The American Iris Society Announces the 2025 Cook-Douglas Medal Winner

  'BLUE EYED GIRL'

 The Cook-Douglas Medal is restricted to standard dwarf bearded (SDB) irises. It is named in honor of Paul Cook (1891-1963) and Geddes Douglas (1902-1993). Paul Cook's work with dwarf irises was truly pioneering. His early breeding of dwarf irises led to a series of I. arenaria hybrids, the most notable being 'Keepsake,' 'Tampa,' and 'Promise.' He was the first to use the true I. pumila in his breeding programs, and this resulted in the introduction of the first of the great stud irises in the standard dwarf class: 'Baria,' 'Fairy Flax,' and 'Green Spot.'

Geddes Douglas was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1902. Douglas was a chemist and businessman. In the early 1950s, he founded the Geddes Douglas Garden Center in Nashville. He became a leader in the Tennessee Nurserymen's Association and served a term as president of the Southern Nursery Association.

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

Standard dwarf bearded iris 'Blue Eued Girl'

photo by Judy Schneider (The Shady Spot)

'Blue Eyed Girl'-(Thomas Johnson, R. 2017) Seedling TG344B. SDB, 15" (38 cm), Early light lemon yellow, deeper in center; style arms extremely light yellow; falls light yellow, deeper yellow wash around beard; beards large, bushy, deep inky blue; slight fragrance. Seedling TC262A: ('Chicklet' x 'Meow') X 'Worry Wart'. Mid-America 2017.

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.

'Egyptian Queen' takes the 2013 William Mohr Medal

by Jim Murrain

I am thrilled to announce the winner of the 2013 William Mohr Medal is 
Tom Johnson of Oregon for his 'Egyptian Queen'.

Photo by   Tom Johnson

Here is the description from the Iris Encyclopedia.

'Egyptian Queen' OGB- (Thomas Johnson, R. 2007). Sdlg. #TU289C. AB, 20” (51 cm), M. S. medium lilac, rosy copper midribs, fine network of veins overall; style arms tan copper, large; F. riose copper blending to tan copper; muted gold hafts; velvety black cherry signals; beards bright yellow, slight fragrance. 'Hot Jazz' X 'Onlooker'. Sib to 'Octave'. Mid-America Garden, 2007. Honorable Mention 2009; Award of Merit 2011. 

This is Tom's second win two years running. He won in 2012 for his Iris 'Suspect'. Many thanks to Tom Johnson for bringing us another easy to grow Arilbred Iris with the exotic look of the desert irises of the Middle East. As an OGB- this is over half bearded Iris heritage ensuring that it will prosper in many diverse climates.

For information about this award go here.

For more information about Aril and Arilbred irises please visit the Aril Society International website    and consider joining this vibrant group of Iris lovers.