'WHEN PIGS FLY' and 'ROOSTER'
The DeBaillon Medal is restricted to Louisiana (LA) irises. It is named in honor of Mary Swords DeBaillon (1888-1940). Mary DeBaillon realized how varied Louisiana irises were and what lovely garden plants they were. Mary DeBaillon amassed the largest collection of Louisiana irises in the world. She was tireless in promoting these irises as good garden plants and in encouraging any who would listen to grow them. She gained considerable fame as a naturalist and native plant collector.
Editor’s Note: Due to the pandemic last year, the American Iris Society Board of Directors suspended garden awards. As a result, and for only this year, two medals will be award in this area. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.
'When Pigs Fly' (Patrick O'Connor, R. 2012) Seedling 10-34. LA, 30-32 (7701 cm), Midseason late bloom. Standards pale amber on opening fading to pearl-white; style arms cream-white; falls same as standards, deep yellow dagger signal outlined in bright violet radiating out about half the length and width of falls. 'Percolator' X 'Bellocq'. Zydeco 2013.
'Rooster' (Ron Betzer, R. 2013) Seedling 05-49-4. LA, 29 (74 cm), Early to midseason bloom. Standards light yellow, slight claret streak through middle, lightly feathered edges; style arms claret, some yellow on edges; Falls yellow, rusty-red veining and sometimes a rusty-red wash, claret rim and serrated edge, yellow blotch overlaid light green steeple signal. 'Shining Times' X 'Our Dorothy'. Iris City 2014.
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 in the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.
