The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Nies Medal Winner

'ODE TO A TOAD'

The Nies Medal is restricted to spuria irises. It is named in honor of Eric Nies (1884-1952). Eric Nies was born in Saugatuck, Michigan, but soon after Nies moved to California, he became interested in irises of all types. He obtained his first spuria irises from Jennett Dean, who operated one of the first iris specialist nurseries in the U.S. Spurias were his special interest. His first cross was Iris orientalis with 'Monspur' He interbred seedlings from this cross, and in the second generation there was a virtual explosion of color: blue, lavender, brown, bronze and cream. During his lifetime, Nies was recognized as the foremost breeder of spuria irises in the world. Marion Walker took over his seedlings and breeding lines after he died in 1952.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'Ode To A Toad'

photo by Michaela Lango

'Ode To A Toad' (Brad Kasperek, R. 2012) Seedling #6SP-120B. SPU, 38" (97 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards rich red-brown maroon; style arms mottled brown and purple; falls orange-gold, rimmed and veined smoky red-brown maroon. 

'Wyoming Cowboys' X 'Missouri Orange'. Introduced by Zebra 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.

The Well of Zamzam and Another Side of the Spuria Named Wadi Zem Zem

By Anna Cadd

You never know what you will learn in your lifetime! After posting the original article in the Spuria News and AIS Blog about the Spuria iris named Wadi Zem Zem, AIS-past president Jim Morris mentioned that maybe my suggestion of the name Wadi Zem Zem has the different source. This is a most fascinating story!

Spuria iris 'Wadi ZemZem'

Wadi Zem Zem was registered by Carl Milliken in 1943 and introduced in 1945 with a short description in his 1945 catalog: "WADI ZEM ZEM (Milliken) - A clear cream-colored spuria,
remarkably large in size and of excellent- shape. The rounded spreading falls are two inches or more in width, the standards are erect and open. Height 4 feet. Stock is very limited. $7.50."

Carl Milliken re-introduced this Spuria one more time in 1953 as seen in his catalogue, with a photo of Wadi Zem Zem on the front cover and two drawings of Arabs; one drinking from a spring and the other sitting on a horse looking at the ravine. Under the drinking Arab the name Wadi Zem Zem
with reference to page 19.

Page 19 of the catalogue contains another description of Wadi Zem Zem between 18 different Spurias: "WADI ZEM ZEM (Milliken) A beautiful large cream colored Spuria. The rounded spreading falls are two inches or more in width. The standards are erect and open. We think this is the finest Spuria. 4 ft. See illustration at the top of page, as well as on the front cover. $2.50."

(Note the price change from $7.50 in 1945 to $2.50 in 1953. The customer would also be able to buy the "BUTTERFLY COLLECTION: 'Azure Dawn' or 'Mt. Wilson', 'Gold Nugget' or 'Monniere', 'Pastoral Russet', 'Flame Saugatuck' or 'Fifth Symphony', 'Wadi Zem Zem' or 'Two Opals'; 6 plants, one of a kind. Be sure to send $5 00 when indicate your selections!").

Carl Milliken 

It is interesting to look at page two of the 1953 Milliken catalogue: "This year we have devoted our front cover to the loveliest of all Spuria Iris, the incomparable 'Wadi Zem Zem'. The photograph itself shows 'Wadi Zem Zem' growing in the group and demonstrates well the stately height of the plants and flower stalks compared with the normal bearded iris plants in the foreground.

Milliken Gardens catalog

When we named this fine flower we selected a locality in the Levant whence its ancestors might well have come, and our artist has composed this scene for you. A wadi, as you know, is a dry wash or ravine in the terminology of North Africa and Asia Minor. But Zem Zem is not normally a part of our knowledge. It is a spring at Mecca, which Mohammedans believe was created by Allah, to slake the thirst of Ishmael and Hagar when they were driven into the wilderness by Abraham.

Wadi Zem Zem is the first and only Spuria Iris to receive an Award of Merit from the American Iris Society; it has had most flattering attention in magazine articles recently, as well. Its fame is worldwide and we have even made shipments to Africa where it far surpasses the indigenous varieties. For further information and the close-up view of the bloom, please turn to page 19."

