2013 Eric Nies Award: Spuria Iris 'Missouri Orchid'

By Andi Rivarola

It is with much pleasure that I present to you the winner of the 2013 Eric Nies Medal: 'Missouri Orchid' by Dave Niswonger. Congratulations to Mr. Niswonger on winning yet another award for his outstanding work. 

I can't wait to see this Spuria iris in person. With its many tones of pink, red, burgundy and fuschia, I think it will become a very popular iris for many. Keep in mind that Spuria colors many times changes according to soil condition and climate, so there will variations in the garden we would surely appreciate. Other characteristics, such as form, signal size, with of standard and falls, all of these should remain the same.

Photo by Dave Niswonger

Spuria irises are tall (2 to 5 feet in height) and elegant, and have very attractive foliage. The shape of the bloom often suggests orchids and the colors range from white and yellow through blue, wine and brown, often with bright yellow signals. This horticultural class is equivalent to the botanical Series Spuriae. The highest award is the Eric Nies Medal.

Description from the Iris Wiki (http://wiki.irises.org):

'Missouri Orchid' (O. David Niswonger, R. 2006) Sdlg. Sp 9-99. SPU, 38" (97 cm), Medium Lavender self, Falls with a hint of pink, yellow signal spreading to buff. 'Missouri Dreamland' X unknown, probably 'Rivulets Of Pink'. Cape Iris 2006. Honorable Mention 2009; Award of Merit 2011; Eric Nies Medal 2013.

For more information on Spuria irises, please visit the Spuria Iris Society.

2013 Fred and Barbara Walther Cup Winner 'Judy, Judy, Judy'

By Renee Fraser

The Fred and Barbara Walther Cup is awarded annually by The American Iris Society to the originator of the iris variety that received the greatest number of votes in the Honorable Mention (HM) award balloting, regardless of classification. All classifications of irises are eligible. Only AIS registered judges may vote.  The winner this year is a stunning plicata Siberian iris hybridized by World of Irises blog contributor and iris hybridizer Bob Hollingworth.  "Judy, Judy, Judy" is named after his wife, who is a masterful garden designer and who uses Siberian irises to exquisite effect in their home garden.  

"Judy, Judy, Judy" Photo credit Bob Hollingworth

The AIS wiki has the following description of this lovely iris:

2010, Hollingworth

'Judy, Judy, Judy' (Robert Hollingworth, R. 2004) Sdlg. 02B2B8. SIB (tet.), 35" (89 cm), Early midseason bloom. Standards medium red-violet; style arms light blue; Falls white, with medium red-violet dots merging into outer plicata band. 97B1A2, sib to 'Currier' X 'Somebody Loves Me'. Ensata 2010. HM 2013; Walther Cup 2013.

For more information on how to grow Siberian irises, please visit the Society for Siberian Irises.

2013 Morgan-Wood Medal Winner - Swans In Flight

By Bob Hollingworth

"Swans In Flight" - The Plant

It's a bit embarrassing to write in praise of your own iris, but I do know more about it than anyone else, and "Swans In Flight" is living testimony to the benefits of inefficiency. Around 1998, when it was a seedling, I tried to throw it away. I wasn't at that time looking for a white Siberian so there seemed no reason to save it. We were moving seedlings to a new garden and I was interested in saving the sister seedling next to it, a very tall blue. In moving that, we inadvertently also dug and included a bit of "Swans In Flight". Over time the blue sister turned out to be too tall and the stems often fell over, but mixed in with it was this very large-flowered pure white iris that thrived mightily, grew a bit shorter, and didn't fall over. So blue went onto the compost heap and white was moved along further to possible  introduction.

"Swans In Flight" - The Flower

"Swans In Flight" proved to be a great grower everywhere with a multitude of flowers that were five inches or more across so that it visually dominated any part of the garden where it grew. It does take some special qualities for a white iris to win a top award, and the vigor and presence of Swans seems to have done it. It's sobering to realize that a few inches to the left with that first spade and it would never have been seen again.



For more information about Siberian Irises, please see the website of the Society for Siberian Irises.

