom Craig wrote this of him: "Sydney looked upon plant breeding as a long term international effort in which individuals from all over the world should co-operate and add generation after generation to a real human achievement. He made me feel a real part of this and more particularly a part of a special work started by William Mohr and carried on by himself. Sydney generously gave flowers and plants of seedling for further encouragement with this work."

Mitchell was also interested in the native irises of the West Coast, and promoted them at every opportunity. He took great pride in the plantings of PCNs in his own garden. He had a large collection of various forms of Iris innominata and I. douglasiana

Previous award winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Beautiful Pacific coast iris hybrid 'Going Bananas' with yellow (gold) coloring and a white dime signal.
'Going Bananas'
photo by Mike Unser

'Going Bananas' (Joseph Ghio, R. 2010) Seedling #JP-121Z. CA, 12" (30 cm). Early thru late bloom. Gold self, creamy white dime signal. Seedling #HP-152R2: (seedling #FP-273U2: (seedling #DP-260N2, 'Coin Of The Realm' pod parent, x seedling #DP-250, 'Marriage Proposal' sibling) x 'Bowl Of Fluff') X seedling #HP-125X2, 'Cashing In' sibling. Introduced by Bay View Gardens in 2010.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Randolph-Perry Medal Winners

 'KUROKAWA-NOH' and 'YASHA' (Tie)

The Randolph-Perry Medal is restricted to interspecies irises (SPEC-X). It is named in honor of Dr. L. F. Randolph (1894-1980) and Amos Perry (1871-1953).

Dr. L. F. Randolph, or "Fitz" as he was affectionately called by his many friends and associates, was chairman of the AIS Scientific Committee from 1945 to 1956. The work he and his students Jyotirmay Mitra and Katherine Heinig did on iris chromosomes produced many published monographs and provide the basis of our scientific understanding of the genus. He conducted a number of extensive iris species collection expeditions and brought back new species and many new forms of other iris species, especially of I. pumila.

Amos Perry was born into a family of nurserymen. Perry was one of the first hybridizers to use the tetraploid irises 'Amas,' I trojanaI. mesopotamica and I. cypriana. He introduced scores of new bearded cultivars, but he was more interested in Siberian irises and iris species. He probably created more new hybrid interspecies irises than any other iris breeder. His new hybrid irises often had names that indicated their species parentage, such as 'Chrysogana' (I. chrysographes x I. bulleyana); 'Tebract' (I. tenax x I. bracteata); 'Longsib' (I. longipetala x I. siberica); and 'Chrysowigi' (I. chrysographes x I. hartwegii).

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.


Pseudata 'Kurokawa-Noh'
photo by Terry Aitken

'Kurokawa-Noh' (J. Terry Aitken, R. 2011) SPEC-X (pseudata), 52 (132 cm), Midseason late bloom. Standards cream overlaid burgundy wash and veins, inconspicuous; style arms deep burgundy, yellow stigmatic lip, semi-upright; Falls cream washed burgundy at edges and delicately applied on veins, dramatic deep burgundy eye shadow halo around gold signal, semi-flared. Parentage unknown, seed from Hiroshi Shimizu. Introduced through Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden in 2011.


Pseudata: 'Yasha'
photo by Mike Unser

'Yasha' (Hiroshi Shimizu by Carol Warner, R. 2010) SPEC-X (Pseudata); 48", Midseason bloom. Red-violet standards and falls, very deep red-violet eyelash around smaller yellow signal; violet style arms; color changes dramatically as flower opens. 'Gubijin' X unknown (mixed JI pollen). Introduced by Carol Warner's Draycott Gardens in 2010.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Founders of SIGNA Medal Winner

'ALL STRIPES'

The Founders of SIGNA Medal is restricted to species irises (SPEC) and is named to honor the founding members of the Species Iris Group of North America (SIGNA). Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.


