THE FOUNDERS OF SIGNA MEDAL "RUTH WILDER" Species irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

It is with pleasure that we congratulate Walter Hoover by Randall Bowen, for the Species iris 'RUTH WILDER" as the winner of the Founders Of Signa Medal, 2017

'RUTH WILDER' (Walter Hoover by Randall Bowen 2004) Photo by Eleanor Hutchison

This striking Species iris, introduced by Randall Bowen for Walter Hoover, is described in the AIS WIKI as follows:

'RUTH WILDER' (Walter Hoover by Randall Bowen) SPEC 28-30" Late bloom. Standards light red-violet; style arms near white tipped light red-violet; falls red-violet, bright golden signal. Iris By The Creek 2004. HM 2009, AM 2013, The Founders Of Signa Medal 2017.

A special thanks to Randall Bowen for introducing this beautiful Species iris for Walter Hoover.

For a complete list of the 2017 AIS Awards, please 

visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

Interest in iris species? Please visit the Species Iris Group of North America website.

THE 2017 CLARENCE G. WHITE MEDAL - Aril and Arilbred irises with at least 50% aril content

Susanne Holland Spicker

Join with us in congratulating Rick Tasco for his stunning Arilbred iris "Sand Dancer". 

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco '10) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

The Clarence G. White Award recipient, voted for the best aril or arilbred iris (with at least 50% aril content) is described as follows by the AIS Wiki:  

'Sand Dancer' (Richard Tasco 2010) AB 32" Mid-season bloom. Standards creamy tan heavily veined red-brown, occasional purple vein, some red-brown dots near midrib; style arms bronze, purple blush near ridge, some purple splotches on back of crest, underside of crest veined bronze and purple; falls creamy tan ground, heavily veined and dotted red-brown and purple especially in center, lemon shoulder ground; beards dark brown base, tipped golden bronze in throat, bronze yellow in middle and at end; medium purple base foliage. Superstition 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, The Clarence G. White Medal 2017.

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco 2010) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

Thank you, Rick, for an extraordinary Arilbred iris!

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco 2010) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

For a complete list of the AIS 2017 Award winners, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE WILLIAMSON-WHITE MEDAL 2017 -- Miniature Tall Bearded irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating hybridizer Thomas Johnson as the recipient of The Williamson-White Medal for the outstanding miniature tall bearded iris for 2017 'TIC TAC TOE', a beautifully proportioned dainty bloom.

'TIC TAC TOE' (Thomas Johnson '10) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Garden

This charming Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) iris is described by the AIS Wiki as follows:

'Tic Tac Toe' (Thomas Johnson '10)  MTB  24"  Late mid-season bloom. Standards and style arms pink; falls pearl violet, darker violet rim; beards orange. Tetraploid. Slight fragrance. Mid-America 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, Williamson-White Medal 2017.  Hybridizer notes: strongly flared, shade darker towards the margins. Beautifully proportioned MTB stalks have 2 branches and spur, plus basal branch with spur. Double and sometimes triple sockets produce 10-14 dainty flowers. Vigorous, healthy clumps are a lovely sight.

We congratulate Thomas and thank him for another beautiful iris.

For a complete list of the AIS 2017 Awards, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE 2017 KNOWLTON MEDALIST for Border bearded irises

Susanne Holland Spicker

It is with great pleasure that we announce the American Iris Society's 2017 Border Bearded (BB) medalist:  'Ballerina Pink', by hybridizer Paul Black.

'BALLERINA PINK' (Paul Black 2010) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Iris

The stunning pink BB iris is described by the AIS WIKI as follows:

'Ballerina Pink' (Paul Black '10) BB 27" Mid-season late bloom. Standards pastel pink; slightly paler toward edges; style arms pale peach; falls creamy pink, ivory center, darker pink hafts and edges; beards tangerine; ruffled, laced, with slight sweet fragrance. Show stalks.  3 three branches, 8-10 buds. Strong grower. Introduced by Mid-America 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, The Knowlton Medal 2017.

Thank you, Paul, for an exceptional border bearded iris!

For a complete list of the American Iris Society's 2017 medalists, go to http://wiki.irises.org/.