THE RANDOLPH PERRY MEDAL 2017 'OKAGAMI" Interspecies Iris Hybrid (SPEC-X)

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating Hiroshi Simizu (by Carol Warner) as the Inter-species hybrid (SPEC-X) American Iris Society 2017 Randolph Perry Medal winner 'OKAGAMI'. 

'OKAGAMI' (Hiroshi Shimizu by Carol Warner 2008) Photo by Carol Warner

This stunning pseudata was awarded the best seedling in Draycot Gardens beardless show in 2006. The name means "Big Mirror".

The AIS Wiki describes the magnificent bloom as follows: 

'OKAGAMI' (Hiroshi Shimizu by Carol Warner 2008) Inter-species hybrid SPEC-X. (Pseudata) 34-36" Mid-season bloom. Standards white, slight light purple blush upon opening; style arms creamy yellow, ends brushed light lavender; falls white, pointed deep yellow signal lightly freckled bright wine, jagged wine eyelash extending downward into a line. Draycott 2008.  HM 2012, AM2014, The Randolph Perry Award 2017.

Thank you, Hiroshi Shimizu and Carol Warner, for this beautiful Inter-species hybrid.

For a complete list of the 2017 AIS Award winners, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE FOUNDERS OF SIGNA MEDAL "RUTH WILDER" Species irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

It is with pleasure that we congratulate Walter Hoover by Randall Bowen, for the Species iris 'RUTH WILDER" as the winner of the Founders Of Signa Medal, 2017

'RUTH WILDER' (Walter Hoover by Randall Bowen 2004) Photo by Eleanor Hutchison

This striking Species iris, introduced by Randall Bowen for Walter Hoover, is described in the AIS WIKI as follows:

'RUTH WILDER' (Walter Hoover by Randall Bowen) SPEC 28-30" Late bloom. Standards light red-violet; style arms near white tipped light red-violet; falls red-violet, bright golden signal. Iris By The Creek 2004. HM 2009, AM 2013, The Founders Of Signa Medal 2017.

A special thanks to Randall Bowen for introducing this beautiful Species iris for Walter Hoover.

For a complete list of the 2017 AIS Awards, please 

visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

Interest in iris species? Please visit the Species Iris Group of North America website.

THE 2017 WILLIAM MOHR MEDAL "EYE TO EYE"

Susanne Holland Spicker

Join with us in congratulating Keith Keppel for his 2017 William Mohr Medal winner 'EYE TO EYE'. This award is for Arilbred irises with less than 50% but at least 25% aril content. 

'EYE TO EYE' (Keith Keppel 2009) Photo courtesy of Keith Keppel

This eye-catching arilbred is described by the AIK Wiki as follows:

'EYE TO EYE' (Keith Keppel 2009) AB 12" Mid-season bloom. Standards violet-blue, lighter toward edge; style arms chartreuse to oil yellow; falls pale corinth purple wash on olive yellow ground, sharply defined 5/8" blackish red-purple signal spot; beards golden glow. Keppel 2009. HM 2011, AM 2014, The William Mohr Medal 2017.

Our thanks to Keith for yet another outstanding iris. It joins other Keppel 2017 award winners: Dykes Medal 'Montmartre' and 'Reckless Abandon', Wister Medal.

For a complete list of the 2017 American Iris Society Award winners, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/. 

THE 2017 CLARENCE G. WHITE MEDAL - Aril and Arilbred irises with at least 50% aril content

Susanne Holland Spicker

Join with us in congratulating Rick Tasco for his stunning Arilbred iris "Sand Dancer". 

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco '10) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

The Clarence G. White Award recipient, voted for the best aril or arilbred iris (with at least 50% aril content) is described as follows by the AIS Wiki:  

'Sand Dancer' (Richard Tasco 2010) AB 32" Mid-season bloom. Standards creamy tan heavily veined red-brown, occasional purple vein, some red-brown dots near midrib; style arms bronze, purple blush near ridge, some purple splotches on back of crest, underside of crest veined bronze and purple; falls creamy tan ground, heavily veined and dotted red-brown and purple especially in center, lemon shoulder ground; beards dark brown base, tipped golden bronze in throat, bronze yellow in middle and at end; medium purple base foliage. Superstition 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, The Clarence G. White Medal 2017.

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco 2010) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

Thank you, Rick, for an extraordinary Arilbred iris!

'SAND DANCER' (Richard Tasco 2010) Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens

For a complete list of the AIS 2017 Award winners, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE CAPARNE-WELCH 2017 MEDAL for Miniature Dwarf Irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join us in congratulating Paul Black for his Miniature Dwarf Iris 'CUTE AS A BUTTON' in achievement for the American Iris Society 2017 Caparne-Welch Medal winner.

