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This is YOUR Newsletter
Without Your Contributions, There Is Nothing To Print.
Anyone can write something that can be included in OUR newsletter. Are you or your club working on any special projects? Have you attended a meeting and learned something you want
to share with other iris lovers? Do you want to ask questions about problems in your garden? Are there irises you are looking for but can’t find? Do you want to brag about your club, region or garden? Did you take photos of a guest speaker, your show, your sale, a
judges training you sponsored? Send them. If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, please write it up and send it in. Any format, printed, faxed or e-mailed will do, but it is best if the article is sent as an attached text or Excel file, or in the body of an e-mail. Photos should be high resolution .JPG. PDF files cannot be edited—best for forms only. Paper copy must be retyped (please, no). Publisher, is the program used to create the newsletter.
The deadline for the FALL Edition is September15.
Send articles and photos to your Editor at [email protected]. You will never know how difficult it is to do a newsletter if you haven’t worked on one, so please get your info sent in as early as you can!
There are some informational items needed each year from each club in Texas.:
Name, Address, Phone # and email of local club Presidents. When new officers take office, please send this info to me.
Each clubs’ show and sale dates, locations, & contact infor-mation. These can be submitted Fall or Spring.
Also needed: Activity report from all the club presidents, region officers
& chairs. These are needed for the Fall issue, especially.
Articles about anything iris, gardening or club related. Wel-come for both Fall and Spring issues.
I’m not a hounder. If you want your information in the newsletter, get it to me by the deadline. I will not pester you to get it.
START WRITING…. IT IS FUN TO SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT
REGION
What’s In this Newsletter?
YOUR Newsletter ……………………………………………………………...…inside front cover “What’s In this Newsletter” Index……..………………………………………………….……….3 Region 17 Officers & Chairs Information…………………………...……………….......…...4 Region 17 AIS Affiliate Clubs..…………………………………………………………………………….….......5 2019 Scheduled Shows…………………………………………………………………………………..6 2019 Scheduled Sales …………………………………………………………………………………...7 RVP Report—Peggy Cathey……………………………………………….…………………………..8 Assistant RVP Report—Bonnie Nichols………………………………...…………………..9-10 Treasurer’s Report—Connie Ford………………..……..……….….........…....................11 Judges Training Chair Report—Dell Perry………….……………………………..………12-13 Upcoming Judges Training………………………………………………………………………….…13 Membership Report – Bill Pittman…...……………………...…………………….…….……..14 Youth Report—Vicki Howard………………………………………………………………………..15 Youth Patch …..……………….………………………………………………………..15-17 2019 youth Achievement Award…………………………………………………….18 Color Patterns in Iris coloring page.…………………………...…………………………….…..19 Newsletter Report — Dell Perry………….……………….……..…………………..….….…….20 Memorials…………………………………………………………………………………………………….21 Taking Care of the ETIS Iris Garden……Connie Ford……………………………………....22 Bulbs vs Rhizomes…...Dell Perry…………………………………………………………………….23 BIS Press Release!......Jackie Hankinson…………………………………………………...24-25 Region 17 Distinguished Service Award Nominations….Peggy Cathey 26 NPIS Golden Anniversary…...Dawn Boyer…………………………………………………27-29 How to Attract New Members and Keep Them Coming Back...P. Cathey….30-34 Upcoming Regional Meetings……………………………………………………………………....35 2019 Region 17 Annual Meeting Information…………………………………………..36-39 2019 AIS National Convention—San Ramon, CA Information…………………..40-42 Club Reports Belton Iris Society……………………………………………………………………...44-45 Benson Iris Society……………………………………………………………….……...…46 East Texas Iris Society…………………………………………..………………………...47 Fort Worth Iris Society…………………………………………………..……………....48 Iris Society of Dallas………………………………………..…………………………...…49 Johnson County Iris &Daylily Society…………..…………………………….......50 Lone Star Iris Society….…………………………………………………..…………….…51 North Plains Iris Society……………………………………………..…………………..52 South Plains Iris Society……………………………………..….…………………..53-54 Texoma Rainbow Iris Society………………………..……………………………55-56 Waco Iris Society………………………………………………………………………..57-58 Iris Society of Austin…………………………………………………………..…………..58 Permian Basin Iris Society………………………………………..……….…………….58 Piney Woods Iris Society………………………………..………….…………………...58 West Texas Iris Society…………….………………………………..…………..……….58 Texas Commercial Iris Gardens……………………………………….….…Inside Back Cover
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Region 17 Officers & Chairs
RVP–Peggy Cathey 1115 HCR 1414 Covington, TX 76636 254-854-2558 [email protected] Assistant RVP–Bonnie Nichols 3365 Northaven Rd Dallas, TX 75229 214-352-2191 [email protected] Secretary–Jerrie Cage 2522 County Road 622 Hamilton, TX 76531 254-372-3165 [email protected] Treasurer–Connie Ford 122 Spruce Trail Gun Barrel City, TX 75156 903-571-0777 [email protected] Judges Training–Dell Perry 800 Purcell Dr. Plano, TX 75025 972-816-3418 [email protected] Youth Advocate–Vicki Howard 3912 CR 1205 Cleburne, TX 76031 817-933-1057 [email protected] Membership–Bill Pittman 4211 S Washington Amarillo TX 79110 806-679-7351 [email protected] Newsletter–Dell Perry 800 Purcell Dr. Plano, TX 75025 972-816-3418 [email protected] Historian–Jim Landers 710 N 11th Temple, TX 76501-3016 254-773-5017 [email protected] Web Page–Jaime Hadley PO Box 143417 Austin, TX 78714-3417 512-731-4621 [email protected] Past RVP–Parliamentarian Dawn Boyer 1900 Daws Dr. Amarillo, TX 79124 806-881-9775 [email protected]
Region 17 is a 501(c)3 non-profit affiliate of The American Iris Society http://www.aisregion17.org/
Newsletter Submission Deadline: Spring—February 15 Fall —September 15
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AIS Region 17 Texas Local Affiliates
Belton (BIS) Karen Woods – President 3306 E Munroe Ave. Temple, TX 76501 254-217-1750 [email protected]
Benson (BIS) Mary Rhoads – President 16012 FM 1954 Wichita Falls, TX 76310 [email protected]
East Texas (ETIS) Connie Ford – President 122 Spruce Trail Gun Barrel City TX 75156 903-571-0777 [email protected]
Fort Worth (FWIS) Kay Anderson – President 1007 S Waco Weatherford, TX 76086 817-597-8912
IS Of Austin (ISA) Jamie Hadley – President P,O,Box 143417 Austin,TX 78714 512-731-4621 [email protected]
IS Of Dallas (ISD) Kathy Wade – President 4304 Vista Ridge Ln Alvarado, TX 76009 682-300-6943 [email protected]
Johnson Co Iris & Daylily (JCIDS) Vicki Howard – President 3912 CR 1205 Cleburne, TX 76031 817-933-1057 [email protected]
Lone Star (LSIS) Jerrie Cage – President 2522 CR 622 Hamilton, TX 76531 254-372-3165 [email protected]
North Plains (NPIS) Bill Pittman– President 4211 S Washington Amarillo TX 79110 806-679-7351 [email protected]
Permian Basin (PBIS) Debbie Strauss - President 2213 Hereford Blvd Midland TX 79707 432-352-5483 [email protected]
Piney Woods (PWIS) Jeana Christian – President 941 CR 1233 Omaha TX 75571 [email protected]
South Plains (SPIS) Kerry McKennon – President 2101 Ave D Petersburg, TX 79250 [email protected]
Texoma Rainbow (TRIS) Judy Schneider – President 1778 CR 107 Whitesboro, TX 76273 940-594-5557 [email protected]
Waco (WIS) Dan Cathey – President 1115 HCR 1414 Covington TX 76636 254-854-2558 [email protected]
West Texas (WTIS) Marie Pate – President 4709 Knights Place Midland TX 79705 432-553-5302 [email protected]
If you want your 2020 show listed in the Fall Newsletter, submit your information to the Newsletter Editor before September15th.
