'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?  

                 

Iris brevicaulis the Short Stemmed Iris

by Jim Murrain

Iris brevicaulis is a Louisiana Iris species. It was first described from a plant found in Jackson County, Missouri on June 6, 1897. It still grows in the same location. That specimen is considered the 'type' or what all descriptions of this Iris are based upon. It was described and named Iris foliosa, the leafy Iris. Iris brevicaulis had previously been named, but the description was changed to match I. foliosa and the currently accepted name is Iris brevicaulis, the short stemmed Iris.

Above and below: I. brevicaulis from the 'type' location in Missouri.

I. brevicaulis  is the hardiest and most wide ranging of the Louisiana irises. It has been found from Leavenworth, Kansas all the way to  the northeast shore of Lake Erie in Ontario, Canada, as far southwest as The Big Thicket of east Texas and southeast into the Florida Panhandle.

Below is one from Alabama.

Oh course, as with all Louisiana irises (and the reason for the descriptive name) the greatest concentrations are found in and near the bayous of south Louisiana. I. brevicaulis, however,  prefers it drier than the other members of its group and is found above the riverbanks and in moist fields.

A purple and a dark blue found in Arkansas.

It readily hybridizes with the other Louisiana Iris species and imparts greater hardiness and a lessened need for wet conditions, so it should be used even more in hybridization.

Below is an interesting color form, named 'Finders Keepers', selected by Frank Chowning and registered in 1961. There is still much of interest in the straight species and they are worth growing on their own merits.

There is also a registered 'All Falls' with six falls and no standards that I would love to see, and several selections of white flowered forms.

Iris brevicaulis is the easiest of all Louisiana Iris species to grow and the latest to flower, thus a fine season extender.  Consider adding this iris to your garden.