2022 Photo Contest Winners: Scene at any Iris Event

Every year the American Iris Society (AIS) sponsors a photo contest to celebrate irises, their use in garden and natural settings, and the people who grow and hybridize them. 

We are pleased to announce the following winners of the 2022 AIS photo contest:

 Scene at Any Iris Event

First Place – “Hungarian Artist at Dry Creek Garden, Union City, California” 

photo by Mikey Lango, Santa Clara, California

Second Place – “Sunny Day” 

Mason Train, Colton, California

Honorable Mention – “Best of Show, ‘Pink Swan’”

photo by Kim Ung, Arlington, Virginia 

Honorable Mention – “Ann Plein Air Artist, Dry Creek Regional Park Iris Garden” 

photo by Sara Trayser, Fremont, California

First Place Youth – “Region 18 Spring Garden Tour”

photo by Wyatt Willis, Dyersburg, Tennesee

During this contest, photographers submitted entries in categories listed below, which vary from year to year. Next, a panel of three to five judges reviewed submissions and voted for adult and youth winners for each category. Additional information about the annual photo contest can be found on the AIS website.

Visit other World of Irises blog posts to see 2022 award-winning photos in each category:

1. Irises in a landscape or garden
2. Irises in a field
3. A person or people at iris events or tours with irises
4. Close-up of an iris or irises
5. Iris photos – macro
6. Photos of pets, wildlife, or garden art with the irises (link available after 11/23)

A Growing Iris Resource on YouTube: Part IV

 by Heather Haley

In this post, I'll continue sharing an update of a growing iris resource on YouTube. The American Iris Society (AIS) uses its YouTube Channel to help organize and disseminate knowledge of the genus Iris, while fostering its preservation, enjoyment, and continued development. Many of the videos available are from the AIS Webinar Series, and their upload was planned for the benefit of all persons interested in irises.

In "A Growing Iris Resource On YouTube: Part I," I shared the origin of the AIS Webinar Series in 2020 as well as descriptions of recorded presentations that brought iris enthusiasts together during the pandemic. As the Webinar Series continued in 2021, all AIS sections and cooperating societies were invited to give presentations, which I shared in Parts II and III. 

Past AIS president Gary White serves as an organizer for the webinar series, and has continued inviting wonderful speakers to share iris knowledge and experience with us. Gary is also part of a small crew of webinar hosts working behind the scenes to admit attendees in Zoom, and help the webinar run as smoothly while they are recorded. I got involved as a webinar host in 2021, and it is always a joy to listen, learn, and support connections among people who are passionate about irises.

The following describes some of the webinars that AIS volunteers prepared, delivered, recorded, and posted to our YouTube Channel during 2022.

Webinar #22 - "Iris Ensata” with Patrick Spence

Patrick Spence is a past president of the Society for Japanese Irises, operates Cascadia Iris Gardens in King County, Washington, and maintains a large important collection of beardless irises, including Japanese irises. In this webinar, you can learn about the variety of forms and patterns available in Japanese irises, along with the culture and care requirements of these exceptional garden plants.

Webinar #23 - "Growing Iris in Containers” with Doug Chyz

Doug Chyz is the co-chair of the AIS Public Relations and Marketing Committee, a past president of the Fredericksberg Area Iris Society, and a former AIS Region 4 Vice President.  In this webinar, you can learn more about growing and exhibiting irises in containers, as well as get advice about sizes and types of containers, hardiness concerns, and the pros and cons of this cultural practice. 

Webinar #24 - "Judges Training: Awards and Ballots” with Gary White and Bonnie Nichols

Webinar #25 "Judges Training: Awards and Ballots” with Gary White and Bonnie Nichols

National Judges Training Chair Bonnie Nichols joined Gary White in two webinars describing various AIS awards and the responsibilities of its judges. The first session focused on garden awards that are voted by judges accredited by the AIS. History about the awards is included, with notes and photos about the people for whom the special medals are named. The second session goes on to describe other awards and symposiums voted by the AIS Board of Directors; members of AIS, a section, or affiliate; judges at exhibitions; and convention attendees. Although designed to provide judges training, these programs are suitable and informative for non-judges as well.

Webinar #26 - "Rebloomers: How to Grow Them to Bloom Succesfully in Most Locations” with Riley Probst

Riley Probst is a past president of the Reblooming Iris Society and operates Fleur de Lis gardens in Modesto, California with his wife Shirley. In this webinar learn about cultural requirements for reblooming irises as well as irises that grow well in warm or cool climate areas.

If you have not done so already, consider recording which of your irises rebloom in your garden. If you would like to share this data with other reblooming iris enthusiasts, forms are available here.