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2019 Scheduled Iris Shows
April 6, 2019 Belton Iris Society Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall 2704 West Ave P Temple TX
April 7, 2019 Lone Star Iris Society “Wild, Wild West” Hico High School 901 Cedar St Hico, TX
April 13, 2019 Iris Society of Dallas Holy Cross Lutheran Church 11425 Marsh Ln Dallas, TX
Fort Worth Iris Society FW Botanic Garden ` 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Fort Worth, TX
East Texas Iris Society
South Plains Iris Society “Iris In Wonderland” Lubbock Gardens and Arts Center 4215 University Lubbock, TX
Waco Iris Society LaQuinta Woodway/Waco South
West Texas Iris Society
April 20 , 2019 Johnson County Iris and Daylily Society “The Iris of Texas” J.N. Long Cultural Arts Complex
Permian Basin Iris Society “In Your Iris Bonnet” Music Cit Mall Odessa, TX.
Texoma Rainbow Iris Society Sherman Senior Center 1500 N Broughton St Sherman, TX
April 27, 2019 Benson Iris Society Trinity United Methodist Church 5800 Southwest Parkway Wichita Falls, TX
May 4, 2019 North Plains Iris Society Southwest Library on 45th
2019 SCHEDULED IRIS SALES
March 12 Lone Star Iris Society Hamilton Extension Club Spring Fling July 6 Benson Iris Society Farmer’s Market in downtown Wichita Falls, TX July 13 North Plains Iris Society Amarillo Botanical Garden September—date TDB Lone Star Iris Society September 1 East Texas Iris Society Tyler Public Library (tentative) September 14 South Plains Iris Society Lubbock Garden and Arts Ctr 4215 University Lubbock, TX Johnson County Iris and Daylily Society J.N. Long Complex cafeteria September 15 Iris Society of Dallas Holy Cross Lutheran Church 11425 Marsh Ln Dallas, TX September 28 Belton Iris Society Learning Center—AgriLife Bldg 1605 N. Main St Belton, TX
Fort Worth Iris Society FW Botanica Garden 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Fort Worth, TX
Waco Iris Society Green Life Nursery Waco
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It is the time of year all iris growers look for-
ward to – Spring, in all its radiant glory. The
pre-bloom fertilizing has been done, and soon,
our gardens will be bursting with beautiful iris-
es in a rainbow of color.
I hope everyone is considering attending our big Texas Luau August 9-
10 in Weatherford, TX, hosted by the Fort Worth Iris Society. This will
be our annual Region 17 Business Meeting and sounds like it is going to
be LOTS of fun. Due to space limitations, registration is limited to 64
guests, so get your registration in early. Have you found your Hawai-
ian shirt yet?
We have a bit of business that needs to be taken care of quickly.
March 15 is the deadline for all affiliate presidents to get their 2019
Affiliation Application completed, signed and mailed to me, along with
affiliation dues of $30. These must be passed on to Jody Nowlin, AIS
Affiliation Chair. If you are a club officer, please don’t hold up your
club’s affiliation because you haven’t renewed your AIS membership
for the year. All club officers must hold AIS membership for the entire
year of their office. This is per AIS rules. If all officers are not AIS
members, the club will not be approved for affiliation. This is really
important and something which must be addressed each year at this
time.
Also, March 15 is the deadline for nominations for the AIS Region 17
Distinguished Service Award. Qualifications: To be eligible for this
award, nominees shall, as a minimum, have the following qualifica-
tions:
Be a member in good standing of AIS Region 17
Have provided outstanding service to AIS and Region 17
Nominations: Nominations for this award may be made by the com-
mittee, or by an Iris Club/Society or any five (5) members in Region 17.
Nominations by such organizations must be made in writing with justi-
fication and qualifications for nominations and must be received by the
Selection Committee no later than March 15th of the current year.
RVP Report By Peggy Cathey
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As I write this message, it is a typical cool
and wet February day in Texas. While our
irises are sleeping, we are thinking about iris
bloom season, weeding the garden (ick!), and planning for next
year’s additions to our iris gardens. While there aren’t very
many paper catalogs any longer, I still watch the mailbox for
plant temptations. My Superstition Iris Gardens catalog came
today! I watch my electronic mailbox eagerly anticipating new
iris introduction posts. When you see an iris introduction you
like, do not hesitate to order because many times my Wish List is
disappointed when the variety is sold out. I hesitated and
missed out on two of Mike Sutton’s beautiful 2019 introductions
this year.
I hope to see you somewhere along the spring iris trails………iris
shows, the Iris Society of Dallas annual iris trek, or the American
Iris Society National Convention in California. When you visit
shows, gardens, or the convention, please take pictures to share
with your local iris society and region. Those of you that know
me well, know that I am crazy about Novelty irises so I will take
plenty of pictures to share.
