The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Wister Medal Winners

'GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE' - 'TIJUANA TAXI' -

'COAL SEAMS' 

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 fourteen years. 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 'GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE'
photo by Mike Unser

'Good Morning Sunshine' (Thomas Johnson, R.2014). Seedling TD20A. TB, 33" (84 cm). Midseason to late bloom. Standards bright sunshine yellow; style arms yellow; falls violet-purple wash below beards, deep yellow thumbprint hafts and wide diffused edge; beards old gold; sweet fragrance. 'Bollywood' X 'Catwalk Queen'. Introduced by Mid-America in 2014.

Tall bearded iris 'TIJUANA TAXI'
photo by Jeanette Graham

'Tijuana Taxi' (Douglas Kanarowski, R. 2014). Seedling# 0453. TB, 41" (104 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards fiery red-orange; style arms slightly darker orange than standards; falls red-orange, darker orange centerline, wide ruby-red-wine band hairline edged mid-orange, discrete wire rim, serrated edge; beards red-tangerine; moderate ruffles; pronounced sweet and strong vanilla fragrance. Tasco seedling# 02-TB-63-22: ('Return to Sender' x 'Jaunty Dancer') X seedling# 0365: ('Typsy Gypsy' x 'Starring'). Introduced by Mariposa Iris in 2014.

Tall bearded iris 'COAL SEAMS'
photo by Bryce Williamson

'Coal Seams' (Schreiner, R. 2013). Seedling# MM 425-1. TB, 41" (104 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards dark purple (RHS 89B); falls slightly darker purple (89A); beards dark purple. 'Badlands' X seedling# GG 378-A: ('Dark Passion' x 'Thunder Spirit'). Introduced by Schreiner's Iris 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.

I'm Singing the Blues

By Bryce Williamson

In the last twenty-five years, there has been an amazing proliferation of new patterns and color combinations. Lost in this transition, however, is one of the basic reasons to grow irises—they have wonderful blues and violets colors found in few other flowers. Other flower groups should be green with envy if they had these colors.

In the light blues, I am particular fond of Richard Tasco's light, approaching sky blue, Absolute Treasure:

Image by Bryce Williamson

With tall stalks that stand up well inclement weather, Absolute Treasure looks good in newly set plants and in second and third year clumps.

In the mid-blue range, I am adding Schreiner’s Blue Hour to the garden this year:

Image by Bryce Williamson

I saw this at the American Iris Society Portland National and was impressed, but did not add it to the yard then since we were in the middle of the horrible drought. With water restrictions lifted, it is nice to have plants thriving instead of struggling to survive.

In a darker shade of blue, Keith Keppel’s Adriatic Waves starts the tall bearded iris season for me:

Photo by Jeanette Graham

With its deep ruffling, it is a standout in the garden.

In a variation of the blue theme, Paul Black has added a tangerine-red beard to his creation Bluebird of Happiness:

Going yet darker in blue, but still clearly blue, it is the hard to beat Ray Schriener’s Yaquina Blue:

Yaquina Blue--Image by Betty Jacobs

This easy to grow variety won the Dykes and deserved to win it.

Then there are the wonderful blue-violet irises. I think Gerald Richardson’s Magheralin is about as close to perfection for form as an iris can get:

Image by Dale Austin

Sadly this wonderful iris, a standout in the yard for both growth, healthy plants, and good bloom, has been ignored by the public.

From blue-violet, the colors can go in two direction. Slipping into the magenta range of violet, it is still hard to beat for growth and good form Schreiner’s Diabolique:

Diabolique--Image by Augusto Bianco

The cerise-violet coloring commands attention.

In a different direction as the blue-violets get deeper for color, then the irises are in the territory of blue-black. One of the few newer irises that I am adding to the collection this year is the stunningly dark Coal Seams (Schreiner’s).

Image by Bryce Williamson

With family members loving these colors and demanding to see them in the spring, I can keep peace within the family with this purchase.

If these irises don't provide enough variety, there are the variations on the theme of blue--reverses and neglectas.

My own Chance of Showers is an example of a reverse with darker standards and lighter falls.

Chance of Showers--image by Jeanette Graham

In the group of neglectas, I am especially fond of Global Crossings (Van Liere). In the same color range as Great Gatsby and World Premier, this is an updated version of them.

I like the velvet finish on the falls.

So, when gardening with irises, enjoy the amazing new color combinations and patterns, but don’t forget to sing the blues and you will not regret those choices and you will be the envy of your neighbors.