2013 Mary Swords Debaillon Medal Winner "James Faith"

By Renee Fraser


The 2013 winner of the award for best Louisiana Iris is "James Faith."

This medal is restricted to Louisiana (LA) irises. It is named in honor of Mary Swords DeBaillon (1888-1940).

Clarence Mahan writes that "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. She encouraged collection of the indigenous iris species to save them as civilization encroached on the swamps and bayous. A year after her death the iris enthusiasts in Lafayette organized an iris society and named it the Mary Swords DeBaillon Iris Society. This society became the Louisiana Iris Society in 1948."

The highest award an LA could receive from 1948 until 1985 was the Mary Swords DeBaillon Award. During that period, SLI was an independent unit with no affiliation whatsoever with the American Iris Society (AIS). SLI became a Cooperating Organization of AIS in 1986. After that date the AWARD was discontinued and replaced with the Mary Swords DeBallion MEDAL, the highest award exclusively for Louisiana Iris. The MEDAL is a part of the AIS award system. All AIS medalists, including the the Debaillon medalist, are eligible for the Dykes Medal, the highest award presented by AIS.

"James Faith" Photo credit M.D. Faith

Here is the description from the AIS wiki:  'James Faith' (M.D.Faith, R. 2000). Sdlg. S54A. LA, 42" (107 cm), M. S. blue purple, lightly ruffled; style arms blue, reddish cast; F. darker blue purple, large golden yellow signal edged creamy white. 'Bayou Dawn' X unknown. Faith 2002.Debaillon Medal 2013.

M.D. Faith says that "this iris is vigorous in growth and very rewarding in the garden."

"James Faith" clump Photo credit M.D. Faith

To learn more about Louisiana Irises, please visit the Society for Louisiana Irises website.

2013 Winner of the Payne Medal: "Bewitching Twilight"

Our congratulations to Chad Harris, hybridizer of the award-winning Japanese iris "Bewitching Twilight," this year's winner of the Payne Medal.

"Bewitching Twilight" Photo credit:  Chad Harris

This medal is restricted to Japanese irises (JI). It is named in honor of W. Arlie Payne (1881-1971).

From the Society for Japanese Irises (SJI):

The Payne Medal (named for W. Arlie Payne) is the highest award given by the American Iris Society that a Japanese iris can receive in its class. Payne Medal winners are then eligible to win the Dykes Medal, which is the highest award an iris can receive from The American Iris Society. Prior to 1992 the highest award a Japanese Iris could receive was the Payne Award.

The American Iris Society Encyclopedia has the following information on this lovely pastel beauty:

'Bewitching Twilight' (Chad Harris, registered 1999). Seedling 89JE6. JI (6+ F.), height 41" (104 cm), mid season bloom. White ground, heavily brushed light blue (RHS 101C) fading to pastel blue (101D), signal yellow (2B) radiating veins extending halfway length of falls; style arms heavy cream yellow. Knight in Armor X Marx seedling Aitken 2000. Payne Medal 2013.

More information about Japanese irises can be found at the web page of the Society for Japanese Irises.

2013 Sydney B. Mitchell Medal Winners "Hidden Asset" and "Lines that Rhyme"

By Renee Fraser

The Pacific Coast Native irises "Hidden Asset" and "Lines that Rhyme"  share the honor of being awarded the Sydney B. Mitchell Medal this year.

This medal is restricted to Pacific Coast Native (PCN) irises. It is named in honor of Sydney B. Mitchell (1878-1951).

On the AIS Awards Page, Clarence Mahan tells us the history of the award:

"Tom Craig wrote this of him: 'Sydney [Mitchell] 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.'"

Furthermore, Mahan writes that "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 I . innominata and I. douglasiana."  

The description of "Hidden Asset" from the AIS Encyclopedia:

'Hidden Asset' (Duane Meek, R. 2003) Sdlg. P7. CA, 12" (31 cm), EM S. light mahogany veined darker, rim tan; style arms tan, slight pinkish cast; F. deep red veined darker, rim tan, brushed tan blaze with red veining, light streak from signal to near edge. ('Ohlone' x 'Upper Echelon') X ('Native Warrior' x 'Pacific Moon'). Wildwood Gardens 2003. Honorable Mention 2008; Award of Merit 2010; Mitchell Medal 2013.