When the bloom season has come and gone and the summer
heat (and weeds) are here to stay……that’s a perfect time to join
us for the AIS Region 17 fall meeting. The Ft. Worth Iris Society
has been making plans for over a year to welcome us to a Luau,
Texas style. We will have great fun seeing our iris friends, buying
more iris plants (like we need more!), and bidding on more iris
plants (like we need even more!). Kevin Vaughn from Oregon
Assistant RVP Report By Bonnie Nichols
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will be our guest speaker and provide iris
judges’ training. Keith is a long-time friend of
mine and is entertaining and a very knowl-
edgeable irisarian.
The Iris Society of Dallas will be hosting the
Region 17 meeting in August 2020.
Where will our Region 17 meeting be held in
2021? Kevin Vaughn
If your club has been thinking about hosting a regional meeting –
I am here to help in any way I can to encourage you and work
with your club. No matter how large or small your iris society is
– we all pitch in and help making the weekend a great success. I
will be happy to come to your iris society meeting and answer
any questions you have, PLUS I will be happy to provide an iris
program and judges’ training, too.
See you soon!
Iristatically Yours! (as Lloyd Austin would say)
Bonnie J Nichols
Dallas, Texas
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Treasurer’s Report Submitted by Connie Ford, Treasurer
As of February 1, 2019
Credits Debits Balance8/1/2018 Savings Account @ Chase Bank Balance $8,192.12
8/8/2018 Dep Chks/Cash fr Reg 17 Auction 18 $1,687.00 $9,879.12
8/16/2018
Cashier's ck to Region 17 for
new CD @ TSB* $8,837.00 $1,042.12
8/31/2018 Dep Interest Earned @ Chase Bk 0.04$ $1,042.16
9/28/2018 Dep Interest Earned @ Chase Bk 0.01$ $1,042.17
10/31/2018 Dep Interest Earned @ Chase Bk 0.01$ $1,042.18
11/9/2018 Dep FWIS mem for Helene Welches 50.00$ $1,092.18
11/30/2018 Dep Interest Earned @ Chase Bk 0.01$ $1,092.19
12/31/2018 Dep Interest Earned @ Chase Bk 0.01$ $1,092.20
1/28/2019 Dep ISD mem for Schneider/Coggins $100.00 $1,192.20
1/31/2019 Dep Interest Earned @ Chase Bk 0.01$ _________ $1,192.21
Chase Bank 1,837.09$ 8,837.00$ 1,192.21$
1/3/2019 Maturity of 3 mo CD#12256 @ TSB $2,514.96
1/3/2019 Maturity of 6 mo CD#12257 @ TSB $2,526.35
1/3/2019 Maturity of 12 mo CD12258 @ TSB $3,032.99
1/3/2019 Maturity of 12 mo CD12298 @ TSB $10,056.36
Savings @ Texas Security Bank $18,130.66
Total Savings $19,322.87
Checking Account: Texas Security Bank
8/1/2018 Balance reported at 2018 Reg 17 Mtg $5,200.78
8/3/2018 Chk 1109 to RVP for 2 judge badges 15.00$ 5,185.78$
8/4/2018 Chk 1110 to RVP for '18 AIS Conv. 1,455.00$ 3,730.78$
9/7/2018 Chk 1111 to Reg 22 mem Perry Dyer 100.00$ 3,630.78$
10/27/2018 Chk 1112 to D.Perry-Fall '18 Newsl. 356.95$ 3,273.83$
1/25/2019 Chk 1113 to AsstRVP for '19 AIS Conv 330.00$ 2,943.83$
$2,256.95
Total Checking $2,943.83
Savings Accounts: Chase Bank
THE JUDGES CORNER Dell Perry—R17 Judges Training Chair
Al Elliot has stepped down as the Region 17
Judges Training Chair and I have been
asked to step in to complete his term.
Please be patient, I am currently in the process of coming up to
speed with his records.
Our region needs judges. If you are currently a judge, please
be on the lookout for members who you feel would make a
good judge. Encourage them to join the training program.
Offer to help them along. If you are not a judge, please consid-
er becoming one..
One thing I hear from people attending classes, but not for
credit, is “I’m not ready to be a judge right now, maybe later.”
When “later” arrives, all those hours already taken don’t count
toward the requirements. So why not join the program—that
way all those classes you take are not for naught. You have
three (3) years to complete the Candidate level. If during that
period, “later” arrives, you already have those hours. If you
decide not to become a judge, you gained lots of iris
knowledge.
It has come to my attention that a misconception has been cir-
culating about the three (3) year AIS membership requirement
for becoming a judge. A person must have been an AIS mem-
ber for three (3) years prior to becoming an Apprentice judge,
NOT a Candidate judge. If a person becomes an AIS member
when they enter the program, and take the entire three years
allowed to complete their Candidate requirements, they will
have been an AIS member for three years at the time they are
appointed as an Apprentice judge.
Our judges also need training opportunities. I’d like to see
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each R17 Affiliate club sponsor one judges training class at least
every other year. It could be the “program” for a monthly
meeting, it could be done before or after a regular meeting: in-
vite in a speaker who is also a judge, for a program, and have
judges class as an extra. It can be as short as 1 hour. If you have
questions, please call me.
UPCOMING IN REGION TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
August 10, 2019 Medians—Similarities and Differences - Classroom In conjunction with the Region 17 Annual Meeting Instructor: Kevin Vaughn Credit: 3Hr Cost $10 Time: 9:00 A.M. until Noon Location: Region 17 Annual Meeting Best Western Plus Hotel 2100 Alford Drive Weatherford, TX Hosted by: Fort Worth Iris Society Contact: Happy Carver 448 Azle Highway Weatherford, TX 76085 817-946-8473 [email protected]
UPCOMING OUT OF REGION TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES March 2, 2019 Classroom Medians (1hr) Awards & Ballots (1hr) Instructor: Charles Bunnell Credit: 3Hr Cost $15 Time: 10:00 A.M. to noon (Medians) (Lunch break - provided) 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. (Awards&Ballots) Location: Will Rogers Senior Center 3501 Pat Murphy Dr (in Will Rogers Park) Oklahoma City, OK Hosted by: Oklahoma Iris Society Contact: Cynthia Wade
405-570-5115 [email protected]
March 16, 2019 TBs (3hr) Medians (2hr) Classroom Instructor: Bob Skaggs Credit: 5Hr Cost $10 Time: 9:00 A.M. to noon (TBs) (Lunch break – on your own) 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. (Medians) Location: Tulsa Garden Center 2435 South Peoria Tulsa, OK Hosted by: Tulsa Area Iris Society Contact: Paul Gossett [email protected]
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Region 17 wants to thank everyone and all societies for the out-
standing memberships for The American Iris Society. We main-
tained 2nd place all year long. That is great. Please keep your
club president current on new e-mail and address changes. As
of our last report, Feb.1 2019, we were at 320 memberships.
