Chasing the Iris Rainbow in ’24: Binge Year

By Grahame Ware

October 2024

Siberian iris ‘Banish Misfortune’ (Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks, 1999)
photo by Grahame Ware

All of us have abiding interests in life. You get the photography bug or the writing rash, or, worst of all, an art-collecting mania grips you; and it won’t let go. With me, these abiding interests are like a self-inflicted tattoo made without the company of sailors and drinking too much rum, or possibly, they’re a birthmark that I’ve only just recognized rising out of my epidermal sheath.

When the flames of enthusiasm have been lit, the fire never goes out. Oh, the embers may cool, but they are always ready to burst back into flames when a wind of inspiration blows up. And blow up it did this past year with my latent love for irises.  But, this time, I didn’t hold back— I gave in— and had a full-blown tryst with the iris muse. I wanted as many of those “girls of the rainbow” as possible. I envisioned them everywhere in my garden.  Only then did it dawn on me that my iris fire was raging. Ahh, but my muse knew ... and she was smoldering without a smile in a curiously alluring way.

Proof of this fiery syndrome is provided herein below: 

a) Early in the New Year, I joined The American Iris Society with an inexpensive e-membership so I could mine their archives and do research on iris cultivars. So far, so good. 

b) The first iris subgroup that I pursued and joined was the Society for  Pacific Coast Native Iris, mostly because they had a seed exchange.  Their seedex is a wonderful affair and I was able to get some really good seed and, subsequently, get some good seedlings going. They’re now planted out in a new bed and settling in very nicely. Kudos to  Louise Guerin. 

c) Quite soon after that, I joined the Ontario Iris Society (ONIS) and enthusiastically wrote an article for their winter newsletter on my attraction to standard dwarf bearded (SDB) irises I’d received from their rhizome sales in ’22 and ‘23. I had taken advantage of their rhizome sales, a marvelous way to raise funds for ONIS. Now, as a member for the first time, I got priority of ordering for the sale this past  July. Merci, merci, merci Kate Brewitt. 

d) I’d become fascinated with so many historical iris cultivars (cvs) that I  just had to join the Historic Iris Preservation Society (HIPS) because—  whaddya know?—this organization also had a rhizome sale that was cross-border friendly (as well as being a fantastic fundraiser). The rhizomes and the historic iris offerings were simply amazing. It was a big ‘Wow’— the momentum was building. All hail Nancy McDonald and Barbara-Jean  Jackson for my ‘Storm On Superior’ package that included a huge  ‘Voltigeur’ chunk! 

e) Then I turned right around and signed up for the Dwarf Iris Society because— guess what?— I discovered they were having a seed sale with many exciting crosses and cultivars that I had no hope of acquiring any other way except through their seed sale. No, this wasn’t a “bridge (or a binge) too far”; and, yes, I’m a seed-growing nut that loves having healthy, home-grown seedlings. They outperform. My seed order via post arrived here on Gabriola Island, on Canada’s Pacific coast, in one week all the way from New Mexico— a distance of over 2000 kms flying and nearly 3000 kms driving. I can’t wait to see what the ‘Green Spot’ x ‘Cheerful Chipmunk’ cross produces. Wow, again, and thanks, Tom Waters — you’re awesome!

Shipment of iris seeds
photo by Grahame Ware 

f) But I wasn’t finished with my Year of the Iris Binge. Just this month, I  couldn’t resist being a part of the Society for Siberian Iris because  (you’re not going to believe it but…) I heard that they too were going to have a seed exchange with many of the top hybridizers providing seeds of their top irises and new crosses as well. I know! I went weak in the knees and transferred by osmosis or some other mysterious energy .to my hands. Somehow, I was clicking away with my mouse and a PayPal thing.

The good news is that soon, I’ll be able to donate seeds or plants to the rhizome exchange of the groups that I’ve joined.  I take comfort in knowing that this fire of mine burns safely because it doesn’t add to our global warming nor make home insurance rates go up. 

Finally, peace has washed over me and cooled the flames of my Year of the Iris Binge. I have now planted all of the rhizomes from the exchanges, and they’re thriving. I’m thrilled at what I was able to get. It meant I had to create new beds from scratch to display the historics and other irises. What a motivation the rhizome exchange was.On the seed side, I have some wonderful-looking Pacifica seedlngs and many packets of iris seeds dutifully awaiting germination.

Now, here I am, the curator of new iris plants and seeds and the inspiration that comes from those plants and seedlings. I’ll admit that I feel somewhat like comedian Martin Short’s character, Ed Grimley Jr., in his “Night Before  Xmas” skit. With all these iris plants and seeds, I couldn’t be happier. In fairness to myself, and as a way of explaining this conflagration to my dear wife, the passion for irises didn’t happen overnight. She’s seen this movie before, but I still assure her (out of having-to-do-this-again guilt, I  suppose) that, once again, I’ll be okay. She just nods and smirks with a “Sure you .will” expression.