'CUTE AS A BUTTON' (Paul Black '09) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Iris

This charming little miniature dwarf iris is outstanding in every way. The AIS Wiki describes it as follows:

'Cute As A Button' (Paul Black 2009) MDB 6" Early-to-mid-season bloom. Standards white, dark purple midribs, medium violet stitching around edges; style arms metallic fuchsia, dark tan edges; falls white, medium red-violet haft edge, same color diffuse blot below beard and in plicata veins over haft and petal, beards white base,hairs tipped old gold in throat, dirty yellow in middle, charcoal at edge; pronounced fragrance. Mid-America 2009. HM 2012, AM 2014, Caparne-Welch Medal 2017.

Thank you, Paul, for yet another special iris!

For a complete list of the AIS 2017 Awards, go to http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE WILLIAMSON-WHITE MEDAL 2017 -- Miniature Tall Bearded irises

By Susanne Holland Spicker

Please join with us in congratulating hybridizer Thomas Johnson as the recipient of The Williamson-White Medal for the outstanding miniature tall bearded iris for 2017 'TIC TAC TOE', a beautifully proportioned dainty bloom.

'TIC TAC TOE' (Thomas Johnson '10) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Garden

This charming Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) iris is described by the AIS Wiki as follows:

'Tic Tac Toe' (Thomas Johnson '10)  MTB  24"  Late mid-season bloom. Standards and style arms pink; falls pearl violet, darker violet rim; beards orange. Tetraploid. Slight fragrance. Mid-America 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, Williamson-White Medal 2017.  Hybridizer notes: strongly flared, shade darker towards the margins. Beautifully proportioned MTB stalks have 2 branches and spur, plus basal branch with spur. Double and sometimes triple sockets produce 10-14 dainty flowers. Vigorous, healthy clumps are a lovely sight.

We congratulate Thomas and thank him for another beautiful iris.

For a complete list of the AIS 2017 Awards, please visit http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE HANS AND JACOB SASS MEDAL 2017, Intermediate Bearded Irises

Susanne Holland Spicker

The American Iris Society is pleased to announce the 2017 Medalist for Intermediate Bearded Irises (IB), The Hans and Jacob Sass Medal:  'RED HOT CHILI' by hybridizer Michael Sutton. 

'RED HOT CHILI' (Michael Sutton '08) Photo courtesy of Sutton Iris

This outstanding intermediate bearded iris is described by the AIS WIKI:

'Red Hot Chili' Michael Sutton '08  IB  18" Early Mid-season bloom and rebloom. Standards yellow ground, heavily washed deep ruby red; style arms ruby red; falls bright yellow ground, rust red dotted edge; beards yellow; slight spicy fragrance. Sutton Iris '08, HM 2011, AM 2014, The Hans and Jacob Sass Medal 2017. Beautifully formed, ruffled and lightly laced. Reblooming.

Thank you, Mike, for another beautiful iris. 

For a complete list of the American Iris Society 2017 Awards, go to http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE 2017 KNOWLTON MEDALIST for Border bearded irises

Susanne Holland Spicker

It is with great pleasure that we announce the American Iris Society's 2017 Border Bearded (BB) medalist:  'Ballerina Pink', by hybridizer Paul Black.

'BALLERINA PINK' (Paul Black 2010) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Iris

The stunning pink BB iris is described by the AIS WIKI as follows:

'Ballerina Pink' (Paul Black '10) BB 27" Mid-season late bloom. Standards pastel pink; slightly paler toward edges; style arms pale peach; falls creamy pink, ivory center, darker pink hafts and edges; beards tangerine; ruffled, laced, with slight sweet fragrance. Show stalks.  3 three branches, 8-10 buds. Strong grower. Introduced by Mid-America 2010. HM 2012, AM 2014, The Knowlton Medal 2017.

Thank you, Paul, for an exceptional border bearded iris!

For a complete list of the American Iris Society's 2017 medalists, go to http://wiki.irises.org/.

THE JOHN C. WISTER MEDAL 2017

By Susanne Holland Spicker

The American Iris Society is pleased to announce the winners of the John C. Wister Medal for 2017:
'Reckless Abandon', from Keith Keppel; Paul Black's 'Beauty Becomes Her'; and 'Black Is Black' by Schreiner's. 

'RECKLESS ABANDON' (Keppel '09) Photo courtesy of Keith Keppel

'RECKLESS ABANDON' (Keith Keppel '09)  TB 36" mid-season bloom. Standards center sulphur to citron yellow, changing to warm white texture veined yellow toward outer portion, narrow 1/8" dandelion edge; crests dandelion; falls burgundy  black, large central area white to cream strongly veined burgundy black; beards solid deep chrome to cadmium yellow. The hybridizer notes that the iris is a complicated composition that is decidedly different. It is ruffled and lightly laced. It has 3 branches and terminals carry up to 12 buds. HM 2012, AM 2014, The John C. Wister Medal 2017.

