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Region 21 Bulletin The American Iris Society Bulletin No. 151 Spring 2019 Sass Memorial Iris Garden Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Nebraska
Region 21 Bulletin
The American Iris Society
Bulletin No. 151 Spring 2019
Sass Memorial Iris Garden
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Nebraska
Page 2
Contents
Official Family, Region 21……………...…………………….. 3 Affiliates ……………………………………………………….4 Region 21 Meeting Dates, AIS meetings, Section meetings …..5 Affiliate Officer Contacts and Meeting Notes………...……..6-9 Call for Nominations for Region 21 Board Members………….9 Call for Nominations for Distinguished Service Award……….9 Focus On the Lincoln Iris Society…...………………………..10 Region 21 Spring Meeting in Scottsbluff—Invitation ……11-14 Library Review—Iris of China…………………………….….15 Public Iris Gardens in Region 21…………………..……...16-18 AIS Membership Milestones—2019………………………….19 Notes on the 2018 Spring Meeting and Tour……………….…20 Notes on the 2018 Region 21 Fall Meeting…………...……....21 Proposed Change in the Region 21 By-Laws…………….…...21 Editor’s Message …………………………………………………...22 A Look Back ……….………………………………….…………...23
AIS Region 21 Bulletin, No. 151 Spring 2019
Editor: Gary White Lincoln, Nebraska
Page 3
Region 21 Official Family
Regional Vice President (RVP): Kelly Norris 1128 Riverview Dr., Des Moines, IA 50313 (712) 621-5399 [email protected] Assistant RVP: Wayne Messer PO Box 64 Huxley, IA 50124 (515) 597-4240 [email protected] Secretary: Sue Becker 509 3rd Ave. SE LeMars, IA 51031-2407 (712) 548-4568 Treasurer: Sue Witt 2649 Moonlight Dr. Des Moines, IA 50320 (702) 498-6413 [email protected] Immediate Past RVP: Linda Wilkie 15115 Grant Circle Omaha, NE 68116 (402) 493-3808 [email protected] Judges Training Chair: Kelly Norris 1128 Riverview Dr., Des Moines, IA 50313 (712) 621-5399 [email protected] Librarian: Pam and Wayne Messer PO Box 64 Huxley, IA 50124 (515) 597-4240 [email protected] [email protected]
Bulletin: Gary White 701 Old Cheney Rd. Lincoln, NE 68512-1168 (402) 421-6394 [email protected] Board Members: (Term expires end of 2019) Mike Becker 509 3rd Ave. SE LeMars, IA 51031-2407 (712) 548-4568 [email protected] (Term expires end of 2020) Heidi Brase PO Box 322 Eagle, NE 68347 (402) 639-8405 [email protected] (Term expires end of 2021) LeRoy Meininger 81 Taluca Lane Gering, NE 69341 (308) 575-0749 National Offices: AIS Board of Directors Wayne Messer, Director Gary White, Imed Past Pres. AIS Foundation, Gary White, Trustee _____________________________ Front Cover photo by Linda Wilkie Back Cover: 2017 President’s Cup winner at the Des Moines AIS Convention ‘Landscaping Made Easy’ (Allan Ensminger 2014, IB) photo by Linda Rader
Page 4
Bulletin of Region 21 of The American Iris Society
No. 151 Spring 2019
Editor: Gary White, 701 Old Cheney Rd, Lincoln, NE 68512-1168
Postmaster: Send address changes to Bulletin of The American Iris Society-
Membership, Tom Gormley, 205 Catalonia Avenue, P.O. Box 177,
De Leon Springs, FL 32130
-Communications regarding The American Iris Society membership, dues and
change of address should be addressed to Tom Gormley.
-Communications concerning articles and information for Region 21 Bulletin
should be addressed to Gary White, 701 Old Cheney Road,
Lincoln, NE 68512-1168.
-All copy due in Editor’s office by Feb. 28 for the Spring Bulletin and
September 1 for the Fall Bulletin.
The Region 21 Bulletin is published twice a year—Spring and Fall.