"Hidden Asset" Photo credit Wildwood Gardens

And the following on "Lines that Rhyme":

'Lines That Rhyme' (Joseph Ghio, R. 2002) Sdlg. CP-110H. CA, 13" (33 cm), ML. S. gold with brown veining; F. gold, brown lines and dots radiating to wide brown rim, signal violet tan. 'Rancho Corralitos' X PB-207L: ('Jacks Are Wild' x ('Charter Member' sib x 'Rainbow Connection')). Bay View 2003. HM 2008, AM 2010; Mitchell Medal 2013.

"Lines that Rhyme" AIS Encyclopedia

To find out more information on Pacific Coast Native Irises, please visit the Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris website.

2013 Clarence G. White Medal Winner "Refiner's Fire"

By Renee Fraser

And the winner of the 2013 Clarence G. White Medal for an arilbred iris is... "Refiner's Fire"  

Since 1993, the Clarence G. White memorial medal has been awarded to the best arilbred iris with 1/2 or more aril ancestry that clearly exhibits at least two 

readily recognizable aril flower characteristics as defined and approved by the Aril Society International. (Before 1993, it was the C. G. White award, equivalent to an award of merit. Arilbreds must now earn an award of merit before they can qualify for the C. G. White medal.) The medal honors C. G. White, who in the 1950s created the family of fertile arilbreds that still dominates arilbred breeding today. 

More information on these hybrids of oncocyclus and regelia crosses to tall bearded irises at the Aril International Society Website.

Here is a description of this lovely iris from the American Iris Society Encyclopedia:

'Refiner's Fire' OGB (Peter McGrath, R. 2006). Sdlg McAB99-137. AB, 26" (66cm), Early midseason bloom. . S. lilac lavender, bronze orange veins and midrib; style arms bronze orange; falls same, large burgundy-red signal surrounded by slight blaze at upper half; beards white tipped yellow. Shockey 92-112, 'Desert Attire' Sib X'Babylonian Fires'. Aril Society 2007. Honorable Mention 2009, Award of Merit 2011.

"Refiner's Fire" McGrath (Photo credit Rick Tasco)

The hybridizer claims that "if we have a moist spring, the color saturation is so intense it leaps off of the flower."

This iris has been much honored, and climbed up the ranks in its earliest possible years of eligibility.  It is the only introduced offspring of the beautiful "Babylonian Fires."  It grows well in New Mexico, Texas, California, and similar climates.

Lowell Baumunk admiring "Refiner's Fire"  Photo credit:  Cindy Rivera

For more information on the AIS awards, you may visit the AIS Website, and for a full list of the winners this year with links to photos, go to the American Iris Society Encyclopedia.

2013 Caparne-Welch Medal Winner "Trimmed Velvet"

By Renee Fraser


The winner of the 2013 Caparne-Welch Medal for best miniature dwarf bearded reblooming iris is "Trimmed Velvet" by Donald Spoon.


'Trimmed Velvet' (Donald Spoon, R. 2006). Sdlg. 2001-52B. MDB, 6" (15 cm), EM & RE. Deep plum purple self, style arms lighter on edges, purple black spot on velvety F.; beards lavender blue tipped golden yellow in middle, orange in throat; ruffled. 'Senorita Frog' X self. Winterberry 2006. Honorable Mention 2008; Award of Merit 2011; Caparne-Welch Medal 2013.

"Trimmed Velvet" Photo courtesy AIS Wiki

This 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).

For more information about median irises in general and Intermediate Bearded Irises in particular, visit the Median Iris Society Website.  

2013 Cook-Douglas Medal Winner "Wish Upon a Star"

By Renee Fraser


The AIS is proud to congratulate Paul Black on his Cook-Douglas Medal winning standard dwarf bearded iris, "Wish Upon a Star."