Iris setosa hybrid cultivar 'All Stripes' with small standards, cream and pink with heavily veined pink falls featuring a V-shaped white signal with yellow hafts.
'All Stripes'
photo by Carl Boro

'All Stripes'> (Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks, R. 2014). Seedling #SP07-3-10. SPEC (setosa), 18" (46 cm). Late midseason bloom. Standards insignificant bristles; style arms cream ground, heavily sanded raspberry; falls white ground heavily veined raspberry (RHS 72A), V-shaped white signal has touch of yellow at the hafts. Parentage unknown, SIGNA seed from Fumiharu Sato. Introduced by Joe Pye Weed's Garden of Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks in 2014.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Monday, August 22, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 C. G. White Medal Winner

'ALAKAZAM'

Since 1993, the Clarence G. White Memorial Medal has been awarded to the best arilbred iris with 1/2 or more aril ancestry. When Clarence G. White began his work with aril irises, little was known about the complexity of iris genetics. White assembled the largest collection of aril irises in the world and conducted thousands of breeding experiments to obtain viable, fertile seedlings. One of his goals was to develop strong, pure Oncocylus hybrids.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards

'Alakazam'
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Alakazam' (Richard Tasco, R. 2013) Seedling 07-AB-52-07. AB (OGB), 36" (91 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards light pink-lavender ground, veined darker pink-violet; style arms light maize, pink-violet midrib, pink crest, veined darker; Falls light parchment-lavender heavily veined dark burgundy all over to the edge, signal very diffuse and small, veined dark burgundy; beards gold-bronze in middle and throat, burgundy end, sparse and insignificant; medium purple based foliage; regelia form. Seedling 05-AB-10-14: ('Energizer' x 'Desert Embroidery') X 'Desert Embroidery'. Introduced by Superstition Iris Gardens in 2013.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.


Sunday, August 21, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Caparne-Welch Medal Winner

'RIVULET'

The Caparne-Welch Medal is restricted to miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) irises. It is named in honor of William John Caparne (1855-1940) and Walter Welch (1887-1980). Caparne worked extensively breeding various dwarf iris species and was the first iris hybridizer to concentrate on smaller irises. Most of the dwarf iris cultivars grown in gardens in the first quarter of the 20th century were products of Caparne's hybridizing efforts. Walter Welch was the founder of the Dwarf Iris Society. After moving to Middlebury, Indiana, he met Paul Cook and began hybridizing irises. He shared Cook's enthusiasm for dwarf irises and set out to develop new forms for the garden.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'Rivulet'
photo by Keith Keppel

'Rivulet' (Keith Keppel, R. 2011) Seedling #06-216C. MDB, 7" (18 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards and style arms light blue (M&P 42-AB-7); falls paler and creamier blue (42-A-6); beards yellow orange on white base in throat, white at end. 'Fib' X 'Microwave'. Introduced by Keith Keppel Iris 2012.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Saturday, August 20, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Cook-Douglas Medal Winner

'COCONINO'

 The Cook-Douglas Medal is restricted to standard dwarf bearded (SDB) irises. It is named in honor of Paul Cook (1891-1963) and Geddes Douglas (1902-1993). Paul Cook's work with dwarf irises was truly pioneering. His early breeding of dwarf irises led to a series of I. arenaria hybrids, the most notable being 'Keepsake,' 'Tampa,' and 'Promise.' He was the first to use the true I. pumila in his breeding programs, and this resulted in the introduction of the first of the great stud irises in the standard dwarf class: 'Baria,' 'Fairy Flax,' and 'Green Spot.'

Geddes Douglas was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1902. Douglas was a chemist and businessman. In the early 1950s, he founded the Geddes Douglas Garden Center in Nashville. He became a leader in the Tennessee Nurserymen's Association, and served a term as president of the Southern Nursery Association.


Previous awards winners can be found at: https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

 


'COCONINO'
photo by Sutton's Iris Gardens

'Coconino' (Marky Smith, R. 2009). Seedling 04-11S. SDB, 13" (33 cm), Early bloom. Standards oyster cream (RHS 160D); style arms pale grey, crests oyster cream; falls blackened mulberry (slightly blacker than 79A), cream (160B) wire rim, cream feathers around beard; beards yellow orange in throat, yellow tipped cream in middle, cream at end; ruffled. P. Black seedling B279A,'Puddy Tat' sibling X seedling 02-09A: ('Ajax The Less' x ('Captive Sun' x 'Minidragon' sibling)). Introduced by Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden in 2012.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including  Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Friday, August 19, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Williamson-White Medal Winner