Region 21 of The AIS — Affiliates
Can-West Iris Society B. J. Jackson, President 430 Lloyd Crescent Brandon, MB, Canada (204) 727-6049 [email protected]
Greater Omaha Iris Society Linda Wilkie, President 15115 Grant Circle Omaha, NE 68116 (402) 493-3808 [email protected]
Heart Of Iowa Iris Growers Pam Messer, President PO Box 64 Huxley, IA 50124 (515) 597-4240 [email protected]
Lincoln Iris Society David Lionberger, President 2140 North 59th St. Lincoln, NE 68505 (402) 484-1389 (cell) [email protected]
Monument Valley Iris Society Micki Vest, President 1325 14th Ave. Scottsbluff, NE 69361 (308) 361-3816 [email protected]
Sioux Empire Iris Society Arnold Koekkoek, President 1132 1st Ave. SE Sioux Center, IA 51250 (712) 722-0724 [email protected]
Siouxland Iris Society Mike Becker, President 509 3rd Ave. SE LeMars, IA 51031 (712) 548-4568
Page 5
Region 21 Meeting Dates
2019 Spring Meeting
May 31, June 1-2 — Scottsbluff, Nebraska
2019 Fall Meeting
August 16-17 — Omaha, Nebraska
AIS Conventions and Fall Board Meetings
2019 Spring Convention — April 23-27, San Ramon, CA
2019 Fall Board Meeting is electronic
2020 Spring Convention — May 18-23, Newark, NJ
(100th Anniversary celebration)
2020 Fall Board Meeting is electronic
2021 Spring Convention — April 12-17, Las Cruces, NM
2021 Fall Board Meeting — November 5-6, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2022 Spring Convention — April, Dallas, TX
2023 Spring Convention — June, Portland, OR
Future AIS Section Meetings
Median Iris Society — April 16-18, 2020, Oklahoma City, OK
Japanese Iris Society — 2020, Nova Scotia, Canada
Siberian/Species — 2021, Seattle, WA
Page 6
Can-West Iris Society — (CWIS)
Officers:
President: B. J. Jackson 430 Lloyd Crescent Brandon, MB, Canada 204-727-6049 [email protected] Vice-President: Jennifer Bishop Secretary: El Hutchinson Treasurer: BJ Jackson Membership: Deborah Petrie The CWIS will be holding their 12th annual flower show in Winnipeg,
MB on Sunday, June 9th at Bourkevale Community Centre. Club com-
munication and most everything the group does is online.
Greater Omaha Iris Society — (GOIS)
Officers:
President: Linda Wilkie 15115 Grant Circle Omaha, NE 68116-8118 402-493-3808
Vice-President: Nitza Fairlie
Secretary: Donna Sobczyk
Treasurer: Lou Sobczyk
Meetings are the 2nd Saturday of the month, March through November
at South Omaha Library (28th & Q), except for announced place or date
changes. The club manages a historic iris display garden at Mahoney
State Park — The Sass Memorial Iris Garden. Recent iris introductions
by Nebraska hybridizer LeRoy Meininger are included in the garden for
regional judges evaluation.
Page 7
Heart Of Iowa Iris Growers — (HOIIG)
Officers: President: Pam Messer 515-597-4240 [email protected] Vice-President: Sam McCord Secretary: Rosemary Witt Treasurer: April Arbuckle
Website Hoiig.wordpress.com
Annual Dues $12.00 per household
Meeting Schedule 3rd Weds at 7:00 p.m., March-Oct (see website for exceptions)
Location Café Diem, Ankeny, IA
HOIIG is a young and unseasoned affiliate still working to get solid foot-ing. We are focusing on gaining the skills, financial strength, and or-ganizational strength necessary for hosting an AIS sanctioned iris show.
In 2018 Libby and Kelly Jensen coordinated the first HOIIG iris sale. It was a great success that put the organization in a much better position for supporting programs, public outreach, and basic operations.
On May 18 we will be hosting a community participation, practice run, iris exhibit and community outreach event at the Ankeny library. This event is intended to help us prepare for a regular iris show in 2020.