Next regions close to us are 293 and 292.
The club AIS Membership medal statuses are updated once a
year. Next update will be in the Fall 2019 R17 Newsletter.
I want to thank everyone for letting me be membership chair for
our region. It will be time for a new membership person at our
regional meeting August.
Bill Pittman
Region 17 Membership Report Bill Pittman, Membership Chair
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Region 17 Youth Report By Vicki Howard
We have 12 youth members in Region 17. We
need more for the youth are our future, for
AIS, the Region, and your club.
Most clubs pay for their youth’s AIS member-
ship as it is $8.00 without the bulletin. Some clubs let the youth hold a
raffle and that more than pays for their membership.
If you have a youth in your club, please send me as much information
as you can on them: when they show, what they do in your club, etc.
Please get the youth interested and involved—give them a task so
they feel like a real part of the club—show set-up, sale set-up, paper
hander-outers, etc. If every club could get at least one youth this year
that would be great.
Lots of Youth Activities are taking place. Check them out below and
get more information by visiting the AIS Youth webpage at
http://www.aisyouth.com/
Thanks again.
AIS Youth Patch The following are the activities to earn
an AIS Youth Patch. Those activities
marked with an * are required. To earn
an AIS YOUTH PATCH you must com-
plete all the required activities plus four
(4) optional activities of your choice. All
activities are to be documented, and
verified to the AIS Youth Chair. Activities
MUST be completed in a calendar year (example: November 13,
2017 to November 12, 2018).
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* 1. Must be an active, dues paying American Iris Society Youth member, either individually or Classroom Iris Project (CIP) member.
* 2. Must enter the yearly Ackerman Essay Contest for AIS Youth Members.
* 3. Must enter the annual AIS Youth Coloring Contest.
4. Enter the AIS Photo Contest.
* 5. Grow at least 2 different types of irises (bearded or beardless such as Dwarf, Medians, Tall Bearded, Spurias, Louisianas, Species-X, etc..) Pot culture is permitted. * 6. Write an article for your club newsletter, regional newsletter, The Iris Fan (youth newsletter) or the AIS Bulletin, IRISES - proof of publication required. If possible, provide photos.
* 7. Be an active member of your club or region by helping at a show, sale, or event (adult verification is required). Be available to answer questions.
8. Enter an educational iris exhibit at a local or regional iris show, county fair or school science fair.
* 9. Recruit a new AIS member, either adult or youth. E members qualify
*10. Visit other gardens during bloom time. Adult verification is required, either garden owner or parent.
11. Create a "word search" puzzle for The Iris Fan using a theme of your choosing with at least twenty (20) words to find. Submission of the puzzle to the AIS Youth Chair is required.
12. Plant an iris garden in your community such as at library, park, school, senior center, veteran's home, church or other location. Make sure printed instructions of iris care are available to the people who will continue caring for the garden. Photo verification, newspaper/newsletter article or thank you note (copy) from place is required.
13. Hold a position on a committee for your iris club or region and actively participate in the committee's activities: Show Committee, Sales Committee, Refreshment Committee, etc.
14. Present a program to your iris club, region, school or commu-nity about irises. This program could be one of the AIS Slide programs, or one you have created yourself (such as My Iris Garden, Why I Like Irises, etc.).
15. Participate in an iris show in the Artistic or Horticulture Divi-sions. If none are available, hold a "mock iris show" and encourage others to enter. You may also hold a 'Not a Flower Iris Show' using
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things that have irises on them -- make a 'show schedule' listing differ-ent categories such as Jewelry, Artwork, Linens, Clothing, Office Sup-plies, etc. You can award ribbons or just have a "People's Choice" win-ner. Submit show schedule.
16. Create an original piece of artwork involving irises, such as a drawing, sculpture, photo collage, needlework, or poster using any ar-tistic medium (chalk, pastels, paints, clay, metal, etc.), including using irises to dye/color your work.
17. Share your excess rhizomes with your club members, another youth group or friends. Send list to AIS Youth Chair with verification letter from adult leader or parent.
18. Vote the annual AIS Tall Bearded Symposium ballot.
19. Learn the cultural requirements of a type of iris that you do NOT grow and write a short report about it. Submit the report to the AIS Youth Chair.
20. Learn how to hybridize irises. (See Youth Member Hand-book). Tag your crosses and collect the seeds from successful cross-es. Keep a record of your efforts.
Region 17 Youth Achievement Award
Deadline for the nomination letter is October 30, 2019.
The region 17 youth award committee will consist of the RVP, the
Newsletter Editor, and the Youth Chair.
A youth achievement award can be given every year at the Region 17
annual meeting. They will get an award. It is an iris etched on a dia-
mond shaped glass award.
A youth must be nominated, and can be nominated by more than one
person. It can also be someone from out of Region 17.
With the nomination, please include youth’s age (DOB), AIS member-
ship number or expiration date, and name of local club membership.
Outline his/her activities following the guidelines below.
Youth nominations are made in writing to the Youth Chair for the Re-
gion. The letter is not to exceed two pages, setting out the
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youth’s qualifications, their activities in local and regional affairs, and
special considerations you feel are important for the nomination. From
these nomination letters, the committee will select a winner for the
year.
The nomination letter should include the personal attributes of the youth, using this guideline:
-Growing a fine garden -Actively hybridizing -Writing for an iris publication -Helping an iris organization through a committee or activity -Visiting local gardens -Attending regional -national tours -Studying to be a judge -Promoting irises and/or AIS to others -Signing up new AIS members -Competing in iris shows -Experimenting with irises -Showing an interest in the various iris classes and sizes -Demonstrating leadership skills
A nominee does not have to qualify in all the above stated guidelines. Please send all letters to:
Vicki Howard 3912 CR 1205 Cleburne, Texas 76031 Email: [email protected].
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COLOR PATTERNS IN IRISES Try your hand at coloring each iris to match the color pattern
below it.
