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/.