Lincoln Iris Society — (LIS) Officers: President: David Lionberger 2140 North 59th St. Lincoln, NE 68505 402-466-2838 [email protected] Vice-President: Heidi Brase Secretary: Gary White/Linda Rader Treasurer: Lois Linke The Lincoln Iris Society meetings are held the last Monday of each month except May and December. Most monthly meetings are held at St. Andrews Lutheran Church at 1015 Lancaster Lane, Lincoln. Jan-March and July, Oct-Nov are at 6:30 pm. April, June, Aug-Sept are at 6 pm and are potluck dinner meetings. Other events this year include an iris Show on May 18 and Iris Sale & Auction on July 20.
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Monument Valley Iris Society
Officers:
President: Micki Vest 1325 14th Ave. Scottsbluff, NE 69361 308-631-3816 [email protected] Vice-President: Vern Fegler Secretary: Kathy Nielsen Treasurer: Anne Charles Meetings are held at the University of NE Extension Panhandle Station at 5:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, Feb-July and Sept-Nov. The Monument Valley Iris Society is hosting the Region 21 Spring Meeting this year on May 31, June 1-2. This coincides with their iris show on June 1-2. Other events include an Iris Sale in July and club picnic in August.
Sioux Empire Iris Society
Officers:
President: Arnold Koekkoek 1132 1st Ave. SE Sioux Center, IA 51250 712-722-0724 [email protected] Secretary: Carol Koekkoek Treasurer: Dorothy Ver Hey 47115 277th St. Lennox, SD 57039 605-929-0841 Meetings are the 3rd Thursday of the month through September usually at 1 pm in the afternoon. Often meetings are at the home of Dorothy Ver Hey. Contact one of the officers for confirmation of date/time/location.
Page 9
Siouxland Iris Society
Officers:
President: Mike Becker 509 3rd Ave, SE LeMars, IA 51031-2407 712-548-4568 [email protected] Vice-President: Lawrence Lacy Secretary: Sue Becker Treasurer: James Bailey The Siouxland Iris Society meets the 3rd Saturday of the month at 1:30 pm at the Redeemer Lutheran Church on South Lakeport St. in Sioux City, Iowa. Check for date/time changes. An iris show is scheduled for May 25th at the same location.
Nominations for AIS Region 21 Board members
An election of officers for the Region 21 board will take place at the Fall membership meeting in August in Omaha. In addition to the officers, a new first year Director will be elected. Please send nominations for the Region 21 Officers, or for a first year Director to: Mike Becker, committee chairman.
Mike’s address is 509 3rd Ave, SE, LeMars, IA 51031-2407 Mike’s phone is (712) 548-4568 and email is [email protected]
Nominations for Distinguished Service Award
You may send your nominations for the Region 21 Distin-guished Service Award to Mike Becker, committee chairman.
Mike’s address is 509 3rd Ave, SE, LeMars, IA 51031-2407 Mike’s phone is (712) 548-4568 and email is [email protected]
Any nominations Mike receives will then be presented to the Executive Committee at the Region 21 Fall meeting in Omaha in August for consideration.
Page 10
Affiliate Spot Light
—History of the Lincoln Iris Society (LIS)
The Lincoln Iris Society was founded about 40 years ago. The initial
meeting was held at the Ensminger home, then regular meetings in a
bank in Lincoln, then moved to various churches. Founding members
included Allan and Gladys Ensminger, Barbara and Connell Marsh,
Eugene Newburn, Pat Parsons, among others. One of the initial goals
of the young club was to develop an iris garden on the University of
Nebraska campus, and that goal was met in the summer of 1980, with
the dedication of the Magdalene Pfister Memorial Iris Garden, located
on the east campus of the University.
The club began holding AIS approved iris shows in the early 80s, many
years with an early show and a later annual show. The annual iris show
has continued to the present and has grown to feature nearly 300 entries
in recent years. Most of our active membership participates in the show.