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Region 17 Newsletter Report Dell Perry
I want to send out a big THANK YOU to all the folks who submit articles for the newsletter. I’m sure everyone enjoys read-
ing about all the going-ons with the clubs, the garden discoveries made, club projects, and informative articles.
The roll-out of the electronic newsletter delivery went very smoothly. Less than a half dozen people changed their delivery method. Please remember you can change from paper to elec-tronics or electronic to paper at any time.
Going electronic has significantly reduced the newsletter costs for the region. This includes printing, postage, envelopes, labels, and supplies. Costs for Fall 2016 were over $1800; costs for Fall 2017 were $536, and for Fall 2018 were $357.
NEWS REPORTERS NEEDED
If you are going to the AIS Convention in San Ramon, the Society for Louisiana Iris convention in Lafayette, or any other iris event, I need reporters to write up a review, maybe with a couple pho-tos, to share with those of us not able to go. I
If you go to a club event —garden tour, judges training, etc., please report on those also.
The same for personal visits to gardens, etc.
Spring Newsletter—deadline for articles—February 15th. Show information, Fall sale information planned club events, fall/winter activity reports, articles.
Fall Newsletter —deadline for articles—September 15th. Club reports, show reports, new officers, spring/summer activity reports, articles.
Region 17 received the following memorials: Iris Society of Dallas—$50 for Mildred Evans of Bedford, IA; Judy Schneider’s grandmother. Comment by Judy: Thank you so much. I am so very, very touched that ISD has made a donation for my Grandmother. She was such a huge part of my life and especial-ly my gardening ventures. I am so lost without her! Iris Society of Dallas—$50 for Dr. William Robert (Bob) Coggins of Tyler, TX; Hal Coggins father.
Fort Worth Iris Society—$50 for long time member Helene Welch-es.
Region 17 gave the following memorial: Perry Dyer—$100 memorial to The American Iris Society.
Region 17 Memorials
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Taking Care of the ETIS Iris Garden By Connie Ford
Today, 1/10/19 ,in brisk 46 degree weather, we are weeding with preen and newspaper and also applying a light dosing of fertilizer and finishing off with no–float cy-press mulch. We have planted in the gardens mostly tall bearded, arilbred, and on the edges of the pond, Louisiana irises. And would-n't you know it, I. pseudacorus happens to be in a lower spot down from the pond! We are testing our varieties to see if they can manage with only raindrops from the heavens and the wind-mill there that works well, too!
Yes, this 100 acres of gardens is also a natural habitat, so as you can imagine, all critters are welcomed...except feral hogs! Thank good-ness when they come upon a metal iris marker, they step away!
Mary Lowe (l) and Connie Ford (r) braved 46 degree weather to weed, fertilize and lightly mulch the ETIS garden at the East Texas Arboretum before the next wave of rain!
Mary Lowe works full time part-time at Lowe’s and still has time not only to donate mulch but also to work at the ETIS iris ex-hibit within Athens' East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
Connie Ford is retired ,and the ETIS president.
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BULBS vs RHIZOMES by Dell Perry
When someone says they want some iris bulbs, they are not 100% wrong. Iris actually come in both bulbs and rhizomes - and there is a difference.
BULBS Dutch iris, Iris reticulata and Iris danfordia (there are others) are bulbs.
Bulbs are modified BUDS surrounded by thick fleshy layers, like an onion. They are normally globular in form. They often have either a smooth papery out er layer or one that looks more fiberous. Roots emerge from the bottom (basal plate) when the bulb is actively growing. Offsets are produced off this basal plate. Bulbs tend to "stay put" where you plant them, spreading very slowly over many years.
RHIZOMES Bearded iris (Germanica), Louisiana iris, Siberian iris, Iris tectorum, Iris cristata, spuria iris, and aril /Arilbred iris (and others) are rhizomes.
Rhizomes are thickened STEMS that grow horizontally just below the soil surface. Rhizomes are normally elongated. They are solid, and may be smooth (Germanica, aril) or appear to have seg ments ringed with fiberous 'hairs' (Louisiana, spuria, Siberian). Roots are produced along the length of the lower surface. Offsets are produced at the growing point on the heel of the rhizome, but can occur anywhere along the rhizome. Rhizomes creep along under the surface and
can spread rapidly, depending on the type of iris and the cultivar.
Both bulbs and rhizomes (along with croms and tubers) provide the plant with the same service of storing nutrients for growth, only they do it a bit differently.
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BIS PRESS RELEASE Re: Benson Iris Society on a Mission to save hundreds
of Dykes Medal iris rhizomes
Date: January 14, 2019 submission for Region 17 Spring
2019 Newsletter
From: Jackie Hankinson, Benson Iris Society Vice Presi-
dent
Benson Iris Society of Wichita Falls, Texas is on a mission to save
historic Dykes Iris rhizomes. A member of the Benson Iris Society
is moving from her home in Iowa Park, Texas, and cannot take
her garden with her. She asked if the members would rescue
and retrieve her iris. The Dykes bed was exclusively designated
and the rows were planted from oldest to newest years of the
Dykes Medal winners. There are possibly hundreds of iris going
back to the beginning Dykes Medal Winners.
Benson Iris members gathered in Iowa Park, Texas on a cool day
in November with shovels and gloves in hand. Mapping and la-
beling a grid of five sections and multiple rows, the members
cleared the leaves and debris and began harvesting the rhi-
zomes. Afterwards we had pizza and muffins. What’s not to love
about being in the company of fellow iris lovers and food? There
were ten members who then lovingly took the rhizomes to their
homes to tend and care for the “nursery” of future Dykes
blooms. All we do now is wait for our “babies” to grow and
bloom. Then we will try to identify and name the iris. This pro-
ject will be a labor of love for irises.
Unfortunately, the yard man had mowed down the beds and the
24
markers were moved or removed. Now the names of the Iris are
a mystery and begins the waiting for rhizomes to bloom so that
the process of identifying and marking the precious Dykes can
begin. It may take two or three years before all the blooms ap-
pear. As a fairly new member of the Benson Iris Society, I was
eager to learn and help the seasoned and diligent members of
this long time group of iris lovers. This was my first dig on this
kind of project and I was ready to get my hands dirty. The other
members had told me the importance and value of the Dykes
Medal winning iris. This is a beneficial and valuable endeavor to
save the Dykes.