Milliken Garden catalog description

In the fall of 2018 when I was writing my first article about the Spuria Wadi Zem Zem, I didn't know about Carl Milliken’s catalogues from 1945 and 1953, where he really introduced Wadi Zem Zem to wider distribution. Milliken in his catalogue (on page 2) points to a different source of the name, but a Google search reveals that the name of the Holy Spring is Zamzam (pronounced it Zemzem).

The main purpose of my first article was to show that Wadi Zem Zem is in the pedigree of most introduced Spuria varieties, and the name fascinated me enough that I assumed a different line of thought for the origin of the name. There is the confusion regarding the name, which probably confused Mr. Milliken and me equally. As I wrote in my previous article, there is a geographical location with the name of Wadi Zem Zem (Uadi Zemzem). It is a wadi (ravine) in Libya and at an elevation of 26 meters above sea level at 31°24'0" N and 15°16'60" E. This location was made famous because of the British soldier Keith Douglas. He wrote the small book "Alamein to Zem Zem", which is a military memoir of the Western Desert campaign of World War II. El Alamein is a small town in Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea, 66 miles from Alexandria and 149 miles from Cairo. Zem Zem is in Libya and where the story ends.

I thought that maybe Mr. Milliken heard about the battle at Wadi Zem Zem and the young British poet-soldier, who sought to write about the sacrifices of soldiers from all nations and named his new Spuria to pay tribute to those who fought evil. But apparently I was wrong.

British soldier Keith Douglas

The problem is that as Milliken wrote in his 1953 catalogue: "It is a spring at Mecca, which Mohammedans believe was created by Allah, to slake the thirst of Ishmael and Hagar when they were driven into the wilderness by Abraham."

An internet search reveals: "The Well of Zamzam is a well located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 66 ft east of the Kabah, the holiest place in Islam. According to Islamic mythology, it is a miraculously generated source of water from God, which sprang thousands of years ago when Ibrahim's infant Ishmael was left with his mother Hajar in the desert. She was desperately seeking water but she could not find any, as Mecca is located in a hot dry valley with few sources of water. Getting thirstier by the second, the infant Ishmael scraped the land with his feet, where suddenly water sprang out."

The correct name of the wells is Zamzam. The wells are located in the hot dry valley and not the ravine - wadi in Lybia. Wadi Zem Zem in Libya is located 2200 miles from wells in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Interesting, that two different locations share a very similar name. We will probably never know where Milliken learned about this place and if his intention was to memorialize the holy wells in Mecca or, as I assumed, to memorialize the battlefield in Libya. I was wrong with my assumption of the origin of the name, but it was Mr. Milliken who named his famous Spuria with the wrong name location! But on the other hand, we tend to underestimate the "old folks," especially when they talk about seasonal water ravines and Holy Springs in one breath!

The mystery behind this name probably will never be solved. It was fun learning all this information and perhaps some readers will also like the additional information!

Note: This article first appeared on the Spring issue of Spuria News. Published with permission from the Spuria Iris Society.

Did You Miss Us?

For the last three weeks, a software glitch has prevented automatic notifications of The World of Irises blog. The coding error has been found and fixed and Monday you should have received notification about Bonnie Nichols’s blog on soft rot.

You may have missed several blogs with interesting information and good images. Just click on the link and it will take you to the blogs in questions.

Mike Unser’s blogs are always full of great images and the recent blog “The Beauty of Siberian Irises” is no exception.

Anna Cadd has been hybridizing Spurias for many years and her guest blog provides historical and current information about the important parent Wadi Zem Zem.

New Digital Programs for LA and Spuria Lovers

By Andi Rivarola

I bring you good news from the digital presentation world. Two new digital programs are available for Louisiana and Spuria iris lovers. The Society for Louisiana Irises created a program called, "Growing Louisiana Irises," and the Spuria Iris Society put together the "2013 Spuria Digital Program."

Growing Louisiana Irises

Wonderful images of Louisiana irises in the wild as well as in gardens are part of this exciting new program. The goal of the program is to show your audience the "how-to's" of being successful at planting, growing and preparing the soil to grow these beauties. Also, the presentation has detailed information about soil requirements, flower parts (image below), and species and LA iris types are explained. We can say with confidence that this presentation will leave you and those in your audience with plenty of reasons to include Louisiana irises in your garden.