Several iris hybridizers have called the Lincoln Iris Society their home
iris club. Hybridizers through the years include Allan Ensminger, Con-
nell Marsh, Barbara Marsh, Opal Wulf, Gene Kalkwarf, Garland Bare,
Bob Smith, Dean Douglas, David Lionberger, Dottie Ladman, David
Toth, and McClain Kuhel. Are there others?
Several members of LIS have served the region as RVP, including Pat
Parsons, Allan Ensminger, Opal Wulf, Eugene Kalkwarf and Gary
White. Two of those have also served on the AIS board: Allan
Ensminger was an AIS Director from 1978 to 1983 and Gary White
was Director from 2006 to 2011, then served as AIS 2nd VP, 1st VP
and as AIS President 2016-2018.
Youth have always been an important part of the LIS membership.
Two have won the Clarke Cosgrove youth Achievement Award: Grace
Farley and Sarah Greene. Winners of the Ackerman Youth Essay Con-
test have included Sarah Greene and Katharina Brase. Youth members
have participated in shows and won numerous awards, as well as other
AIS contests. There currently are 9 youth members.in the Lincoln Iris
Society.
LIS has Hosted AIS Section conventions twice: 2004 (Tall Bearded Iris
Society), 2007 (Median Iris Society—golden anniversary meeting).
And in 2000, hosted the AIS Fall Board meeting.
LIS is an active, involved iris group with about 65 members today, and
looking forward to the next 40 years.
Page 11
AIS Region 21
May 31, June 1st & 2nd, 2019 Spring Meeting
The Monument Valley Iris Society in Scottsbluff/Gering
cordially invites all iris lovers to The AIS Region 21 2019
Spring Meeting.
Registration will be at the University of Nebraska Panhandle
Research & Extension Center, 4501 Avenue I, Scottsbluff,
NE on Friday afternoon 4:00 pm, May 31st and Saturday
morning 8:00 am, June 1st. There will be an informal social
and picnic Friday evening. If you are registering Saturday
morning, registration will be on the south side of the panhan-
dle building, where we will be entering irises for the show.
The Judge’s Training, business meeting, and Iris Show will
be held at the Extension Center. We will have an updated
agenda for you on arrival.
Friday May 31st: 4:00 pm Registration at UN Extension
Center, followed by social time and picnic.
Saturday June 1st: 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Registration at
the UN Extension Center. The morning and lunch will be on
your own, except for meetings; the Iris Show will be going
from 7:00am (placing entries) to 9:30am, then at 10:00am,
the judging of the show will begin. The show is open to the
public at 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm.
6:00 pm. Elks Club in Scottsbluff for social hour.
6:30 pm. Banquet
Sunday June 2nd: Visit members gardens and the area if
you wish, ….or, go home.
Thank you for coming !!!
Page 12
Monument Valley Iris Society
Region 21 Spring 2019 Meeting
Lodging Information:
We will have a block of 15 rooms with Holiday Inn Express
Hotel, 1821 Frontage Road, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, for May
31st and June 1st. The group rate is set at $119.95 per night
plus tax. Anyone who fails to claim a room before the re-
lease date will still be able to make a reservation, depending
on availability. When calling 308-632-1000 please ask for
the $119.95 (plus tax) Monument Valley Iris rate. Other op-
tions are Quality Inn (formerly Comfort Inn) or Hampton
Inn, etc.
Local Attractions:
While in the area, please take some time to visit local places
and attractions before, during the day, or after. We will have
information on The Legacy of the Plains Museum, Scotts
Bluff National Monument, Riverside Zoo & Discovery Cen-
ter, Chimney Rock, West Nebraska Arts Center, etc. for you.
You may go to VisitScottsBluff.com for more information.
Judge’s Training:
There are several people in the region who have shown an
interest in becoming AIS Judges. We plan to have two ses-
sions, one inside and one in the garden, both at the extension
center. It is also a time when everyone can learn more about
their favorite flower, so everyone is welcome to attend.
