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 2024 Wister Medal Winners

'RISE LIKE A PHOENIX' - 'BLINDED BY THE LIGHT'-

'NINJA WARRIOR'

The Wister Medal is restricted to tall bearded (TB) irises. It is named in honor of John C. Wister (1887-1982). Three medals are awarded each year. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

John C. Wister led the organizing meeting that created the American Iris Society and became its first president, a position he held for 14. He guided the Society through its formative years. He was widely recognized as a man of rare management skills, leadership ability, and the highest ethical standards. R. S. Sturtevant wrote of him: "Probably few current members realize that the AIS started through the efforts and initiative of one man, John C. Wister...."

Tall bearded iris 'RISE LIKE A PHOENIX'

photo by Jeanette Graham

'Rise Like A Phoenix' (Paul Black, R. 2017). Seedling# U53A. TB, 46" (117 cm), Midseason to late bloom. Standards bright mid gold, mid auburn veining and wash over base, lighter and narrowing in mid ¹⁄₃ of petal and darkening to upper ¹⁄₃; style arms mid apricot-gold; falls dark velvety red-black, cream haft and center just below beard, veined dark red-black; beards dark marigold; pronounced sweet fragrance. Seedling# R76A: ('Opening Number' x seedling# M29DD: ('Ransom Note' x 'What’s My Line')) X 'Reckless Abandon'. Introduced by Mid-America Garden 2017.

Tall bearded iris 'BLINDED BY THE LIGHT'

photo by Jeanette Graham

'Blinded By The Light' (Larry Lauer, R. 2016). Seedling# A33-32. TB, 32" (81 cm), Early to midseason bloom. Standards nasturtium orange; style arms marigold orange; falls tangerine-orange; beards mandarin red; ruffled; slight sweet fragrance. 'Honeycomb' x 'Shivaree'. Introduced by Lauer's Flowers 2017.

Tall bearded iris 'NINJA WARRIOR'
photo by Christine Cosi

'Ninja Warrior' (Lynda Miller, R. 2014) Seedling# 8710B. TB, 27" (69 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards smoky pink blending to dark orchid center ribs; style arms smoky pink, striped plum-purple; falls velvet black, purple lines by beard; beard hairs based purple, tips sienna-tangerine; slight sweet fragrance. 'Royal Togs' X unknown. Introduced by Mid-America Garden 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.