"Talking Irises" TALL BEARDED IRISES: IN FULL BLOOM--A Wonderful Combination of Color and Form

By Susanne Holland Spicker

         Spring 2016  "In Full Bloom"

(Tall bearded irises l to r) 'EVER AFTER' (Keppel '86),  'MONTMARTRE' (Keppel '08), 'RANCHO ROSE' (Gibson '75), 'NEW LEAF' (Ghio '97), 'EPICENTER' (Ghio '94), 'ARTIST'S TIME' (Schreiner '74), (Back, l to r) 'BOLD EXPRESSION' (Ernst '03), 'ARTISTIC WEB' (Tasco '10), 'CITY LIGHTS' (Dunn '91) 

From mid-May through mid-June, a wonderful combination of color and form unfolds in my zone 6 flower beds. Tall bearded irises are in full bloom, and with companion plants that coincide with their bloom, the gardens are a sea of color for more than a month. It is my favorite time of the year!

(Tall bearded irises, from top l) 'EVER AFTER' (Keppel '86), (Group photo, l to r) 'CHINESE TREASURE' (Blyth '83), 'POND LILY' (Jones '95), 'DATE BAIT' (Meek '85), 'CUPID'S ARROW' (Ghio '90), 'RINGO' (Shoop '79), 'JENNIFER REBECCA' (Zurbrigg '85), 'RASPBERRY WINE' (Schreiner '01), (top r) 'QUEEN'S RANSOM' (Van Liere '12), 

(2nd row) 'NIGERIAN RASPBERRY' (Kasperek '95), 'WEARING RUBIES' (Blyth '00), '00)(Bottom r) 'ROLE MODEL' (Denny '88), 'QUEEN IN CALICO' (Gibson '80)

(Tall bearded irises top l to r) 'DEEP CURRENTS' (Johnson '09), 'OXFORD COUNTESS' (Blyth '07), (background) 'MING LORD' (Blyth '06), 'LENTEN PRAYER' (Schreiner '98), (Bottom l to r) 'PLUM PRETTY WHISKERS' (Spoon '03), 'ARTIST'S TIME' (Schreiner '74), 'EMBRACE ME' (Van Liere '08)

Tall bearded irises are spring's "universal companion plant" because of the plethora of colors and color combinations these "queens-of-the-garden" have. I have found there are several of these tall beauties to go with any perennial I have, or can even think of. The combinations are endless! I always keep my eye out for perennials that not only go well with the irises, but ones that bloom at the same time, with similar light, water, and fertilization requirements.

(Tall bearded irises top l to r) 'BUBBLING WAVES' (Ghio '06), 'GLOBAL CROSSING' (Van Liere '12), 'BY DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT' (Van Liere '12), 'PROUD TRADITION' (Schreiner '90), 'BUBBLING OVER' (Ghio '92), 'EMBRACE ME' (Van Liere '08), 'CLASSIC LOOK' (Schreiner '92), 'CROWNED HEADS' (Keppel '97), 'CITY LIGHTS' (Dunn '91)

(Tall bearded irises l to r) 'HAPPENSTANCE' (Keppel '00), 'SWEET

SERENADE' (Schreiner '11), 'ASCII ART' (Moores '97), 'HEATHERIDGE' (Gatty '85), 'BUBBLING OVER' (Ghio '92), 'WINNING EDGE' (Ghio '97)

(Tall bearded irises top l to r) 'DESIGNER LABEL' (Ghio '03), 'LACED COTTON (Schreiner '80), 'ELISA RENEE (Gaulter '83), 'SLY FOX' (Wood '97)

(Tall bearded irises l to r) 'BOLD EXPRESSION' (Ernst '03), 'MAGHAREE' (Blyth '86),'PURPLE SERENADE' (Schreiner '05)

Someone once said there was "nothing more heaven-like than a field full of irises." I echo that sentiment.  As spring approaches, the anticipation of the beauty that unfolds is indescribable! I look forward to the gardens when "in full bloom."

(Tall bearded irises front to back) 'GARDEN BRIDE' (Chapman '98), 'FABULOUS ONE' (Nicodemus '06), 'FANCY STUFF' (Brown '01), 'BOLD EXPRESSION' (Ernst '03), 'PURPLE SERENADE' (Schreiner '05), 'CHAMPAGNE ELEGANCE' (Niswonger '87), 'MIDNIGHT REVELRY' (Schreiner '05), 'LATIN LOVER' (Shoop '69)

Do you have a favorite iris bed?  Are there combinations of companion plants, or irises that go well together that you have planted that have wonderful combinations of color and form?

'DAUGHTER OF STARS' (Spoon '01)

I would love to hear from you--I'm always interested in what others are doing in their iris gardens!