Page 13
Monument Valley Iris Society
Registration
Name(s) __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________ Address Street__________________________________
City ______________State _______Zip _____
Phone ____________E-mail________________
Registration fee for Spring Meeting:
Per person $35.00 X ___ = $____
Total Amount: = $____
Please make checks payable to: Monument Valley Iris Society
Mail registration form with your check for the total amount to:
Anne Charles
1419 Ave N Phone: 308-632-0886
Scottsbluff, NE 69361 E-mail: [email protected]
Food Choices: Chicken__________ Beef steak__________
Special food requests/Needs ____________________________
____________________________________________
How many are attending Judge’s Training?
____________________________________________________
Page 14
This page left blank for spring Registration or Notes
Page 15
—- Library review item from the Region 21 Library — by Pam and Wayne Messer
Iris of China (1992), James W. Waddick and Zhao Yu-tang
Excerpt from the preface written by James Waddick This book is the result of the China Iris Project. The Chi-na Iris Project began as an informal discussion among three iris growers about the rarity of Chinese irises in cul-tivation. Sitting around the dining table of Bob Pries in St. Louis, Missouri, Jim Murrain, Bob and I discussed the absence of many Chinese species from cultivation even though China is the home of more species of native iris than any other country in the world.
This meeting launched lengthy planning for Jim’s collection trip to China in May of 1989, with financial support from individuals and institutions in the United States, Canada, France and China. Planning that could not anticipate the political unrest that arose and played out that spring in China. The preface alone is worth the read in this richly packed book of photos, drawings, and information about the native irises of China. But, you won’t want to stop there. Region 21 library books can be checked out by mail (no shipping fee) or for delivery at a Region 21 meeting. Contact information is listed below. Librarian Note: This book is also available on Amazon along with the following books co-authored by Dr. Waddick.
Irises: A Gardener’s Encyclopedia (2005) The Genus Paeonia (2004) Bananas You Can Grow (2000)
Region 21 Library Co-Chairs:
Wayne and Pam Messer [email protected], ph 515-597-4240
Page 16
Public Iris Gardens in Region 21
Four gardens within Region 21 currently qualify as public iris
gardens. These four gardens have somewhat different themes and
mostly feature different irises. All are open year round, though
two do have fees to enter the larger spaces encompassing the gar-
dens. In your travels, if you are near any of these four gardens,
do take the time to stop, visit, and enjoy the irises.
Magdalene Pfister Appreciation Iris Garden — Located
on the East campus of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL).
Planted and maintained by the Lincoln Iris Society in cooperation with
the UNL Department of Landscape Services. This cooperative agree-
ment between LIS and UNL Landscape Services is approaching 30
years in duration. The current collection is a relatively new planting of
irises and a few other perennials. The Magdalene Pfister Iris Garden
originally was planted on the East Campus of UNL, near the Home
Economics building where Magdalene Pfister was a professor. The
Pfister family provided significant funding for this garden over many
years and developed a fund in the UNL Foundation for its continued
maintenance.
The garden was established in large curved beds on multiple levels and
was maintained in that space for 20 years, beginning in 1980. In 2001,
the University wanted the garden reduced in size and indicated different
uses for the nearby land. So, the old iris collection was removed, and
replaced with about 400 named cultivars (some from the old garden, but
many new irises) placed in 4 rows on the extreme south end of the orig-
inal space. Then, in 2015, the University decided that the entire garden
would need to be moved, and they provided a smaller space further east
and within the UNL Botanical Garden and Arboretum, specifically
within the Earl G. Maxwell Arboretum. This relatively new rendition
of the garden mostly features Region 21 hybridized bearded irises
(other than Sass irises), and also includes a few peonies and other per-
ennials. Aside from bearded irises, the garden also includes a few Sibe-
rian and Spuria irises. A link to this garden, with listing of irises is
https://www.unl.edu/bga/tours/east/Iris.shtml
This revitalized garden is jointly managed by LIS and UNL landscape
staff, with the Lincoln Iris Society in control of iris cultivar planting,
dividing, and replacement or additions.
Page 17
Sass Memorial Iris Garden — Located within the Eugene T.