'BREAKFAST IN BED'

The Williamson-White Medal is restricted to miniature tall bearded (MTB) irises. It is named in honor of E. B. Williamson (1877-1933), his daughter Mary Williamson (1909-1987) and Alice White (1886-1969). Although others had introduced irises that fit into the miniature tall bearded iris class before Williamson, he and his daughter were the first to breed them as cultivars in a distinctive class of irises. They were apparently byproducts of breeding for tall bearded irises. In the early 1950s, Alice White of Hemet, California began a crusade to gain recognition for the assets of these wonderful smaller irises. She organized table iris robins and wrote many articles for the AIS Bulletin and gardening magazines promoting their virtues.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'BREAKFAST IN BED'
photo by Mike Unser

'Breakfast in Bed' (Charles Bunnell, R. 2013) Seedling #K65B-10. MTB, 22-25 (56-63 cm). Late midseason bloom. Standards yellow (RHS 2B) blended with red-purple (71B), veined red-purple; style arms yellow; falls cream, red-purple blend towards middle end of falls, rims are bright yellow, heavily veined red-purple; beard hairs based yellow-orange, yellow tips. 'Yellow Flirt' X seedling #E24-2: ( 'Consummation' x 'Rosemary's Dream'). Introduced by Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden in 2014.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including A
ward of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.
 

Thursday, August 18, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Sass Medal Winner

'APPLE CRISP'

The Sass Medal is restricted to intermediate bearded (IB) irises. It is named in honor of Hans Sass (1868-1949) and Jacob Sass (1872-1945). They bred irises, peonies, daylilies, lilacs, gladiolus, lilies and other garden plants. When they became charter members of the AIS, they had been breeding irises
for more than a decade. Their irises were famous for being strong growers because they used 'Amas' and I. trojana as tetraploid stud irises instead of the tender I. mesopotamica and I. cypriana.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.


'APPLE CRISP'
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Apple Crisp' (Paul Black, R. 2013) Seedling #R202B. IB, 26" (66 cm), Midseason to late bloom. Standards mid gold, mid garnet wash over center, yellow-gold rim; style arms mid gold; falls mid gold, mid brown-tan veins/wash beside beards, mid yellow patch below beard, remainder heavily washed garnet in center and lighter towards mid yellow rim; beards gold; pronounced spicy fragrance. Seedling M18A: ('High Master' x seedling J212A: ('Key To Success' selfed)) X 'Love Spell'. Introduced by Mid-America Garden 2014.


The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES. 


Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Knowlton Medal Winner

'BOY GENIUS'

The Knowlton Medal is restricted to border bearded (BB) irises. It is named in honor of Harold W. Knowlton (1888-1968) of Auburndale, Massachusetts, a tireless promoter of the border bearded class of irises. Bennett Jones wrote in The World of Irises: "Harold Knowlton was among the first to make deliberate selections of smaller plants. Two of his 1950 introductions, ‘Pearl Cup’ ... and ‘Cricket’... display the desirable features we still seek in modern border irises." Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.


'BOY GENIUS' 
photo by Jeanette Graham

 'Boy Genius' (Joseph Ghio, R. 2011) Seedling #04-44B. BB, 25" (64 cm), Very early to early bloom. Standards gold, black tint at midrib; falls almost solid mahogany black, gold dotting around beards, gold hairline edge; beards gold. Seedling 02-160: (seedling 00-98B: ('Feelings' x seedling U97-F, unknown) x 'High Master') X seedling 02-317Q: ('High Master' x seedling 00-98B). Introduced by Bay View Gardens in 2012.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Wister Medal Winners

'GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE' - 'TIJUANA TAXI' -

'COAL SEAMS' 

The Wister Medal is restricted to tall bearded (TB) irises. It is named in honor of John C. Wister (1887-1982). Three medals are awarded each year. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

John C. Wister led the organizing meeting that created the American Iris Society and became its first president, a position he held for fourteen years. He guided the Society through its formative years. He was widely recognized as a man of rare management skills, leadership ability, and the highest ethical standards. R. S. Sturtevant wrote of him: "Probably few current members realize that the AIS started through the efforts and initiative of one man, John C. Wister...."