Technical Notes: this presentation has 80 images; it can mailed to you as a CD, or emailed too. You will need the computer program, PowerPoint Presentation. For more information and to obtain a downloadable order form check the AIS website: AIS Slides and Digital Programs

Sample Digital Image of LA Irises

Spuria Iris Digital Program 2013

The Spuria Iris Society digital presentation is very unique in that it shows the huge variety of colors and forms available today. The presentation is mainly composed of a huge variety of predominantly single Spuria iris flower images that will open your eyes to the many possibilities that exist in this beardless beauty. From browns, to blues, yellows and now also very dark or pink Spurias, there will be some that you'll fall in love with.

Technical Notes: The program contains over 150 images, with over 130 of them being unique iris varieties. It is available digitally via Google Drive or Dropbox, and once you pay for it via Paypal it can be in your email inbox the same day. Check the Spuria Iris Society website for more information: 2013 Spuria Iris Digital Program

Singular Spuria Iris Images

If you are able, please support these societies by becoming a member, or share this information with your family and friends who love irises. 

2013 Eric Nies Award: Spuria Iris 'Missouri Orchid'

By Andi Rivarola

It is with much pleasure that I present to you the winner of the 2013 Eric Nies Medal: 'Missouri Orchid' by Dave Niswonger. Congratulations to Mr. Niswonger on winning yet another award for his outstanding work. 

I can't wait to see this Spuria iris in person. With its many tones of pink, red, burgundy and fuschia, I think it will become a very popular iris for many. Keep in mind that Spuria colors many times changes according to soil condition and climate, so there will variations in the garden we would surely appreciate. Other characteristics, such as form, signal size, with of standard and falls, all of these should remain the same.

Photo by Dave Niswonger

Spuria irises are tall (2 to 5 feet in height) and elegant, and have very attractive foliage. The shape of the bloom often suggests orchids and the colors range from white and yellow through blue, wine and brown, often with bright yellow signals. This horticultural class is equivalent to the botanical Series Spuriae. The highest award is the Eric Nies Medal.

Description from the Iris Wiki (http://wiki.irises.org):

'Missouri Orchid' (O. David Niswonger, R. 2006) Sdlg. Sp 9-99. SPU, 38" (97 cm), Medium Lavender self, Falls with a hint of pink, yellow signal spreading to buff. 'Missouri Dreamland' X unknown, probably 'Rivulets Of Pink'. Cape Iris 2006. Honorable Mention 2009; Award of Merit 2011; Eric Nies Medal 2013.

For more information on Spuria irises, please visit the Spuria Iris Society.

"Talking Irises" SPURIA IRISES WITH BRAD KASPEREK-- MY VISIT TO ZEBRA IRIS GARDENS PART II

By: Susanne Holland Spicker

Last week I visited ZEBRA IRIS GARDENS. The spuria irises were in bloom, and it was a visual treat! I saw rows and rows of stately spuria clumps.  The warm sunlight brought out the beautiful veining on the exquisite iris falls and the garden was  a myriad of colors with the lush green foliage showcasing their loveliness; it was extraordinary--ethereal.

You might ask, "What exactly is a spuria iris?" 

 FACTS ABOUT SPURIA IRISES

• Spurias are beardless iris with elegant blooms
• They will grow and flower with ease in most areas of the country, especially those where summer months are dry
• They don't like to be disturbed, and can go 10-15 years without dividing
• Their tall, bright green foliage and eye-catching blooms are not bothered by winds
• They are great in floral arrangements, having a long vase life
• Spurias love a well-balanced fertilizer, such as 14-14-14
• Don't let spurias dry out before transplanting; some people use a wet paper towel to keep them hydrated until time for planting
• They like full sunlight, or at least 1/2 day of sun
• After established, they are quite drought tolerant
• Plant in an area with good drainage

Brad Kasperek's interest in hybridizing spuria irises began in 2005.   He had often lost much of his bearded seedling bloom to hard April freezes, and had been thinking of switching his hybridizing priority to spuria irises. The president of the Spuria Iris Society cornered him one day and helped convince him it was something he should do.  Well, he was right!  Brad says he wishes he had started a decade earlier. 

Brad says that "most seasoned iris hybridizers develop an 'intuition' about which two parents to select when pursuing new flower coloration," but that he is too new at spurias to have that ability yet.  He said that his "first couple years of seedlings were a great disappointment since their flowers were just like what had already been introduced."  After that experience, he said that he chose his "spuria parents more carefully, and this year's seedling bloom from 2008 and 2009 crosses is providing some 'gnu' flower colors and rounder form."