Mahoney State Park, near Ashland, Nebraska. The Schliefert family
donated the stock for the memorial garden to the Greater Omaha Iris
Society to maintain in perpetuity. The first public garden was sited in
Bellevue on the grounds of the Bellevue Historical Society and entrance
to Offutt Air Force Base in the mid 1970's and was moved to Mahoney
state park in the early 2000's, The garden was expanded in 2008 to its
current size. Located near convenient parking and restrooms at the Eu-
gene T Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Nebraska, the garden strad-
dles the handicap accessible park trail near the conservatory and includes
five iris beds. The garden contains over 400 varieties including: the larg-
est collection of Sass Hybrids in existence with over 175 varieties, a
nearly complete Dykes medal collection, a collection of the Hans &
Jacob Sass Medal winning median iris, an expanding collection of cold
climate reblooming iris, a significant collection of Sass hybridized peo-
nies, and a new collection featuring the seedlings of Scottsbluff hybridiz-
er Leroy Meininger. Regional judges are encourage to evaluate Mr.
Meininger's seedlings for introduction and award consideration. Bloom
generally starts in late April with peak in late May. A Nebraska State
Parks permit is required for entry to the park. A small part of the Sass
Garden is shown on the cover of this issue of the Region 21 Bulletin.
Here is a longer view with the park trail running through the garden.
Photo by Linda Wilkie
Page 18
University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and
Extension Center Iris Garden, located at the Panhandle
Station, 4501 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, NE. This iris garden, con-
taining mostly bearded irises of several iris classes, is maintained
by the Monument Valley Iris Society in Scottsbluff/Gering, Ne-
braska. The garden was started over 20 years ago (initiated by Pat
Randall and Stan Haas), and is maintained by the club. The gar-
den now has about 400 named varieties of bearded irises on dis-
play. Included in the plantings are several irises by Nebraska hy-
bridizers LeRoy Meininger, Opal Wulf, Gene Kalkwarf, among
others. And, of course, if you attend the Region 21 Spring Meet-
ing this year, this garden is at the location of the meeting on
Saturday June 1, and open for your visit.
Iowa Arboretum Iris Garden, located within the Iowa
Arboretum, between Boone and Madrid in rural Boone County in
central Iowa. The arboretum was started in 1968 upon the 100th
anniversary of the Iowa State Historical Society founding. In
2014 the Iris Collection was established, by the plantings for the
2017 AIS national convention in Des Moines. After the conven-
tion was over, the Arboretum retained 264 cultivars from that AIS
convention for a permanent iris collection. A growing collection,
in the Iowa Collection, is the Agnes Whiting iris collection, cur-
rently numbering 22 cultivars of her introductions. Agnes Whit-
ing was the only Iowa iris hybridizer to win the American Dykes
Memorial Medal to this date, for her famous ‘Blue Rhythm’ in
1950. More information about this garden, and iris cultivars
grown there, can be found at this page on the Iowa Arboretum
website: https://iowaarboretum.org/map-collection/iris-collection/
Page 19
AIS Membership Milestones — 2019 !
This listing includes all those regional members who have main-
tained continuous membership in AIS and are celebrating their
5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th anniversaries of AIS membership in
2019. And, it also includes all those who have been continuous
members of AIS for 30 years or more.
5 Years: McClain Kuhel (Lincoln, NE)
Mary Moseley (Scottsbluff, NE)
Leslie Rule (Hallam, NE)
10 Years: Stan Sass (Fremont, NE)
15 Years: Kelly & Libby Jensen (Pleasantville, IA)
Kathy Larson (Marshalltown, IA)
Wanda Lunn (Grand Rapids, IA)
25 Years: Gary White & Linda Rader (Lincoln, NE)
30 Years: Arthur Tellin (North Liberty, IA)
31 Years: Dorothy Ver Hey (Lennox, SD)
32 Years: Joni Renshaw (Tekamah, NE)
37 Years: LeRoy Meininger (Gering, NE)
38 Years: Marjorie Jansen (Norfolk, NE)
Tim Stanek (Glenwood, IA)
40 Years: Michael Hemmer (Sioux Falls, SD)
Carolyn Lingenfelter (Norfolk, NE)
41 Years: Charles and Betty Hemmer (Sioux Falls, SD)
42 Years: F.P. Healey (Belmont, Manitoba)
46 Years: Jay Hummel (Yankton, SD)
52 Years: Mrs Robert D. Steele (Custer, SD)
60 Years: Eugene Newburn (Lincoln, NE)
Congratulations to all !!