Tall bearded iris 'GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE'
photo by Mike Unser

'Good Morning Sunshine' (Thomas Johnson, R.2014). Seedling TD20A. TB, 33" (84 cm). Midseason to late bloom. Standards bright sunshine yellow; style arms yellow; falls violet-purple wash below beards, deep yellow thumbprint hafts and wide diffused edge; beards old gold; sweet fragrance. 'Bollywood' X 'Catwalk Queen'. Introduced by Mid-America in 2014.



Tall bearded iris 'TIJUANA TAXI'
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Tijuana Taxi' (Douglas Kanarowski, R. 2014). Seedling# 0453. TB, 41" (104 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards fiery red-orange; style arms slightly darker orange than standards; falls red-orange, darker orange centerline, wide ruby-red-wine band hairline edged mid-orange, discrete wire rim, serrated edge; beards red-tangerine; moderate ruffles; pronounced sweet and strong vanilla fragrance. Tasco seedling# 02-TB-63-22: ('Return to Sender' x 'Jaunty Dancer') X seedling# 0365: ('Typsy Gypsy' x 'Starring'). Introduced by Mariposa Iris in 2014.


Tall bearded iris 'COAL SEAMS'
photo by Bryce Williamson

'Coal Seams' (Schreiner, R. 2013). Seedling# MM 425-1. TB, 41" (104 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards dark purple (RHS 89B); falls slightly darker purple (89A); beards dark purple. 'Badlands' X seedling# GG 378-A: ('Dark Passion' x 'Thunder Spirit'). Introduced by Schreiner's Iris Gardens in 2013.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Monday, August 15, 2022

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Dykes Medal Winner

'FOOTBALL HERO'

First awarded in 1927, the Dykes Medal is the highest award of the American Iris Society (AIS). It is named for William Rickatson Dykes (1877-1925) and is awarded to no more than one iris per year. Irises are eligible as a Dykes medal candidate for three years following the winning of a classification medal. Only AIS registered judges may vote. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Tall bearded iris 'FOOTBALL HERO' 
photo by Carl Boro

 'Football Hero' (Lynda Miller, R. 2014). Seedling# 8010A. TB, 36" (91 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards butter yellow; style arms same, accented violet; falls plum-purple, pale smoky orchid edged; beards gold; slight musky fragrance. 'Hoosier Dome' X 'Saturn'. Salmon Creek 2015.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

Monday, August 8, 2022

Finally, I got to fly away again – Mid-America Iris Garden

By Maggie Asplet

As the title says, I finally got to come back to the United States and made a visit to Mid-America Garden in Salem, Oregon. It seemed like a lifetime ago since I was there. Had it really only been in 2019? 

I was all set to return in 2020, flights booked, and then the world as we knew it came to an end...or that is what it seemed. March of 2020 had a couple of rather traumatic iris-related events. First, being told that New Zealand was going to go into lockdown due to coronavirus. Second, during the same week, MPI (our import regulator) rang to tell me they destroyed seed from my 2019 crosses by mistake. On top of the hybridizing work being gone, I didn't know when it would be possible to return.

Finally, in 2022, I got to fly away again. This trip certainly had its challenges, such as completing rapid antigen tests before I could travel. On top of this, bloom season in Salem, Oregon included rain, rain, and more rain. Somehow, I did find a way to make some crosses in between the showers.

 

Irises during bloom season
 

I scheduled my arrival earlier than usual, as I wanted to spend time hybridizing with the standard dwarf bearded irises. The first few days were spent walking up and down the rows looking at all the wonderful creations produced by Thomas Johnson, Paul Black, and Lynda Miller. Quite mind-boggling really. I'd never seen so many new varieties in one place. Before I could even begin hybridizing, I had to become familiar with what was there. And what better way than to watch a master at work. So many beautiful irises. Luckily, there were breaks in the weather to get some crosses made.

Paul Black hard at work

Now, I will share some irises that I used in my crosses. I crossed two of Paul Black's miniature tall bearded irises ('Hot Orange' and 'I'm not Timid') with each other, but the others are just examples of smaller irises that were available to “play” with. As to how successful these efforts were, I won’t know until 2024. If I’m lucky it might flower in 2023 and that is only if the cross was successful and a seed pod developed. That is the next stage, waiting to see what did or did not work.