Hybridizer Brad Kasperek, Zebra Iris Gardens, with one of his stunning seedlings, pictured below.

The evening I arrived at ZEBRA IRIS GARDENS I was in luck--Brad was in the process of hybridizing.  Brad says he has found the best time for this is between the hours of 7 and 9 pm, when the flowers are more fertile.  Watching the painstaking procedure of pollinating, tagging, and recording the data was fascinating.  It will be one or two years before Brad sees the fruits of his labors. He says "his current hybridizing goals include a line of non-yellow solid colors and transferring some of Charles Jenkins' and Barry Blyth's color breaks, new colors or patterns, to better plants." He says that he believes that "the best plants are from Dave Niswonger with some from Jenkins and Floyd Wickencamp as well."

 A bed of newly transplanted spuria iris among the established clumps of blooming flowers.

Brad believes that spuria hybridizers and the AIS should "focus more on advancements in spuria flower color and form at this time, rather than on the 'perfect plant.' "  He said that "Melba Hamblin, a very successful Utah hybridizer, always taught 'first you get the flower, and then you get the plant.' "  Brad says "both goals often take decades to reach, but almost every commercial hybridizer knows that color and form, not plant, is what sells."   So, his advice for both the Spuria Iris Society and AIS judging would be "a greater emphasis on colors and form at this time, in the hopes of expanding the garden appeal of 
l. spuria." 

This year, Brad has two exceptional spuria introductions and one was in bloom when I visited. "WAPITI CITI" (SPU 42" EM Kasperek '13), is lightly ruffled, with rich, medium red-purple standards, style arms and fall rims.  Matching inverted eyelash veining on a bright yellow signal completes this introduction.  It also has 6-8 buds.  Regal!

An introduction last year, "IBEX IBIS"  (Kerr/Kasperek 2012) is a well-proportioned clump.  It has 6 budded stalks with a mass of flowers with medium lavender standards and a matching band around sunshine yellow falls.

Outstanding seedlings include the following:

ZEBRA IRIS GARDENS also has an impressive selection of award-winning spuria irises from other hybridizers. Some of my favorites in bloom that day are pictured here:

"SPARKLING CIDER" Cadd 2002--WOW!

"BLUE SPIDERWEB" Ferguson 1966

"LEMON TOWER" Walker 2008

"BOLDLY ELEGANT" Cadd 2003--striking!

"ADRIATIC BLUE" Niswonger 1996--superb!

"ADOBE SUNSET" McCown 1979

"IMPERIAL BRONZE" McCown 1970

"WILD AT HEART" Blyth 1999

"SULTANS SASH" Niswonger 1990--elegant

"CINNAMON MOON"  Blyth 2003--a real dazzler

"NORTHERN MUSE" Walker/Aberego 1985

"STEELY EYES" Walker 2006

"LOOK LIVELY"

"KAIBAB TRAIL" Wickenkamp 1985

"PEAK ALONE" Evans 1997 (Australia)

"STELLA IRENE" Jenkins 1995--Dramatic!

"CANDLE LACE"  Jenkins 1990--Ruffled falls

"RESPONSE"  Corlew 1989

"FIREMIST" Niswonger 1991--Gorgeous!

"NOBLE ROMAN" Blyth 1994

"VIOLET FUSION" Walker 2006

"DANDELION SMILE" Cadd 2005

"MISSOURI BOON" Niswonger/Wilhoits 2007

I eagerly look forward to additional introductions from Brad. I predict a resurgence of these remarkable flowers in the iris world--the possibilities are exciting!  I appreciate Brad's hospitality and thank him for welcoming me to his stunning iris garden.

To read more on spuria irises, or to join the Spuria Iris Society, (SIS) a section of the AIS, see them on their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/spuriairissociety or  you can find them at www.spuriairissociety.org.

I'm planning on adding some spuria irises to my landscape this year, how about you?

On a personal note: I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Kathie, who is an integral part of ZEBRA IRIS GARDENS.  She recently had surgery for breast cancer, which will have to be aggressively treated. She will be having a mastectomy, with associated lymph node removal, followed by probable chemotherapy and radiation.  I, along with so many others, wish Brad and Kathie all the best these next months as they deal with this new challenge, while keeping up with the rigors of their commercial iris business.