Page 20
Notes on the 2018 Spring meeting and tour:
The 2018 Region 21 Spring meeting and tour was jointly hosted
by the Lincoln Iris Society and the Greater Omaha Iris Society.
The Lincoln Iris Society (LIS) had already scheduled their annual
iris show for Saturday, May 19th. So, the first stop for the re-
gional meeting was the LIS show. And, in conjunction with the
show, a 1 hour judge’s training on exhibition judging was held,
given by Gary White and Carolyn Lingenfelter. The show itself
was full with a total of 277 entries submitted. Following the
show, the regional crowd moved to the Country Inn And Suites
hotel on North 27th Street for dinner, a brief meeting, and social
hour. Slides of the 2017 AIS convention (held in Des Moines,
Iowa) were also shown and enjoyed.
On Sunday, two gardens were on tour. The first was the gardens
of Jenny and Mark Cich, near Greenwood, Nebraska. The Cich
garden is home to an expanding collection of irises and daylilies.
The iris collection includes all classes of bearded irises as well as
many beardless irises, including Siberian, Japanese, Pseudatas,
Louisianas, and others. Kelly Norris conducted a 1 hour in-
garden Judge’s training session on TB irises in the Cich garden.
The second garden on tour was the Sass Memorial Iris Garden at
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, near Ashland. This garden is
home to the largest collection of Sass hybridized irises in exist-
ence. And, there is a growing collection of Hans & Jacob Sass
Medal winning irises (for Intermediate Bearded Irises). A good
number of median irises were in bloom at the garden and Marjo-
rie Jansen conducted a 1 hour in-garden Judge’s Training on Me-
dian irises. The Greater Omaha Iris Society had previously
planned an open garden for the Sass Gardens that day as well.
Following the Sass garden visit, the group moved to the Lodge in
the park for lunch. After lunch, Gary White gave a program,
open to the public, on the Sass Family hybridizing and gardening
in the region. The spring meeting concluded after the Sass
presentation.
Page 21
Notes on the 2018 Region 21 Fall Meeting
The regional Fall Meeting was held in Ames, Iowa on August 10-
11, 2018. The meeting started with a roundtable discussion by
affiliate representatives and independents, concerning regional
meetings. After that discussion, a Region 21 Board of Directors
meeting was held.
Saturday activities began at Reiman Gardens with an educational
session and 2 hours of Judge’s Training on “Cool Season Re-
blooming Irises” presented by Mike Lockatell, a hybridizer of
reblooming irises from Virginia in Region 4. After lunch and
awards, a general membership meeting was held, followed by the
annual iris auction. Also in place were very well-stocked iris ta-
bles with a wide variety of iris rhizomes for swap or donation.
Lockatell irises were also available for sale. The meeting con-
cluded with a tour and free time in the Reiman Gardens.
Proposed change in the Region 21 By-Laws:
At the 2018 Region 21 Fall general meeting, a change was intro-
duced under the subject line “Remove Date Restrictions from By-
Laws”:
Move to amend the Region 21 By-Laws, Article VII Meetings,
Section 2. Fall, to read:
A Fall Business Meeting, the annual meeting, shall be held between August first and November first each year. The Executive Board shall decide the location of the Fall meetings on the basis of invitations received, with the location being set at least two (2) years in advance. Those in attendance at the 2018 Fall Meeting voted to advance this By-Laws proposal to be voted Yes or No at the next meeting of the regional membership, per current By-Laws rules. This pro-posal will be considered for final vote at the Spring Meeting of the membership in Scottsbluff on June 1, 2019.