"Wish Upon a Star" Photo credit Stout Gardens at Dancingtree

This medal is restricted to standard dwarf bearded (SDB) irises. It is named in honor of Paul Cook (1891-1963) and Geddes Douglas (1902-1993).  

According to Clarence Mahan on the AIS Awards Page, " 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.'"

"Douglas's historically most important hybridizing achievements were with dwarf irises. Working with stock from Paul Cook, Douglas's crosses of I pumila with tall bearded irises created the race of irises that came to be known as 'lilliputs.'"

The American Iris Society Encyclopedia describes the iris thus:

'Wish Upon A Star' (Paul Black, registered 2006). Seedling L326B. SDB, height 13" (33 cm), early, mid, late season bloom. Standards dark blue-purple blending to dark claret; style arms dark claret; falls dark purple-black, slightly lighter haft and edge; beards pale cream gold, white at end, large; pronounced sweet fragrance. I269A, 'Zap' sibling X 'Neutron'. Mid-America 2006. Honorable Mention 2008, Award of Merit 2010; Cook Douglas Medal 2013.

   
For more information on Miniature Tall Bearded Irises, please visit the Median Iris Society Webpage.

2013 Williamson-White Medal Winner "Peebee and Jay"

By Renee Fraser

Please join us in congratulating Barbara & David Schmieder on their Williamson-White Medal winning iris "Peebee and Jay."

"Peebee and Jay"  Barbara and David Schmeider

This 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).  

On the AIS Awards page, Clarence Mahan tell us that "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."

"In the early 1950's, Alice White of Hemet, California began a crusade to gain recognition of 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. She encouraged iris hybridizers to breed these irises to obtain new and finer cultivars. She led the campaign to have a separate class established for table irises. When the class was finally approved, Alice White graciously accepted the name "miniature tall bearded" irises, although she always preferred to call them table irises."  

"Peebee and Jay" Photo credit Stout Gardens at Dancingtree

The description from the AIS Wiki says the following:

'Peebee And Jay' (Barbara & David Schmieder, R. 2005). Sdlg. 98-BP-1. MTB, 22" (56 cm), M. S. and style arms near moderate orange (RHS 166D); F. near strong purple (83C), thin rim similar to color of S., some white lines at haft; beards light yellow (10B). 'Bangles' X 'Pardner'. Hermit Medlars Walk 2006. HM 2009, AM 2011; Williamson-White Medal 2013.

For more information on Miniature Tall Bearded Irises, please visit the Dwarf Iris Society Webpage.

Wister Winners: Three Beauties Top the Tall Beardeds in 2013

by Evey Blalock

Please join us in congratulating the winners of the 2013 John C. Wister Memorial Medal: 'Absolute Treasure' (Tasco 2006), ‘Elizabethan Age’ (Baumunk 2005) and ‘Ink Patterns’ (T. Johnson 2007).

The John C. Wister Memorial Medal is the highest award given by The American Iris Society to irises in the tall bearded (TB) class. This medal was first awarded in 1993, recognizing one tall bearded iris annually. Beginning in 1998, the selection process was changed to recognize three tall bearded irises each year. On the AIS website, Clarence Mahan provides this information regarding the medal's namesake, John C. Wister (1887-1982): "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 skill, 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....' "  (Photo of award courtesy of Rick Tasco.)

Let’s take a closer look at this year’s winners!

‘Absolute Treasure’ is registered with the following descriptive information: 42" (107 cm), mid bloom season. Sky blue self, style arms slightly lighter toward back, falls slightly lighter centers; beards white, tipped golden yellow in middle and throat, frosty white at end; heavily ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. 'Sudden Impact' X 'Color Me Blue'. Superstition 2006. Honorable Mention 2008, Award of Merit 2010; Wister Medal 2013.

Rick Tasco, hybridizer and co-owner of Superstition Iris Gardens, shared the following comments about his lovely iris: “I'm very proud of ‘Absolute Treasure’ since it is the culmination of over a dozen years work, tracing itself all the way back to my very first introduction, ‘Ruffled Goddess’. One of its parents is ‘Sudden Impact’, which is a product of ‘Ruffled Goddess’, thus the lineage. When ‘Absolute Treasure’ was in our seedling patch, before introduction and before it was even named, several well-known AIS Judges, whom we respect very much, promised us great things for this sky blue iris.”

