The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Dykes Medal Winner

 'Perry Dyer'

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.

Tall bearded iris 'Perry Dyer' 
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Perry Dyer' (Paul Black, R. 2017). Seedling# T132F. AB (OGB-), 26" (66 cm), Midseason to late bloom. Standards palest lavender; style arms same, orchid ridge; falls palest cream-lavender fading to near white, dark plum-wine spot ¼ way out, darker extended veins; beard hair based light grey, mid-brown in throat and middle, end light brown. 'Galaxina' sibling.

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 Dykes Medal Winner

'DON'T DOUBT DALTON'

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

Tall bearded iris 'DON'T DOUBT DALTON' 
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Don't Doubt Dalton' (Tom Burseen, R. 2014). Seedling# 011-297A. TB, 35" (89 cm). Early to late bloom. Standards pure white, red-purple random splattering; style arms white, washed gold; falls pure white, yellow-gold washed hafts, random dark purple splatters; beards poppy orange, tattered and feathered white horns, gold stems; flared and ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. 'Miles Keith' X seedling# 09-79: (seedling# 07-167: ('Sammie's Jammies' x 'Enchanter') x 'McSeedman Sees Red'). Burseen 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 on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Dykes Medal Winner

'FOOTBALL HERO'

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

Tall bearded iris 'FOOTBALL HERO' 
photo by Carl Boro

 'Football Hero' (Lynda Miller, R. 2014). Seedling# 8010A. TB, 36" (91 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards butter yellow; style arms same, accented violet; falls plum-purple, pale smoky orchid edged; beards gold; slight musky fragrance. 'Hoosier Dome' X 'Saturn'. 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 on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

The Curse of 'Ola Kala'

By Mike Unser

The Dykes Memorial Medal is the highest award an iris variety can win and is highly coveted by hybridizers. It represents, we hope, the creme de la creme of the iris world. But for every winner there are those that came so close, but didn't quite make it. This is the story of two varieties thwarted from the top spot by the same iris. 

Dr. Rudolph E. Kleinsorge was a celebrated hybridizer in his day, introducing iris varieties from 1929 through 1961. He created many significant varieties that were not only good garden plants but also advances in color that changed the iris palette forever. One thing he never did achieve was a Dykes Medal, however he did come very close. He thrice missed the top spot by slim margins. And, oddly, it was the same variety that beat his two of those times.

In 1945 his lovely pink blend 'Daybreak' came in second to 'Elmohr'. In 1946 it tied for the top spot with  'Ola Kala', the renowned golden yellow masterpiece from Jacob Sass, and no award was given that year. In 1948 the Doctor's next great advance, 'Bryce Canyon', was a runner up to that year's winner - 'Ola Kala'. Talk about a curse! 'Ola Kala' was not OK for the good Doctor*.

'Ola Kala' deserves its place. It was an amazing advance for yellow irises, bringing great depth of color, lovely form, and much needed height to a class that was begging for improvement. It is sad that it eclipsed the fine advances that both 'Daybreak' and 'Bryce Canyon' also brought to the table, but such is the cast of the die. Thankfully all three of these wonderful varieties are still with us, and we can grow them and judge for ourselves which are deserving in our own eye of top honors. 

*Much thanks to Phil Edinger for the info and clever turn of phrase that inspired this post.

'HISTORIC' OLDIES, DYKES MEDAL WINNERS BEFORE 1958 cont.

                                                                by Dawn Mumford

This post will show irises that won the Dykes Medal from its first year, 1927, to 1957.  My appreciation to everyone who took such nice photos and allowed us to use them. 

Starting with the oldest first we have...

"San Francisco' by Mohr Dykes Medal 1927
Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Dauntless' by Connell Dykes Medal 1929

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser  

'Rameses' by H. P. Sass Dykes Medal 1932 
Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Coralie' by Ayres  Dykes Medal 1933 
Photo courtesy of CRIRIS

'Sierra Blue' by Essig Dykes Medal 1935 
Photo courtesy of  CRIRIS

'Mary Geddes' by Stahl-Washington Dykes Medal 1936

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser 

'Missouri' by Grinter Dykes Medal 1937
Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Copper Lustre' by Kirkland Dykes Medal 1938
Photo courtesy of  CRIRIS

'Rosy Wings' by Gage Dykes Medal 1939
Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Wabash' by Williamson Dykes Medal 1940

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'The Red Douglas' by J. Sass Dykes Medal 1941 
Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Great Lakes' by Cousins Dykes Medal 1942

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Prairie Sunset' by H.P. Sass Dykes Medal 1943

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser 

'Spun Gold'  by Gultzbeck Dykes Medal 1944

From The American Iris Society Wiki
photo courtesy of Betty Higgins 

'Elmohr' by Loomis Dykes Medal 1945 

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Chivalry'  by Wills Dykes Medal 1947
From The American Iris Society Wiki
photo courtesy of Kent Pfeiffer 

'Ola Kala' by Sass Dykes Medal 1948

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'Helen McGregor" by Graves Dykes Medal 1949 
From The American Iris Society Wiki
photo courtesy of Kent Pfeiffer 

'Blue Rhythm'  by Whiting Dykes Medal 1950
From The American Iris Society Wiki
photo courtesy of Carlos Ayento  

'Cherie' by Hall Dykes Medal 1951

Photo courtesy of Sherry Austin 

'Argus Pheasant' by Deforest Dykes Medal 1952

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser 

'Truly Yours' by Fay Dykes Medal 1953

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser 

'Mary Randall' by Fay Dykes Medal 1954

Photo courtesy of Mike Unser 

'Sable Night' by Cook Dykes Medal 1955
Photo courtesy of Mike Unser

'First Violet' by Deforest Dykes Medal 1956
From The American Iris Society Wiki
photo courtesy of Terry Laurin 

'Violet Harmony' by Lowry Dykes Medal 1957

 Photo courtesy of CRIRIS

Well, there you have it.  Between the last article and this article we have  the complete list and pictures of all the'historic" Dykes Medal Winners from 1927 until 1984.  (If you missed my last post, it includes 'historic' irises that won the Dykes Medal between 1958 and 1984.  Click here to see it: http://theamericanirissociety.blogspot.com/2014/07/tall-bearded-iris-oldies-dykes-medal.html).  

I'm sure that there are some that really caught your eye and made you think about planting them. 

Do you grow any of these iris?  Which ones are your favorites?