The American Iris Society Announces the 2026 Wister Medal Winners

'SUNGLASSES NEEDED' - 'BRIGHT AND SHINING STAR' -

'ARIZONA CAVE PAINTING'

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 14. 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 'SUNGLASSES NEEDED'

Photo by Riley Probst

'Sunglasses Needed' (Steve Kelly, R. 2018). Seedling TAFCS 12-13. TB, 31" (79 cm), Early midseason bloom. Bright yellow self; beards bright gold; slight fragrance. 'That’s All Folks' X 'Coffee Song'. Introduced by Rockytop Gardens in 2019.

Tall bearded iris 'BRIGHT AND SHINING STAR'

photo by Jeanette Graham

'Bright and Shining Star' (Paul Black, R. 2020). Seedling Y23B. TB, 32" (81 cm), Early to midseason bloom. Standards white; style arms pale smoky violet, mid brass-gold crests; falls white, mid grey haft veins, narrow mid purple stitched plicata band and narrow line from beard to edge; beard hairs based white, tips mid yellow; pronounced spicy fragrance. 'Out of the Dark' X seedling L81A, 'Out of the Dark' sibling. Introduced by Mid-America Gardens in 2020. 

Tall bearded iris 'Arizona Cave Painting'
photo by Riley Probst

'Arizona Cave Painting' (Douglas Kanarowski, R. 2020). Seedling #0601. TB, 38" (97 cm), Early to midseason bloom. Standards pastel yellow, pale peach midrib and base; style arms pale peach; falls pale sky blue, outer rim lightly stained pale apricot on distal edge, second rim pale ivory-blue, wider blackberry innermost band, large ivory zone, pale apricot-sandstone shoulder; beards fiery orange; slight spicy fragrance. 'Pop Idol' X 'Jelly Bean Parade'. Introduced by Mariposa Iris 2020.

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 2026 American Dykes Medal Winner

'ALABAMA BLUE FIN'

First awarded in 1927, the American 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-accredited judges may vote. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Inter-species hybrid iris 'Alabama Blue Fin'
photo by Judy Schneider

'Alabama Blue Fin' - (Jill Copeland, R. 2016) Seedling Y-4. SPEC-X (pseudata), 38" (97 cm), Late midseason bloom. Standards cream-white; style arms edged light yellow, midrib darker, tips mid yellow; falls very light yellow washed violet, heart shaped signal violet-blue in throat blending to yellow to the center of petal then edged by violet-blue band with short sharp pointed lines into petal. Seedling GXS-2: ('Gubijin' x 'Sushi') X 'Christina’s Sister'. Introduced by Ensata Gardens in 2017.

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.

IRISES: The Bulletin of the AIS - Summer 2026 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 Summer 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, 'Tracks Of My Tears' (Paul Black 2021, TB) photo by Claire Schneider.

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. 

CONVENTION COVERAGE

• 12  2026 Newark Convention by Claire Schneider
• 17  New York Botanical Garden by Patricia Eisenberg
• 20  Brooklyn Botanic Garden by Howie Dash
• 23  Presby Memorial Iris Garden, Montclair, New Jersey, May 21, 2026 by Jill Bonino
• 26  Rutgers Gardens by Carolyn Honnette
• 29  Phanaticville: The Grand Finale by Robert Treadway
• 34 The Bertrand Farr Exhibit at the Marriott Hotel, Newark Airport by Andi Rivarola
• 36  The Youth Perspective by Taavi, Bennett, Jacob, and Steven Cordes
• 40  2026 Convention Award Winners by Linda Wilkie
• 42  Seen in NY/NJ

OTHER FEATURES

• 44  2027 AIS National Convention
• 46  Region 15 Spring Garden Trek & Meeting "Iris Roundup", Phoenix, AZ by Andi Rivarola and Claire Schneider
• 52  2026 Annual Regional Trek-Las Cruces, New Mexico by Andi Rivarola
• 55  Honorary Awards of The American Iris Society by Andi Rivarola
• 56  Spotlight on Hybridizers-The Return of Bill Maryott by Bryce Williamson
• 60  Spotlight on Hybridizers-The Next Generation: Dylan Just by Bryce Williamson
• 64  The Magic of Botanic Gardens-The Missouri Botanical Garden by Andi Rivarola and Gary White
• 69  Request for Guest Beardless Irises Society for Siberian Irises and AIS Region 6
• 70  Iris Bloom (?) 2026 in the Midwest by Jim Morris
• 73  Project BLOOM: Growing Iris Education, One Presentation at a Time by Scarlett Ayres

There's so much more on this issue in a total of 100 pages, filled with beautiful iris photos. Don't miss it!

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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!