Bare root iris rhizomes waiting for replant
photo by Grahame Ware 

So know this dear reader: you too can let your iris fire blaze away and not worry— just smile— because it won't burn down any forest or house— just singe your pocketbook ever so slightly. 

 “It is”, as the saying goes, “but a mere pittance.”

IRISES: The Bulletin of the AIS - Fall 2024 Edition

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 2024 issue of the AIS Bulletin is available online, accessible via the Emembers section of the AIS website. The print copy will be mailed via the U.S. Post Office. On the cover, 'Perry Dyer’ (2017, AB OGB-) by Paul Black.

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.

On page 2, see the AIS 2024 Award Winners Gallery.

Find on page 10 a summary list of the AIS 2024 Awards.

A moving tribute to Perry Dyer by Paul Black, and how he came to assign the name to the iris, is on page 15. The article is called Dykes Medal winner 'Perry Dyer' hybridized by Paul Black.

Linda Wilkie provides us with a list and images of the 2024 AIS National Convention Cup Awards, on page 16.

A part of the 2024 National Convention, see a beautiful article about the Mid-America Garden Tour, on page 18.

On page 22, a summary of the Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden, which was also part of the 2024 AIS National Convention.

Lastly, the Misty River Iris Garden is featured on page 25.

A formal invitation to the 2025 National Convention to be held in Billings, Montana. Could can resist? Meet us in Montana for Iris Under The Big Sky! is on page 28.

Hybridizers note the invite to contribute your beautiful creations for the 2027 National Convention. See the details are on the Request for Guest Irises 2027 AIS Convention Oklahoma City-Tulsa, Oklahoma, on page 31. 

There's so much more on this issue. Don't miss it!

./././

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!

• 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 bi-monthly 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!

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 DeBaillon Medal Winner

  'EYES WIDE OPEN'

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.

Louisiana iris 'Eyes Wide Open'
photo by Howard Dash

'Eyes Wide Open' (Heather Pryor, R. 2006). Seedling 49/98-GHP. LA, 39" (99 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards creamy white, cyclamen blush at 1/4" edge, white rim; style arms pastel pink, lemon midrib, base and ends; falls medium cyclamen pink, white rim; signals very large yellow blotch, red eyeliner surround on falls only; recurved, triangular form; sweet fragrance. Seedling 11/94-A: ('Lemon Sorbet' x seedling 35/92-A: ('Volcanic Wildfire' x 'Spanish Ballet')) X 'Our Dorothy'. Introduced by Iris City Gardens in 2016.

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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Morgan-Wood Medal Winner

 'MY GIRL EMILY'

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.

Siberian iris 'My Girl Emily'
photo by Heather Haley

'My Girl Emily' (Dean Cole, R. 2010) Seedling DC-04-300-4. SIB (tetraploid), 32" (81 cm), Early midseason bloom. Standards very light pink-lavender, thin red edge; style arms light lavender and pink, aqua midrib, thin red edge; Falls light blue, extra wide red edge, dark blue veins. yellow to cream signal, nicely ruffled. Seedling DC-02-207-1: ('Great Falls Love' x seedling McEwen T9 95-83) X McEwen seedling T8-92/24 WR5, 'Merryspring' sibling. Introduced by Fieldstone Gardens in 2012.

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. 

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Eric Nies Medal Winner

'RED WARLORD'

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 world's foremost breeder of spuria irises. 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.

Spuria iris 'Red Warlord'
photo by Bob Pries

'Red Warlord' (Lee Walker, R. 2015) Seedling# 98-7-3. SPU, 40" (102 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards gold, dark red veining, dark red-brown edge; style arms center dark red line and tip, edge cream-gold; falls gold center with dark red veining, same color to edge. 'Highline Topaz' X 'Duerme'. Introduced in 2016 Wildwood Gardens.

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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Payne Medal Winner

 'COLUMBIA CREST'

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 'Columbia Crest'
photo by Chad Haris

'Columbia Crest' ( Chad Harris, R. 2014), Seedling 02JC13. JI (6 falls), 50" (127 cm), Late bloom. Style arms multiple, upright, flaring crests royal purple (RHS 90A); Falls royal purple blending to hyacinth blue (93B) around the bright gold-yellow (7A) signal. 'Night Angel' X 'Frosted Intrigue'. Introduced by Mt. Pleasant Iris farm in 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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Randolph Perry Medal Winner

  'VIOLET SWALLOWS'

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 trojana, I. 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.