IRISES: The Bulletin of the AIS - Fall 2022 Edition

By Andi Rivarola

A warm welcome to those who are seeing IRISES, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society for the first time. If you are a member of The American Iris Society I hope you enjoy this new issue.

The Fall 2022 issue of the AIS Bulletin will be available online soon, accessible via the Emembers section of the AIS website. The print copy has been mailed via the U.S. Post Office. On the cover, Dykes Medal winner for 2022 'Football Hero' (Lynda Miller 2015, TB). 

Also, featured below, the back cover, the Fred And Barbara Walther Cup winner ‘Bright And Shining Star’ (Paul Black 2020, TB).

Note: to access this area of the website, you must have a current AIS Emembership. (AIS Emembership is separate from the normal AIS membership.) Please see the Electronic Membership Information are of the AIS website for more details.

The 2022 AIS Award Winners can be viewed starting on page 2 and 3, then continues on pages 24 - 31 with a full list of winners, then ending on page 78 with more images to enjoy. 

An extended version of Section Happenings with photos, articles and program information can be found on pages 14 through 17.

International News are on pages 18 through 20.

Our newer bulletin section, Beginners Corner is on page 22.
To give feedback in a survey about the AIS Bulletin please refer to page 23.

Unraveling the Awards System, an article about our very own AIS awards, is on page 32. 

Are you a new member of AIS? Enjoy the article Dear Newcomer: Volunteering at an Iris Event Will Be a Reciprocal Benefit, on pages 33 - 35.

It's all about the 2023 National Convention in Dallas, TX on pages 36 through 39, including the registration form and a great description of the gardens. Welcome to DALLAS!, April 12–16, 2023.

On pages 40 - 40 enjoy beautiful pictures of the Las Cruces 2022 National Convention, plus an account of convention information, described by a member of the Mesilla Valley Iris Society in A Few Weeks After the 2022 National Convention.

And, yes, there was another convention earlier in the spring, and you can see and learn all about it on pages 50 - 58, What? Another Convention? Siberian/Species Iris Convention.

The Louisiana Iris Popularity Poll is on page 59. 

On to pages 60 - 63 for Deja Vu in ‘22, AIS Region 18 Spring Meeting and Garden Tour.

Reflections on a Great Seedling Show, on pages 64 and 65.
And lastly, learn all about the New Online Iris Register on pages 66 and 67.

There's a lot more to see and read in this edition of IRISES, either in digital or print formats. 

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Support the Work of The American Iris Society by Becoming a Member:

Not a member of the American Iris Society? Please see our website for information about becoming one: http://irises.org/
Happy Gardening!

• Annual Print Membership receives the printed version of Irises, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society, published four times annually.

• Annual E-membership views the online version of Irises, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society. Also, has access to the online iris checklist.

• The Annual Full Membership receives both benefits described above.

• Participate in AIS’s bi-monthly Webinar Series featuring AIS experts from around the U.S.

• Get connected with AIS members from around the world, via our Facebook Group Iris Lovers, and other social media channels.

• Get to know about our lesser known irises, such as species, spuria, Japanese, Louisiana, Siberian and other beardless irises.

• Participate in the Annual convention. The next convention will be in Dallas, TX in 2023.  

• Support AIS's mission of education, conservation, research, preserving historical archives, and outreach projects.

• Did you know that The American Iris Society is the registration authority for all rhizomatous irises worldwide?  

• The Iris Encyclopedia is available 24-7, 365 days a year, and filled with a wealth of iris knowledge. Stop by for a visit!

2022 Photo Contest Winners: Irises in the Wild

 Every year the American Iris Society (AIS) sponsors a photo contest to celebrate irises, their use in garden and natural settings, and the people who grow and hybridize them. 

We are pleased to announce the following winners of the 2022 AIS photo contest:

 Irises in the Wild

First Place – "'It’s A Bigun'"

photo by Anna Cadd, Healdsburg, California

Second Place – “Wet ‘n Wild in Roseburg”

photo by Mason Train, Colton, CA

Honorable Mention –  “Black Widow Iris”

photo byWilly Hublau, Wellen, Belgium

During this contest, photographers submitted entries in categories listed below, which vary from year to year. Next, a panel of three to five judges reviewed submissions and voted for adult and youth winners for each category. Additional information about the annual photo contest can be found on the AIS website.

Visit other World of Irises blog posts to see 2022 award-winning photos in each category:

1. Irises in a landscape or garden
2. Irises in a field
3. Scene at any iris event
4. Close-up of an iris or irises
5. Iris photos – macro (link available after 11/16)
6. Photos of pets, wildlife, or garden art with the irises (link available after 11/23)