MDB – 'Hot Orange' (Paul Black, 2019)

MDB  'I’m Not Timid' (Paul Black, 2020)

SDB – 'Dancing Around' (Thomas Johnson, 2017)

SDB – 'Believe' (Thomas Johnson, 2021)

SDB – 'Little Miss Sunshine' (Thomas Johnson, 2020)

SDB – 'Get Ready' (Thomas Johnson, 2020)

SDB – 'Pumpkins' (Lynda Miller, 2020)

Unfortunately, it was really, really very difficult to get much hybridizing done. I mean, just look at this next image. Saying it was "wet" is an understatement.

Walkways between iris rows got very soggy

Terrible weather during bloom season certainly created many challenges, such as finding something dry to put on my feet. An array of footwear was required.

Something new...

something borrowed (thanks Tim)...

... and something I usually bring with me – jandles*.

*Jandles – Inspired by footwear he had seen in Japan, businessman Morris Yock and his son Anthony began manufacturing this simple rubber footwear in their garage in 1957. The name ‘jandal’ combined the words “Japanese’ and “sandal.”  Thankfully, now I know where the name comes from.


Another wet day's occupation was counting irises. Here is Thomas walking the rows, counting and evaluating the damage from the poor weather conditions.

From my perspective, another great frustration was the lack of flowers; mainly due to the lack of warmth. It was really hard to believe that weather in Oregon was no warmer than back in New Zealand. Here you were going towards summer, while at home we were going towards winter and the temperatures were very much the same.

Irises waiting to bloom

Due to the lack of flowers in the tall bearded irises, I extended my stay with hope that they would soon come into flower. Even that was still a great challenge. Before we look at the taller irises, I would like to show you some images of the wonderful gardens at Mid-America and Sebright Gardens. Some of you may not be aware of the second business, Sebright Garden, specializing in shade plants from hostas, ferns, epimediums to fuchsias. Plenty of other plants as well.

 

Beautiful plantings at Sebright

Hostas and other shade-loving plants

View of Mount Jefferson from the garden

Many containers with a wonderful variety of plants

Finally, I got to see flowers on the taller irises and it was time to get hybridizing some of the "others", anything from border bearded, to arilbred, to tall bearded.

Bloom arrives in the bottom field

More irises in the house field and the seedling beds


The above image is the new seedlings for possible introduction in 2023 or 2024. So many gorgeous flowers to choose from.

 

I was also treated to seeing an American Killdeer Plover – nesting.


Now, here are images of some of the different ‘bigger’ irises I used. Not necessarily in the same cross.

AB – 'Lucky Roll' (Paul Black, 2022)

AB – 'Red Eye Flight' (Paul Black, 2022)

IB – 'Lumistreak' (Paul Black, 2022)

IB – 'Impressive' (Paul Black, 2022)

TB – 'Spine Tingler' (Thomas Johnson, 2022)

TB – 'Sorbet Swirl' (Keith Keppel, 2018)

TB – 'Dark Universe' (Keith Keppel, 2019)

TB – 'Rise Like a Phoenix' (Paul Black, 2017)

TB – 'So Hot' 

TB – 'Scattergram' (Lynda Miller, 2021)

One of my wet weather occupations was making Apple and Rhubarb Crumble – even some for the freezer.


I always enjoy my trips to Mid-America, as it is a time of catching up with other members of the American Iris Society. On this occasion, it was the flower show for the Oregon Trail Iris Society. Makes you feel like home and a good time to join in on a judges' training workshop, this time led by Kevin Vaughan. 




The results of some crosses that were made in 2019 at Lynda Miller's of Miller's Manor Gardens never got sent to New Zealand. This time, we decided I would take them home with me and declare them at the border when entering New Zealand – NO PROBLEM at all. So, in the future, I will be bringing seeds home with me.

Stopping to make some last crosses on the morning I left.


The field I left behind

And my last cross – just cause I could.

TB - 'Dreams and Schemes' (Barry Blyth)

TB - 'Bombshell' (Thomas Johnson, 2021)

A very special thank you to Thomas Johnson and Kirk Hansen for putting up with me; it is much appreciated. See you next year.