The American Iris Society Announces the 2024 Knowlton Medal

 'SICILIAN ORANGE'

The Knowlton Medal is restricted to border bearded (BB) irises. It is named in honor of Harold W. Knowlton (1888-1968) of Auburndale, Massachusetts, a tireless promoter of the border bearded class of irises. Bennett Jones wrote in The World of Irises: "Harold Knowlton was among the first to make deliberate selections of smaller plants. Two of his 1950 introductions, ‘Pearl Cup’ ... and ‘Cricket’... display the desirable features we still seek in modern border irises." Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Border bearded iris 'Sicilian Orange'
photo by Christine Cosi

'Sicilian Orange' (Michael Sutton, R. 2016). Seedling# Z-2010-A. BB, 26" (66 cm). Midseason to late bloom. Standards yellow-orange, flushed peach-pink at midribs; style arms yellow-orange; F. ruby red, veined yellow-orange, ¼˝ yellow-orange edge; beards bright orange; ruffled; slight musky fragrance. 'Bottle Rocket' X 'Fruit Stripe'. Introduced by Sutton's Iris Gardens in 2016. 

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 Knowlton Medal Winner

'BOY GENIUS'

The Knowlton Medal is restricted to border bearded (BB) irises. It is named in honor of Harold W. Knowlton (1888-1968) of Auburndale, Massachusetts, a tireless promoter of the border bearded class of irises. Bennett Jones wrote in The World of Irises: "Harold Knowlton was among the first to make deliberate selections of smaller plants. Two of his 1950 introductions, ‘Pearl Cup’ ... and ‘Cricket’... display the desirable features we still seek in modern border irises." Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'BOY GENIUS' 

photo by Jeanette Graham

 'Boy Genius' (Joseph Ghio, R. 2011) Seedling #04-44B. BB, 25" (64 cm), Very early to early bloom. Standards gold, black tint at midrib; falls almost solid mahogany black, gold dotting around beards, gold hairline edge; beards gold. Seedling 02-160: (seedling 00-98B: ('Feelings' x seedling U97-F, unknown) x 'High Master') X seedling 02-317Q: ('High Master' x seedling 00-98B). Introduced by Bay View Gardens in 2012.

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.

2019 Knowlton Medal

The American Iris Society Announces

The 2019 Knowlton Medal Winner

'My Cher of Happiness'

This medal is restricted to border bearded (BB) irises. It is named in honor of Harold W. Knowlton (1888-1968) of Auburndale, Massachusetts, a tireless promoter of the border bearded class of irises. 

Image by Paul Black

'My Cher Of Happiness' (Paul Black, R. 2013). Seedling #R189A. BB, 27" (69 cm). Late midseason bloom. Standards mid-pink, pale crystalline light ecru rim; style arms mid peach-pink; Falls ivory, blended 3/4" pale butter-yellow band, light mauve veins over haft, green textured veins; beard hairs based white, tips tangerine; slight sweet fragrance; heavily ruffled and laced. Seedling #!P85B: ('Lipstick Kiss' x seedling #L47A: ('Queen Anne's Lace' x 'LaRue Boswell')) X 'Always Lovely'. Mid-America 2013. Honorable Mention 2015. Award of Merit 2017.

The World of Irises blog will be posting once a day all of the medal winners. The entire list of winners can be found at the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

"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