Thursday, December 5, 2019

Why Irises?


By Maggie Asplet

It’s here, the eagerly awaited and definitive book on irises; many iris lovers have waited a long time for Gwenda Harris to put pen to paper and give the world the benefit of her huge experience growing these amazing plants.



Gwenda is widely respected for her intimate knowledge of irises and has travelled worldwide following her passion. Her talks and demonstrations have entranced audiences throughout the country and encouraged many to look further into the breeding, growing and showing this wonderful plant.

The combination of Stephanie Boot as editor with assistance from Tony Hall, with beautiful photographs by Gwenda, Stephanie, Judith Neilson, Graham Menary and Alistair Boot makes this a book to cherish. Why Irises? is not limited to just tall bearded varieties, but encompasses all the other members of the genus too. Gwenda, Stephanie and Tony are all well known in the iris world and have all traveled to lecture or to judge irises in worldwide competition.

This is a book for every iris lover's shelf, the stories of travels, talks given and general helpful hints contained within, make it a must have.

It’s available from the publisher Alspix Studios email   alistair@alspix.com  at a cost of NZD$35 a copy plus postage as follows:

New Zealand wide       $6.50
Australia                      $12.00
USA                            $22.00
Europe                         $22.00

Other countries by arrangement.          
  
To order please make full payment to the South Canterbury Iris Groups bank account - Westpac
# 03 0887 0290597 00   using your name as the reference. You can also use PayPal - apix@internet.co.nz.
Please also email the publisher with your postal address and confirmation that you have made payment.

Books will be dispatched in the order payments are received and as this is a limited edition be early to avoid missing out.

About Gwenda Harris M.A., B.Sc (Botany & Geology)

In between several false career starts, university study and some travels, Gwenda trained as an Editor with the DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research), was Field Officer for the Nature Conservation Council, then Executive Officer for the Environmental Council.  This was followed by working for the Nature Heritage Fund and the New Zealand Conservation Authority.

She edited the New Zealand Iris Society Bulletin for seven years from September 1993, and Spectrum (newsletter of the Species Section for NZIS) from March 2001 to March 2002.  Gwenda was awarded the Festival Crown Plate in 2001 for meritorious service to the New Zealand Iris Society for the producing the Bulletin and dealing with ERMA (Environmental Risk Management Authority) regarding the importation of iris seed - resulting in a further one hundred and six species being added to the list of species permitted for importation.  In 2016, Gwenda was awarded the President's Trophy.