2013 Hans and Jacob Sass Medal Winner "Rimaround"

By Renee Fraser

We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2013 Hans and Jacob Sass Medal, 

'Rimaround' hybridized by Terry Aitken of Washington!

'Rimaround' Aitken  Photo credit:  Aurora Borealis Iris Garden

Here is the description of this lovely Intermediate Bearded Iris from the AIS Wiki:

'Rimaround' (J. Terry Aitken, R. 2007) Sdlg. 00M20D. IB, 22" (56 cm), ML. S. white, heavy purple plicata stitching; style arms purple; F. white, very round, 3/16" purple plicata band; beards white tipped purple. 'Art Deco' X 'Fairy Ring'. Aitken 2007. Honorable Mention 2009; Award of Merit 2011.

In 1966 The American Iris Society awarded the first Hans and Jacob Sass Medal. This medal is restricted to intermediate bearded (IB) irises. The IBs are 16-27” tall with flowers that are 3½"-5" wide. The IBs fit both in size and bloom time between the SDBs and the TBs. The Hans and Jacob Sass Medals are provided by the Median Iris Society and named in honor of Hans Sass (1868-1949) and Jacob Sass (1872-1945).

For more information about median irises in general and Intermediate Bearded Irises in particular, visit the Median Iris Society Website.  

2013 Randolph Perry Medal winner 'Roy's Repeater'

by Jim Murrain

I am pleased to announce the winner of the 2013 Randolph Perry Medal 

is 'Roy's Repeater' by Terry  Aitken of Washington.

Photo by C. Hensler

Here's a full description of this beautiful Iris via the Iris Encyclopedia:   

'Roy's Repeater' (J. Terry Aitken, R. 2002). Sdlg. 97 SPEC 3C. SPEC-X, 42" (107 cm), ML-VL. White ground heavily overlaid with purple veins, F. with well defined sulphur yellow signal with purple veins; style arms white, veined purple near crests. 'Roy Davidson' X unknown - possibly 'Between the Lines'. Aitken 2002. HM 2006, AM 2010.

To learn more about this Medal go here.

Species Cross is a horticultural class for hybrids. Although this class was the last to be created, it represents Irises that are the earliest of their kind. Someday many of these crosses may go on to develop into classes that warrant their own category. All the hybrid classes such as tall-bearded or standard dwarf had their beginnings in those first crosses between two species. Some crosses between species have been so rewarding they have been repeated creating substantial subgroups like Sino-Siberians and Calsibes. This is a class of experimentation and innovation that helps us learn about species and the possibilities for the future. The highest award for this class is the Randolph-Perry Medal.