Page 22
Editor’s Message:
This issue of the Region 21 Bulletin will
arrive in your mailboxes well ahead of the
Region 21 meeting in Scottsbluff, Nebraska
on the first weekend of June. So, we have
included an invitation along with registra-
tion form for that regional meeting. It promises to be a really in-
teresting meeting, complete with an iris show, educational and
judge’s training sessions, iris garden visits, good food, and visit-
ing with friends.
I don’t believe we have had an article about public iris gardens in
the Bulletin in recent years, so I hope this is informative to you
and that you will include visits to these four gardens in your trav-
els around the region. If I have missed a public iris garden, please
let me know about it, and we will feature it in the next issue.
Along similar lines, I would like to feature private iris collections
in future issues of the Bulletin. So, if you have or recommend a
collection of irises that might be open to regional visitors, or if it
is a specific type of collection, such as a collection of irises intro-
duced by an individual hybridizer (as is the Sass garden—a
Breeder Collection in terms of HIPS — Historic Iris Preservation
Society), or a collection focused on a particular type of iris, or any
other kind of iris collection of interest, please let me know.
I will be looking for articles for upcoming issues of the regional
Bulletin and hope to count on some of you for articles or for ideas
about possible articles of interest to our readers. Let me know
what you would like to see in the Bulletin, please. Photos are
welcomed as well, as long as they are about irises, iris people, iris
gardens, etc...of interest to members. Please make sure they are
of sufficient quality (at least 300 dpi) for print publication.
Finally, its good to be back as editor of the Region 21 Bulletin,
and I welcome your comments, advice, notes, articles and photos.
—- Gary White
Page 23
A Look Back…
60 years ago in 1959… The Region 21 Bulletin was published 6 times a year, with a press run of 500 copies per issue.
55 years ago in 1964… The Region 21 Bulletin had changed to 4 issues per year, about 22-26 pages each. In that year of 1964, the Region 21 Spring Tour was held in Norfolk, Nebraska and hosted by the Norfolk Iris Club and the Elkhorn Valley Iris Society. The tour was to assemble at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Cox at 7:30am, visit various gardens, stop for a buffet luncheon and business meeting at the Hotel Madison, continue garden tours, and end at about 4pm with a coffee hour. Ten gardens were to be toured on that Sunday, May 31, 1964 ! And a seedling table was to be set up for judges to score as well. Must have been a jam-packed day to be sure!
40 years ago in 1979… An article in the Bulletin noted that the Dawson County Iris Society in Lexington, NE had proposed a planting on the grounds of the Governor’s mansion in Lincoln, NE. A presentation letter was sent in 1967 to Governor Norbert Tiemann, who accepted the offer of the society. In July of 1968, a total of 23 TB irises and 19 Median and short Aril-breds were planted in an area on the grounds of the mansion. We wonder if any of those irises remain in the plantings at the Governor’s man-sion? Only a couple are irises that many of us would know: ‘Drummer Boy’, an IB by Schreiners which won the Sass Medal in 1970, and ‘Stepping Out’ a Schreiners TB which won the Dykes Medal in that year of 1968.
From 1990… at the AIS National convention in Omaha, Allan Ensminger won the President’s Cup for his IB iris ‘Morning Show’ (1988), a bright red iris that still may not be surpassed in the IB class. The President’s Cup is awarded to the iris at the na-tional convention receiving the most votes for an in-region hy-bridized iris. Interesting to note that Ensminger irises (both IBs), won the President’s Cup at both the 1990 convention and at the 2017 convention (See ’Landscaping Made Easy’ on the back cov-er of this issue).
30 years ago in 1989… Regional winners of the annual TB Sym-posium were ‘Pandora’s Purple’ (Ensminger ‘81) with 41 votes, followed by ‘Beverly Sills’ (Hager ‘79) with 38 votes, then ‘Stepping Out’ (Schreiners ‘64) at 30 votes, and ‘Pistol (Claussen ‘83) with 29 votes. 2 of the those top 4 were Region 21 irises.
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