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AIS Region 17 Distinguished Service Award By Peggy Cathey
I want to encourage more members and clubs to send in nomination
letters for those deserving members in our Region. We have many
who work tirelessly in their clubs, for the Region, and in the service of
AIS. Following are some of the rules for submitting a nomination (a
complete list may be found on pages 22-23 of the Spring 2018 Region
17 Newsletter).
To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be a member in good
standing of AIS Region 17 and have provided outstanding service to AIS
and Region 17. Nominations for this award may be made by the com-
mittee, or by an Iris Club/Society, or any five members in Region 17.
Nominations by such organizations must be made in writing with justi-
fication and qualifications for nominations and must be received by the
Selection Committee no later than March 15th of the current year. The
Selection Committee for the 2019 nominations are Peggy Cathey, pre-
sent RVP-Committee Chairman; Dawn Boyer, Immediate Past RVP;
Bonnie Nichols, most recent award recipient; Jaime Hadley and Debra
Strauss, members “at large” as selected at the 2018 regular business
meeting. Current committee members shall not be eligible for nomi-
nation to receive this award during their term of service on this award
committee. The committee shall review all nominations, justifications,
and qualifications and determine if sufficient information is available
to justify the presentation of the award. Should the committee decide
that there is no qualified nominee, or the committee cannot agree on
a single nominee, no award shall be presented for that year. To avoid
decreasing the prestige and honor associated with this award, the
committee should make every effort to ensure the recipient is duly
qualified through his/her outstanding service.
Please send your nominations to the Committee Chair
([email protected]) no later than March 15, 2019.
26
NORTH PLAINS IRIS SOCIETY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY By Dawn Boyer
Irises have been thriving in the Texas Panhandle since the early 1900’s. A group of irisarians shared their love of growing and sharing irises from their gardens, simply as friends, and meeting at homes in Phillips, Texas, and the surrounding area, as early as the 1930’s, as recorded in the newspapers of those times. When garden clubs in Amarillo and Canyon were formed, in the 50’s, the Phillips group started entering their garden club shows, as a separate iris section, in the 60’s, so the public could view the “Rainbow Flower” in bloom and become educat-ed on it’s growing habits in the Panhandle, as well as it’s thousands of hybridized varieties. By that time, the unnamed iris lover group was hearing more and more about the American Iris Society and the bene-fits of becoming affiliated with the organization that was formed in 1920 in New York. So, in February of 1969, two years before the Ama-rillo Botanical Gardens became into existence, the North Plains Iris So-ciety (NPIS) was officially born as an affiliate of AIS. Therefore, this year, 2019, the society is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary, a truly gold-en year. Next year, in 2020, AIS will celebrate it’s 100th Anniversary.
The original members of the NPIS were: Frank and Ruth Stephens, Com-fort Glass, Ida Frank, Billie Corbell, Mrs. C. C. Callerman, Mrs. W. A. Ells-worth, Mrs. T. D. Sansing, and Anna Lee Kirk. Amarillo’s Billie Corbell was the first President of the society, and remained an active member for 40 years and a Charter Member until her death in 2015. Dues were $4.00 for a single membership and $5.00 for a couples membership.
NPIS held their first Annual Iris Show as an AIS affiliate just less than three months after they were formed, on May 10, Mother’s Day, with the theme, “Over the Rainbow.” By show time, they had 16 members already,
BI:LLIE CORBELL and 40 exhibitors from Tulia, Happy,
27
Friona, Phillips, Spearman, Hereford, Canyon and Amarillo. There were 201 entries and 154 visitors. The best iris of the show or “Queen of the Show” as it is officially named, was an Arilbred, “Oyez”, entered by C. C. Callerman, from Canyon. This is a stunning surprise to most of us growers today, because the popular iris vari-eties now in the Panhandle are Tall Bearded irises. Aril and Arilbred irises are desert dwellers more or less. Aril irises originated in the Mid-dle East thousands of years ago, and when bred with oth-er bearded irises, they be-come Arilbreds that love heat and less water than other flowers, and are very exotic looking in comparison to oth-er irises. Only two NPIS members today grow several Arilbreds, one member having about 85 different varieties. Mrs. Har-ley King, from Tulia, won the most blue ribbons at the first show, Mrs. S. D. Nelson, from Tulia, won the Best Artistic Design, and Billie Corbell won the Artistic Sweepstakes.
According to the Amarillo Globe News, May 10, 1969 was a beautiful day, and according to members, 1969, overall, was an exceptionally good iris growing year. Winter snows in March gave rhizomes mois-ture at the right time. The Panhandle winds and sudden temperature changes throughout the Spring and into the Summer proved to be a good test for iris hardiness, with sturdy stems showing how well irises “can take it”, in all kinds of weather.
Two of the original members passed away only one year after the NPIS became an affiliate, one gentleman, who was elderly, from natural causes, and one lady from a heart attack at age 57, from shoveling snow.
The second Annual NPIS Iris Show, in 1970, is also notable, because that show celebrated the 50th Anniversary of AIS. Visitors that year
28
OYEZ C. G. White 1939 AB(OGB-)
came from as far as Goodwell, Oklahoma; Ware, Massachusetts; and Hsinehu, Tiawan, as interest in irises continued to grow. Most surpris-ingly, was that a beardless Louisiana iris won “Queen of the Show”. This category of iris can only grow well in wet, water standing condi-tions, like in a bog or pond area. Today, no NPIS members try to grow Louisianas. Therefore, the first two years of iris shows did not have a tall bearded variety win, as best iris, which is what most people in the Texas Panhandle are used to seeing.
In 1971, NPIS donated many irises to the Amarillo Botanical Gardens and fostered a Dykes section of irises there for many years. By 1973, there were over 100 iris varieties there. Since 1971, the monthly meetings of the society are held at the ABG. In recent years the NPIS has held their annual show earlier than Mother’s Day, due to earlier bloom season. Many garden tours were hosted by NPIS in the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s when membership grew to over 30. In the early 70’s, iris rhizome sales began, first two weekends in the summer and then one weekend in July, which became the one money making event of each year.
Through the years ,NPIS members have trained and then served as AIS judges, and served as Region 17 (the state of Texas) officers, and on the AIS Board of Directors. Billie Corbell, Louise Harrington, in the 70’s and 80’s, and Alene Arnold in the 80’s and 90’s, were the earliest ac-tive judges. Bill Pittman and Dawn Boyer from Amarillo, are currently active judges. Mrs. Roy Nichols held the highest office in Region 17 in the 70’s, and Dawn did from 2013-2016. Dawn is also currently on the AIS Board of Directors. Several others held committee positions for Region 17 throughout the 50 years, such as Membership Chairman and Historian.