'BEAUTY BECOMES HER' (Paul Black '10) Photo courtesy of Mid-America Iris

'BEAUTY BECOMES HER' (Paul Black '10) TB 42" Mid-Very Late bloom season. Standards and style arms medium dark yellow; falls pale yellow blending to medium yellow edge; beards medium yellow, light yellow at end; slight musky fragrance. Heavily ruffled and lightly laced. Strong, tall show stalks. Robust. The stunning beauty has classic form and style. HM 2012, AM 2014, Wister 2017.

'Black Is Black' (Schreiners '10) Photo courtesy of Schreiner's Iris

'BLACK IS BLACK' (Schreiner '10) TB 37" Mid season bloom. Standards and falls black; beards black. With ruffled, velvety onyx black petals and ebony beards, this black self has well-branched stems with triple-socketed buds, consistently yielding 9-12 buds. HM 2012, AM 2014, Wister 2017.

We congratulate each of these hybridizers and applaud their efforts on these superb irises. 

For a full list of the American Iris Society's 2017 award recipients, click on the link here: AIS 2017 award medalists

"MONTMARTRE," the 2017 Dykes Medalist

By Susanne Holland Spicker

We are pleased to announce the 2017 Dykes Medalist, "MONTMARTRE," by hybridizer Keith Keppel--a magnificent, large-flowered luminata tall bearded iris.

'MONTMARTRE' (Keith Keppel '08) Photo by Susanne Holland Spicker

Here's a description of this exceptional iris via the American Iris Society's Wiki page

'Montmartre' (Keith Keppel 2008). TB, 33" E-M bloom season. Luminata.  Standards grayed red-purple, 1/4" straw yellow edge; style arms straw to reed yellow, midrib flushed red-purple; Falls velvety dark red-purple, darker and brighter than raisin purple, narrow oyster white edge; inner haft lemon, white around beard; Beards chrome yellow, white and lemon at end. Honorable Mention 2010, Award Of Merit 2012, Wister Medal 2014, American Dykes Medal 2017.

'MONTMARTRE' (Keppel '08) Photo by Susanne Holland Spicker

Click here for a complete list of the 2017 American Iris Society winners: 2017 AIS award winners

'MONTMARTRE' (Keppel '08) Photo by Susanne Holland Spicker

Congratulations, Keith, for yet another a stunning iris!

"Talking Irises" WHITE TALL BEARDED IRISES - "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"

By Susanne Holland Spicker

 "...May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white."

'SKATING PARTY' (Gaulter 1983)  Always a perfect bloom, with great form and branching, 'Skating Party' is a long bloomer, and is vigorous and reliable. It takes a great photo.

I first fell in love with tall bearded white irises many years ago. My parents had 'Skating Party' planted in their flower bed, and I still remember the pure white falls and lavish ruffles. Oh, and the aroma--it still invokes special memories! So it was fitting that it was the first white iris I planted when I had my own iris garden. In all these years, it has consistently performed well each and every season. It is one of the first to flower, signaling a new bloom season in my zone 6 garden. There have been years when it is still one of the last blooming at the end of the season. I wouldn't be without it in my iris garden. Pictured in this article is a sampling of just a few of my favorite white irises. They are favorites because of they are not only reliable and vigorous, but they are heavy bloomers, with nice form and good branching as well. 

'SLY FOX' (Wood 1997) Beautiful form with red-orange beards, ruffles and lace--a favorite!

I've heard it said that there is nothing more beautiful than a simple white flower. Although I don't know that I totally agree with that statement, what I do believe is that the pristine petals of a white tall bearded iris, with its elegant and graceful beauty, certainly has the ability to quietly command attention, as well as brighten up the flower garden.

'SLY FOX' (Wood 1997) With a long bloom time and nice petal substance, this white iris increases fast and is always a reliable favorite in the garden. Beautiful!

Relatively small beds seem larger when planting whites strategically in the iris garden. They give an extra measure of depth and light that opens up the bed, giving it a feeling of peace and tranquility. For this reason, I like whites and use them in all of my iris beds. 

'LACED COTTON' (Schreiner 1980) If you love lace, this ultra-laced white tall bearded iris won't disappoint. A clump of it is stunning! When first open, a slight green cast is seen on the petals. Unlike many laced irises, this one opens up nicely.

'LACED COTTON' (Schreiner 1980)

'FRESH POWDER' (Van Liere 2011) A vigorous, beautiful white, with extra bright yellow-tangerine beards, this iris is one of the brightest whites I grow. Unique and highly recommended.

