The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Caparne-Welch Medal Winner

 'WEE DRAGONS'

The Caparne-Welch 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). Caparne worked extensively breeding various dwarf iris species and was the first iris hybridizer to concentrate on smaller irises. Most of the dwarf iris cultivars grown in gardens in the first quarter of the 20th century were products of Caparne's hybridizing efforts. Walter Welch was the founder of the Dwarf Iris Society. After moving to Middlebury, Indiana, he met Paul Cook and began hybridizing irises. He shared Cook's enthusiasm for dwarf irises and set out to develop new forms for the garden.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris 'Wee Dragons'
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Wee Dragons' (Lynda Miller, R. 2016). Seedling# 6311A. MDB, 4.5"-5" (11-13 cm). Early midseason bloom. Standards deep red-purple; style arms butter yellow, rib red-violet; falls velvety dark burgundy; beards yellow-orange in throat, light blue middle and end. 'Mosaic' X 'Snips'. Mid-America 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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2023 Caparne-Welch Medal Winner

'BLACK OLIVE'

The Caparne-Welch 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). Caparne worked extensively breeding various dwarf iris species and was the first iris hybridizer to concentrate on smaller irises. Most of the dwarf iris cultivars grown in gardens in the first quarter of the 20th century were products of Caparne's hybridizing efforts. Walter Welch was the founder of the Dwarf Iris Society. After moving to Middlebury, Indiana, he met Paul Cook and began hybridizing irises. He shared Cook's enthusiasm for dwarf irises and set out to develop new forms for the garden.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris 'Black Olive'
photo by Mid-America Gardens

'Black Olive' (Paul Black) Seedling #R278E. Height 7.5 in, (19 cm). Late bloom and rebloom. Standards bronze-dark-purple, purple-black midrib and textured veins; style arms mid blue-purple crests and midribs, rose-silver edge; falls red-black, hafts slightly lighter, veined white; beards mid greyed gold in throat, light greyed gold in middle, white end. 146. Parentage 'Fido' sibling X seedling #P146: ('Wish Upon A Star' x 'Bad Intentions'). Introduced by Mid-America 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.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2021 Caparne-Welch Medal Winners

 'ELF ESTEEM' and 'FAIRY FIREFLY'

The Caparne-Welch Medal is restricted to miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) irises. It is named in honor of William John Caparne (1855-1940) and WalterWelch (1887-1980). Caparne worked extensively breeding various dwarf iris species and was the first iris hybridizer to concentrate on smaller irises. Most of the dwarf iris cultivars grown in gardens in the first quarter of the 20th century were products of Caparne's hybridizing efforts. Walter Welch was the founder of the Dwarf Iris Society. After moving to Middlebury, Indiana, he met Paul Cook and began hybridizing irises. He shared Cook's enthusiasm for dwarf irises, and set out to develop new forms for the garden.

Editor’s Note: Due to the pandemic last year, the American Iris Society Board of Directors suspended garden awards. As a result, and for only this year, two medals will be award in this area. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

‘Elf Esteem’

'Elf Esteem' (Paul Black, R. 2015) Seedling S259A. MDB, 7.5" (19 cm). Midseason to late bloom and rebloom. Standards green-white fading to white; style arms white, mid violet in heart; Falls white, dark burgundy spot bisected by white wedge stripe from beard to edge, white rays over haft surrounded by olive-brown veins; beards mid lavender; slight sweet fragrance. Seedling 0262CR, 'It’s Not Over' pollen parent, X 'Replicator'. 2015 Mid-America.

‘Fairy Firefly’

'Fairy Firefly' (Terry Aitken, R. 2016) Seedling 05M7D. MDB, 5" (13 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards brilliant orange crush orange; style arms brilliant orange; falls brilliant orange, red-orange spot, orange zonal spot at hafts; beards brilliant orange. 'Hot Coals' sibling. Salmon Creek 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 in the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

THE CAPARNE-WELCH 2017 MEDAL for Miniature Dwarf Irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join us in congratulating Paul Black for his Miniature Dwarf Iris 'CUTE AS A BUTTON' in achievement for the American Iris Society 2017 Caparne-Welch Medal winner.

'CUTE AS A BUTTON' (Paul Black '09) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Iris

This charming little miniature dwarf iris is outstanding in every way. The AIS Wiki describes it as follows:

'Cute As A Button' (Paul Black 2009) MDB 6" Early-to-mid-season bloom. Standards white, dark purple midribs, medium violet stitching around edges; style arms metallic fuchsia, dark tan edges; falls white, medium red-violet haft edge, same color diffuse blot below beard and in plicata veins over haft and petal, beards white base,hairs tipped old gold in throat, dirty yellow in middle, charcoal at edge; pronounced fragrance. Mid-America 2009. HM 2012, AM 2014, Caparne-Welch Medal 2017.

Thank you, Paul, for yet another special iris!

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

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.