Since 2000, membership has reduced in numbers, due to deaths and younger people being more interested in other activities, and adults working more and having less time to garden. But, each year NPIS’s activities have not decreased, people’s interest in viewing and becom-ing more educated about irises has remained strong in the Texas Pan-handle, and planting rhizomes, in small or large areas of land, has con-tinued, as attested by the number of people who come to the annual iris sales.
So, we say “Happy Golden Anniversary, NPIS”. And keep on growing
and showing iris for the people of the Panhandle!
29
How to Attract New Members and
Keep Them Coming Back By Peggy Cathey
Publicity: Most clubs have a publicity chair or some-
one who is responsible for getting the
message out to the public when a meet-
ing or event is coming up. Local newspa-
pers can be a good source for print media. Find out what the
paper’s deadline is. Ask yourself “Is this something others would
want to read in a newspaper or is it a blatant ad?” If it has no
news value, the newspaper will expect you to pay for an ad. Use
active verbs instead of passive, i.e., do not say “A meeting will be
held...” Instead, say “Iris Society will meet Tuesday at 8 pm in the
Town Community Center”. Always say the most important thing
first. Include date, time, and place, and a person to contact for
more information. Keep the 4 W’s – Who, What, When and
Where. Send a photo if possible. Photos will give your story
more impact. Newspapers require photos of at least 240 dpi res-
olution. A photo you copied off of Facebook is not useable.
Write a cutline for your photo. Identify all the people, left to
right. Write a headline for your story. Make it short and to the
point. Use as few words as possible in the headline. After the
end of your story, always include “For more information, contact
…” so the editor can get in touch if he wants more information.
If your event is free to the public, it could qualify as a Public
Service Announcement. Talk to local radio and TV stations.
Make the announcement brief and to the point.
If you have a special speaker or event, people will travel up
to 100 miles to attend a meeting. If they are coming that far,
30
many times, they will bring other gardening enthusiasts with
them.
Contact other Iris or garden-related clubs in your area and
invite their club presidents and members to come to your event.
Offer to reciprocate by announcing their activities at your meet-
ings.
Make sure all your meetings and events are listed in the Re-
gion 17 Newsletter and on the Region 17 website.
I have found our club’s best tool for advertising our club
meetings and events is Social Media. Set up a Facebook page for
your club and get members to “Like” or “Follow” your club page
and to “share” it with all their friends. Twitter and Instagram are
also excellent Social Media networks. If you don’t know how to
set any of these networks up, ask your kids or grandkids.
Important Things to Do at Meetings: Always greet members and visitors at the door.
The “official greeter” should be someone with
a gift for gab who can make everyone feel wel-
come. If a new or potential member does not
feel welcome or is not talked to, they will NEV-
ER come back. Remember the old saying, “You
only have one opportunity to make a first impression.” They
have taken time from their busy schedule, make them feel wel-
come and important. Use name tags, even temporary ones, for
everyone at the meeting. Nametags are a great way to learn
people’s names. Always introduce new members and guests
during the meeting and have them tell where they are from. En-
courage your members to mingle and always involve the
“newbies.”
31
Business:
Start your business meeting on time.
The business meeting is a necessary
part of any club, but it can also be the
reason many members are lost. Con-
duct business first and quickly. We all
have better things to do with our time. Avoid controversy. If
things are getting out of hand or taking too long, send it to the
executive committee to discuss and bring back the findings at
the next meeting. Business meetings shouldn’t last more than
15 minutes. Have your facts in hand and allow as little discus-
sion as possible. Make motions and ask for votes. Most of the
members do not care about how the club is run or what it costs.
Programs and Speakers:
Include as many “Iris” programs as possible. If
you get out of town speakers, ask them to bring
plants. Use your local talent. Club members are a
valuable source for topics. Programs on compan-
ion plants are good as well as having landscapers,
master gardeners, county agents, etc., come talk
on any variety of different programs. If the speak-
er is less than entertaining, try to help by asking questions. Give
your speaker plenty of time, but have a predetermined signal to
let them know when they need to wind things up.
Activities:
Flower shows and plant sales are an excel-
lent place to recruit new members. Plus, it
gets your members involved by entering
32
their flowers in a show or bringing plants for the sale. With year-
ly events such as these, the public will start looking for it each
year. It is always a good idea to have a raffle for something nice
– pretty flower in a pot, yard art or something else there will be
a lot of interest in. Be sure the tickets have a line for phone
numbers and addresses or e-mail addresses so you can add them
to your mailing list. Plan member garden tours and provide
maps to the different gardens so people can self-guide. You can
also provide a bus or van and go as a group, so the garden host
isn’t tied up all day. A day trip or even an overnight trip can be a
lot of fun. Get a group together for the National AIS Convention
or the Region 17 Meetings.
How to keep members coming back:
Have a signup sheet for door prizes. Send visi-
tors a letter thanking them for coming and in-
formation about the next meeting. Set a yearly
calendar with meeting dates and programs
when possible. Call members who miss a meet-
ing to let them know you care. Provide a monthly newsletter.
Build a list of e-mail addresses from members and visitors so as
many people as possible receive a copy of the newsletter. E-mail
is fast and doesn’t cost anything. Please, when adding your e-
mail list to your e-mails, use the “Bcc:” feature and not the “To:.”
No one wants to scroll through lines and lines of addresses to get
to the message.
Things to keep members interested:
Everyone loves refreshments and the better
they are, the better the chance of retaining
members. Try an occasional potluck so every-
33
one can get involved. Have a “Show and Tell” table to provide
information such as brochures, Regional Newsletters, AIS Bulle-
tins, anything on gardening. Get people involved. Don’t wait for
them to volunteer, ask them to help out. Everyone likes to feel
important, so ask them to be a part of something. Make sure
you have your meeting space long enough to allow for set up
and clean up and plenty of time to socialize. Have lots of door
prizes. The more “winners” you have, the more people who
leave happy.
How to get members to join AIS:
Inform them about the Voucher Program
where they get a $25 voucher to purchase
irises for joining the American Iris Society.
Show them copies of the Iris Bulletins and
Region 17 newsletters and let them know by being an AIS mem-
ber, they will receive copies, too. Have AIS brochures, Regional
and National meeting registration forms and AIS membership
forms on the Show and Tell table. Give away plants to anyone
who joins AI S. Provide information. The more involved you get
your members, the better chance you have to retain them.
