IRISES, the Bulletin of the AIS - Winter 2015 Edition

By Andi Rivarola

Hot off the presses, here's the Winter Edition of IRISES, the Bulletin of The American iris Society. On the cover a classic -- historic iris 'Snow Flurry,' by Clara Rees (1939). This and many other historic irises are now available for viewing via catalogs (dating back to 1920) posted online. Historic Bulletins and catalogs are available to emembers on the AIS website. (More information on the current issue of IRISES by Editor Kathleen Sonntag in her Editors Message.)

The Winter 2015 issue of the AIS Bulletin is now available for online viewing within the Emembers section of the AIS website.

Note: to access this area you must have a current AIS Emembership. AIS Emembership is separate from the normal AIS membership. Please see the Electronic Membership Information area of the AIS website for more details.

Welcome to the Winter 2015 edition of IRISES, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society. Hope you will enjoy several of the articles on this issue.

The always fascinating Symposium report lists irises chosen by popularity and reported by Riley Probst. The list always makes me think about what other iris lovers are enjoying around the country. Don't miss it.

You will recognize the names of those in the 2014 Honorary Awards Recipients list, which includes the recipients for the Hybridizer Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal Award, the Gold Medal, and the Warburton Medal. A fascinating list of individuals, on page 9.

Page 12 includes some important events throughout the AIS Sections world listed under Section Happenings. Find information about the Society for Louisiana Irises (SLI), Historic Iris Preservation Society (HIPS), the Spuria Iris Society, the Species Iris Group of North America (SIGNA), the Reblooming Iris Society, and the Society for Pacific Coast Native Irises (SPCNI).

Enjoy the adventures and some fantastic shots by the AIS President Jim Morris' trip to Australia and New Zealand on page 14.

On My Journey with Siberian Irises, hybridizer Zdenek Sidl from the Czech Republic reports about his experiences breeding these beauties, which grow naturally in his home country -- on page 16.

Find on pages 29-31, everything you may want to know about the upcoming Spring Convention to be held in the Greater Portland, Oregon area May 18-23; and the Siberian/Species Convention following on May 24-25 on page 18.

Hope you are as excited as I am about the 2020 AIS Centennial Celebration; I feel it's an incredible opportunity to expose the magnificence of our lovely irises, and the organization that helps disseminate its information to the rest of the world. You will find on page 25 what we're planning to do about a Centennial Iris, and a Centennial Logo.

There's much more of interest in the Winter 2015 edition of IRISES, this short review was only to give you a hint of the lovely issue, and to let you know that the printed edition is now in the hands of the Post Office for those of you non-emembers. We hope that you will receive it soon. 

Happy gardening. 

For those new to The American Iris Society, as a member you receive the printed quarterly edition of IRISES via mail, or if you are an e-member, then you will be able to read the entire publication online. The latter is a very convenient option for overseas iris enthusiasts. For more information, please go to our website's membership information section.  

IRISES, the Bulletin of the AIS - January/February 2014 Edition

By Andi Rivarola

Apologies for the lateness of this review; we plan, and plan some more, and then one gets a cold. I don’t know about you, but all I can do when I get a cold is... rest, do nothing, and then rest some more. So, even though I had everything necessary to share this post with you about the new issue of IRISES, well it just did not happen.

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of ex-AIS President Clarence E. Mahan, but with the sadness comes the joy of knowing that the winter edition of IRISES has been dedicated to his memory. A section called “Remembering Clarence Everett Mahan” starts with a touching obituary by AIS’s President, Jim Morris; and it ends with the testimonials of several friends from around the world that you will find to be both enlightening and heartwarming. I didn't know Mr. Mahan well, and only had brief communications via Facebook (yes, we were FB friends) and email. Once, he even wrote to tell me how brave I was to face the social media challenges of the society. I appreciated his gentle compliment

Some of the great topics on this issue:

Riley Probst, the AIS Symposium Chair, gives us a historic review of the AIS Tall Bearded Iris Symposium. Who doesn't want to know how the TOP 100 Tall Bearded Irises list got started, and what are the current stats on TBs around the country? A very educational read.

Going to Déjà vu Dallas 2014? Hope that you are, but even if you are not please read Bonnie Nichols formal invitation to the National Convention. Located in the Dallas area and the site of the 2013 Convention, the gardens are interesting and well presented with beautiful irises, so we're wishing for a wonderful repeat. A convention registration form and the convention schedule are also included. For updates and more information about the Convention visit their website at: http://www.irises-dallas.org

If you don’t know Robert Piątek you will have a change to meet him on an article called, Iris Hybridizer and Author from Poland. From his early beginnings as a forester in the District Zawadzkie National Forest, Poland, to his current work hybridizing irises, you will be enchanted to make his acquaintance even if on paper. Don’t miss the beautiful iris pictures that accompany his introduction to the American public. 

A fascinating write up about little irises may also catch your attention. The article called “Small is Beautiful” by Charlie Carver from Orcas Island, Washington.

Don't miss The Winners of the 2013 AIS Photo Contest will also surprise you with their quality, and their display size, which this year is extra large. Check them out and you’ll know what I mean. 

Other wonderful articles include:

• The 2013 Honorary Awards Recipients
• Herbicide Studies: Weed Control in Irises, by John E. Kaufmann
• New Emeritus Judges Announced
• AIS Display Gardens: What are they? By Bob Pries
• Iris Color Terminology: Luminatas, by our own Rene Fraser
• Winners of the 2013 AIS Photo Contest
• Sections Happenings, by Gary White
• And much, much more…

For those new to The American Iris Society, as a member you receive the printed quarterly edition of IRISES via mail, or if you are an e-member, then you will be able to read the entire publication online. The latter is a very convenient option for overseas iris enthusiasts. For more information, please go to our website's membership information section.  

(The printed edition is in the hands of the Post Office, some members included myself have already received it; the e-version is ready for view at its normal location online.)