Inter-species hybrid iris 'Violet Swallows'
photo by Mike Unser

'Violet Swallows' (Chad Harris, R. 2015) Seedling# 08SPCXL2. SPEC-X, 60" (152 cm), Late bloom. Standards white, small; style arms pale yellow (RHS 4D); falls pastel violet (85A), signal bright yellow (6A) surrounded by strong dark violet (86A) eyelash markings. 'Gubijin' X seedling# 97JD7: (Coble seedling# J90G: (seedling# J88A: (seedling# J86N: (seedling# J84J-7: ('Kyokko' x unknown) x seedling# J83A-6: ('Kyokko' x 'Rose Prelude')) x seedling# J84J) x seedling# J86DD: (seedling# J84J x seedling# J83A-6)) x 'Hime Kagami'). Introduced in 2016 by Mt Pleasant Iris Farm.

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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Sydney B. Mitchell Award Winner

'CAUGHT IN THE WIND'

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.

Pacific Coast Native Iris 'Caught In The Wind'
Photo by Leonine Iris

'Caught In The Wind' (Joseph Ghio, R. 2012) Seedling #LP-145B2. CA, 16" (41 cm). Early midseason bloom. Standards blue-violet, lighter blue edges; style arms dark blue-purple; Falls creamy white, petal edges lined blue violet; yellow blaze lined over with blue violet. 'Line Drawing' X 'This is It'. 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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Founders of SIGNA Medal Winner

 'LAVENDER MOONBEAMS'

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.

Species iris 'Lavender Moonbeams'

photo by Rick Tasco

'Lavender Moonbeams' (Richard Tasco R. 2014) Seedling #00-UNG-02-01. SPEC (unguicularis), 12" (30 cm). Midseason to late bloom. Standards light lavender, lightly veined; style arms light lavender, light golden maize sides; falls light lavender, lightly veined, white area veined lavender covers top half of petal on both sides of signal, signal orange-yellow halfway down petal; pronounced sweet fragrance. I. unguicularis alba X unknown, possibly I. unguicularis "Marondera". Introduced by Superstition Iris Gardens 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 in the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 William Mohr Medal Winner

'SIGNAL BUTTE'

The Mohr Medal is restricted to irises of one-quarter or more aril content that do not meet the more restrictive requirements of the Clarence G. White Medal.

It is named in honor of William A. Mohr (1871-1923). About ten years before his death, Mohr began working with irises. He obtained the tetraploid Asiatic species, as well as regelia and oncocyclus irises, and communicated with other iris hybridizers such as Ellen Sturtevant and Samuel Stillman Berry. The two greatest achievements of William Mohr's hybridizing programs are probably his plicatas and his innovative and beautiful arilbreds. His great plicatas are 'Los Angeles' and the iris that won the first American Dykes Medal, 'San Francisco.' Mohr's most important arilbred iris is the magnificent 'William Mohr.' 

Arilbred iris 'Signal Butte'

Photo by Riley Probst

'Signal Butte' (Richard Tasco, R. 2016). Seedling#. 11-AM-02-10. AB (OGB-), 23" (58 cm). Early to late bloom. Standards spectrum violet (RHS 82B), lightly veined; style arms cream-white, light spectrum violet sides and crest; falls spectrum violet, dime-sized black signal surrounded by red-plum wash; beard hairs based white, golden brown in throat and middle, white ends; slight sweet fragrance. 'Energizer' X 'Replicator'. Introduced by Superstition Iris Gardens in 2016.

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 in the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Sass Medal Winner

'LAKOTA'

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.

Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Lakota'
photo by Judy Schneider

'Lakota' (Marky Smith, R. 2013) Seedling #09-16B. IB, 23" (58 cm), Early to late midseason bloom. Standards grey-orange (RHS 168D) petal edges, centers and rib lavender, greyer tan 86D; style arms grey-orange (167D); falls petal rims grey-orange, upper fall and shoulders darker smoke-orange (167B), fine veins flaring from beard, lower half of center violet, greyer than 80C, grey-orange veining ending in orange rims; beards greyed red-orange (180B); ruffled; luminata plicata. 'Musician' X 'Amusing'. Salmon Creek 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. 

The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 C. G. White Medal Winner

'ENCHANTER'S SPELL'

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. 

Arilbred iris 'Enchanter's Spell'
photo by Rick Tasco

'Enchanter's Spell' (Richard Tasco, R. 2013) Seedling 07-AB-51-04. AB (OGB), 36" (91 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards bishop's-violet (RHS 81B), veined darker; style arms light orange-maize, burnt orange-brown rim, lightly veined oxblood-red crest; Falls slightly recurved oxblood-red (183C), lightly veined, signal medium sized, plush black chevron; beards gold-brown in middle and throat, burgundy-brown ends; light purple based foliage. 02-AB-26-03: ('Energizer' x 'Bagdad's Folly') X 'Kalifa's Robe'. 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.