Rick Tasco surrounded by his aptly named 'Absolute Treasure'

(Both photos of 'Absolute Treasure' courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens.)

‘Elizabethan Age’ is registered with the following descriptive information: 33" (84 cm), early to mid bloom season. S. apricot, washed with translucent purple infusion except at edges; style arms apricot with slight purple highlighting; F. white with apricot rim and hafts, heavily overlaid dark purple in luminata pattern, apricot and white veining showing through white area around beards; beards tangerine, more intense in throat. 678A: (Cheating Heart x PDFF-1: (Prize Drawing x Flights of Fancy)) X County of Kent. Iris Colorado 2005. Honorable Mention 2007, Award of Merit 2009.

Lowell Baumunk, hybridizer, is also a talented photographer. Below is a photographic work by Lowell that combines his iris and the inspiration for its name.

 

When asked to comment about this beautiful iris, Lowell responded with the following: "When ‘Elizabethan Age’ and its siblings first bloomed, in 2001, I was pleased with their look and their diversity as well as their strong growth habits. There was a range of luminatas (like 'Elizabethan Age'), lumi-plics, glaciatas and plicatas, all with pink or apricot in the ground color. I right away wondered whether 'Elizabethan Age' might have been my prettiest TB to date. The intensity and complexity of the colors and pattern somehow seemed to reflect the same aspects in the work of Shakespeare and the other Elizabethans. And one of its parents, ‘County of Kent’, also has an English-themed name."  

Lowell Baumunk now offers his iris introductions through Stout Gardens. You can see more of his photographs in his online gallery.

Award-winning photograph 'Self Portrait' by Lowell Baumunk

'Ink Patterns' is registered with the following descriptive information: 36" (91 cm), mid to late bloom season. S. and F. white, strong blue-violet stitched edge; style arms dark blue-violet, ruffled; beards white tipped violet blue; slight fragrance. 'American Classic' X 'Royal Estate'. Mid-America 2007. Honorable Mention 2009; Award of Merit 2011; Wister Medal 2013.

A stand of 'Ink Patterns' growing with 'Sharp Dressed Man' and closeup  .

(Photos courtesy of Thomas Johnson, Mid-America Garden)

Thomas Johnson, hybridizer, wrote this about his creation on the Iris Encyclopedia website: “Exuberantly ruffled white flowers have indelible inky blue stitched plicata bands around falls. Standards have wide washed and stitched plicata bands with dotting inside them and lines up midribs. Styles are wonderfully contrasted, inky, dark indigo. A clump of 'Ink Patterns' in the garden is unforgettable. It is sure to catch the judge's eye at shows.” You can see more of Thomas' creations, and perhaps meet one of his friendly and furry garden greeters, at Mid-America Garden.

 

A complete list of this year's AIS award winners can be found on the Iris Encyclopedia website.

"Bundle Of Love" 2013 Knowlton Medal winner!

By Mike Unser

The winner of the 2013 Knowlton Medal for best Border Bearded iris is Paul Black's "Bundle Of Love".

'Bundle of Love" Paul Black  Photo credit:  Jan Lauritzen

As found in the Iris Encyclopedia, its official registration information is: 'Bundle Of Love' (registered and introduced 2007). BB, height 26" (66 cm), early to mid season bloom. Standards warm buff pink blending to pale cream-buff band; style arms pale peach; falls white around beard blending to ivory, darkening slightly toward margin, pale gold texture veins and narrow band; beards tangerine; ruffled; slight spicy fragrance. I147A: ('Procession' x B149C: ('Abridged Version' x 91135D)) X 'Dolce'. Mid-America 2007. Honorable Mention 2009; Award of Merit 2011.

The Knowlton Medal is named for Harold Knowlton of Auburndale, Massachusetts, who was a tireless promoter of the border bearded class of irises. For more information on median irises, including border bearded irises, please see the website of the Median Iris Society.

"Bundle of Love" clump  Photo credit Paul Black