'FRESH POWDER' (Van Liere 2011)

When planting whites, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• A little white goes a long way; be careful about their placement. Too many may 'drown out' the bed
• White makes small spaces appear larger
• White can have undertones of yellow, blue, or green, so experiment with their placement if necessary. White can clash with other colors of different undertones
• A peaceful, almost ethereal feeling can exist in an all- white bed. Experiment to see what looks best in your garden

'BUBBLY MOOD' (Ghio 1984) With lavender undertones and faint green veining on the falls, this huge, bubble-ruffled white iris goes well with cool-colored irises and companion plants.

'BUBBLY MOOD' (Ghio 1984)

Another favorite, a relatively new introduction from Bob Van Liere, 'CHRISTMAS EVE', is one of the tallest in the garden. 

'CHRISTMAS EVE' (Van Liere 2010)

'CHRISTMAS EVE' (Van Liere 2010) The perfect name for this iris!  Standing tall in the garden on strong stems, the ruffled, graceful falls of this white beauty have heavy substance and are framed with bright red-orange beards. Excellent!

'CHRISTMAS EVE' (Van Liere 2010)

'GARDEN BRIDE' (Chapman 1998)

'GARDEN BRIDE' (Chapman 1998) This extra large, pristine white iris is exceptional! I think this is one of Chuck's best. It's always a garden favorite with visitors, and its mid-to-late bloom is always refreshing after the first flush of bloomers has waned 

'MESMERIZER' (Byers 1991) This tall space-age iris is a favorite of many. Some years the appendages curve upward and are more petal-formed. Lovely!

'MESMERIZER' (Byers 1991)

And last, but not least, 'DEVONSHIRE CREAM', (Sutton 2000), a luscious introduction that promises to be a stand out in the iris bed. 

'DEVONSHIRE CREAM' (Sutton 2000) Lovely, laced, and ruffled, this stellar white is pictured in it's maiden bloom. Next year I expect the appendages to be more extended and larger. Exquisite!

Growing a variety of white irises has been a work in progress. I have added new ones to the beds as the years have passed. Each one is unique and beautiful in it's own way.  

This Christmas, I'll be dreaming of white irises--maybe another beauty I can add to the beds this coming year!

Do you love white irises as I do? I'm always on the lookout for a new one, so I'd love to hear from you if you have any favorites.

"Talking Irises" THE BLUE IRIS GARDEN -- Planting A Monochromatic Tall Bearded Iris Bed

By Susanne Holland Spicker

'Bubbling Waves' (Ghio 2006)

One of the oldest gardens in my yard is a tall bearded monochromatic blue iris bed. The word Monochromatic is defined as any shade, tint, or tone of one color.  I've been putting blues together in this bed for many years. There are countless blue iris cultivars to choose from--ranging from the very light, silvery 'Silverado', to the blue-black of 'Hello Darkness', and every hue in between. I'm drawn to the calming and restful feeling that the cool blue color palette  provides. As an added note, cool colors also help make small gardens appear larger because they tend to recede in the distance. Just be careful to plant them in full sunlight, as they can disappear in the shadows.

To achieve a maximum focal impact, I've used a wide variety of selfs, plicatas, and neglectas*. Although many cultivars in the bed are older varieties, I have updated the bed through the years, adding new favorites. The 16' X 12' bed presently has 45 different cultivars. I added 3 new ones this year. To help with the decision, I make a collage to see how well  new irises coordinate with what I have. A pictorial 'wish list' folder on the computer helps to remind me of ones I want to add. This has been a valuable aid. I also make note of the cultivar's bloom season, extending the bloom time of the garden by using very-early to very-late blooming irises.

'Silverado' (Schreiner 1987)

'World Premier' (Schreiner 1998)

'Queen's Circle' (Kerr 2000)

'Ruffled Ballet' (Roderick 1975)

Some terms you may be interested in if you're not familiar with them:

• Tint - when white is added to the color. 
• Tone -  when gray is added.
• Shade -  when black is added.
• The bed incorporates all these in different Values. (The lightness or darkness of the color).

'Daughter Of Stars' (Spoon 2001)

'No Count Blues' (Schreiner 2009)

'Monday Morning Blues' (Van Liere 2012)

'Classic Look' (Schreiner 1992), 'City Lights' (Dunn 1991)

'Proud Tradition' (Schreiner 1990)

'Gyro' (Aitkin 1989)

Harmony in the bed was relatively easy to achieve with this single color scheme. By adding some whites, and accenting with companion plants in pinks and roses, this blue monochromatic iris bed has proven to be a favorite. 

Do you have a monochromatic garden?  If so, I'd love to hear from you and what you've done. 

*  Self - An iris with standards and falls of the same color

   Plicata - Stippled, dotted or stitched color patterns on the falls over a lighter ground color

   Neglecta - A bi-tone iris in blue or purple shades