34
Having the next 3 years spoken for is the optimal goal of the Region. Without club commitment there is a last minute scramble to put it in place or the alternative—no meeting.
Ideally, hosting the Regional should rotate thru the 15 clubs in the Region. Practically, there is more to it. Some clubs do not have the membership to be able to do so. Others are too new and do not have the resources or experi-ence. One possibility is for clubs in close proximity to each other to join forc-es to host a Regional.
FUTURE REGIONAL MEETING HOSTS
2019 Fort Worth Iris Society
2020 The Iris Society of Dallas
2021 open
2022 open
Previous Regional meeting hosts—is it your turn?
UPCOMING REGIONAL MEETINGS
35
BELTON IRIS SOCIETY Temple 3 1960, 1962, 1966
BENSON IRIS SOCIETY Wichita Falls 3 1971, 1984, 1990
EAST TEXAS IRIS SOCIETY Athens -
FORT WORTH IRIS SOCIETY Ft Worth 9 1961, 1965, 1972, 1980, 1987,
1998, 2005, 2013, 2019
IRIS SOCIETY OF AUSTIN Austin 3 1996, 2004, 2012
IRIS SOCIETY OF DALLAS Dallas 10 1959, 1963, 1968, 1981, 1993,
2000, 2006, 2015, 2017, 2020
JOHNSON COUNTY IRIS & DAYLILY SOCIETY
Cleburne 2 2011, 2018
LONE STAR IRIS SOCIETY Hico -
NORTH PLAINS IRIS SOCIETY Amarillo 5 1978, 1986, 1994, 2003, 2014
PERMIAN BASIN IRIS SOCIETY Odessa 4 1988, 1991, 2002, 2008
PINEY WOODS IRIS SOCIETY Mt. Pleasant -
SOUTH PLAINS IRIS SOCIETY Lubbock 8 1967, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1989,
1995, 2001, 2010
TEXOMA RAINBOW IRIS SOCIETY
Sherman/ Denison
3 1985, 1997, 2007
WACO IRIS SOCIETY Waco 5 1975, 1992, 1999, 2009, 2016
WEST TEXAS IRIS SOCIETY Midland 4 1988, 1991, 2002, 2008
2019 AIS Region 17
Annual Meeting
August 9-10, 2019
ALOHA YA’LL Now is your chance to go to your favorite thrift stores to
find the ‘tackiest’ or ‘prettiest’ Hawaiian shirt. We will be having a contest! You might need two shirts, one for Friday and one for Saturday! Besides wearing Hawaiian shirts, wear a big smile and come willing to have some fun.
The Regional Annual Meeting for 2019 will be held in Weatherford on Friday/Saturday August 9-10, 2019, hosted by The Fort Worth Iris Society.
Our host hotel will be The Best Western Plus 210 Alford Dr. Weatherford, TX The room rate is $95 +tax/night for a King or Double Queen Suite, and in-cludes a hot breakfast. Price guaranteed until July 9, 2019. Contact the ho-tel DIRECTLY at 817-519-3300 - say you are with the “Fort Worth Iris Society” to get the special room rate. We have reserved a small room block, so please book early to ensure your room at the $95 rate.
Regional registration is: $60 for adults $45 for youth (under 19 as of August 9, 2019). The optional Judges Training class is $10. There is a registration limit of 64 people. Your registration must be emailed or postmarked no later than July 31, 2019 to avoid a $10 late charge.
All events will take place at the host hotel.
There will be food Friday night along with some fun events.
Saturday morning will be Judges Training on Median irises. Our guest speaker and trainer is Kevin Vaughn, author and hybridizer from Salem, Oregon. A sandwich lunch will follow and then the Regional business meeting. Finally the ever popular IRIS AUCTION, followed by the banquet, and Vaughn’s pro-gram on “Hybridizer On The Loose” will wrap up the evening.
There will be a Silent Auction. Donations welcome.
Check out the FWIS Facebook page – Fort Worth Iris Society - for more infor-mation, updates and the registration form.
Questions? Contact Happy Carver at [email protected] or 817-946-8473.
A HUI HOU, Y’ALL - SEE YOU THERE 36
PRICE TOTAL
$60 =
$45 =
$10 =
$10 =
Cane/walker
CREDIT CARD VISA MASTER CARD
Youth Registration (younger than 19 as of 8/9/2019)
______________________________________________________________________________________
No Refunds after July 31, 2019
Optional - Judges Training - (NOT included in Registration)
PLEASE PRINT - Fill out one form per person attending.
Adult Registration
Hotel room reservations are separate from Registration!
Room rate is $95.00 + tax/night for King or Double Queen Suite, guaranteed until July 9, 2019
Contact the hotel directly at 817-599-3300, ask for the "Fort Worth Iris Society" group rate.
Please complete and mail this form so that it arrives no later than July 31, 2019.
Registrations will be acknowledged by email only.
You will receive a packet with additional information, name tags, and tickets at check-in.
Address:______________________________________________ Phone:___________________________________________
City: ________________________ State:_______ Zip_________
FRIDAY MEAL CHOICE: Fried Chicken Tenders Lasagna Primavera (vegetarian)
Registration includes Friday and Saturday Dinners
GRAND TOTAL (Registration + Judges Training + Late Charge, if applicable)
LATE CHARGE if postmarked after 07/25/2019
Payment : CHECK - Make Payable to "Fort Worth Iris Society"
Email: ___________________________________________
Other - please describe here: ____________________________________________________________________
Are you / will you be registered at the Best Western Plus hotel? YES NO
MOBILITY CONSIDERATIONS: Wheelchair/scooter/cart
Send Reservation and Payment to: Dell Perry, 800 Purcell Dr, Plano, TX 75025 (972-816-3418) or [email protected]
Name to appear on name badge: ____________________________________________________________________
Please supply this required information:
Card holder's name as it appears on the card: ___________________________________________________
Card Number: _____________________________________________________________________________
Expiry date ____________________ Billing zip code _________________________ CVV#_____________
SATURDAY MEAL CHOICE: Pulled Pork Cheese Enchiladas (vegetarian)
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS: Gluten Free Lactose Intolerant Diabetic
Refunds for cancellations requested on or after August 1, 2019 will be made at the discretion of the host society.
ANNUAL MEETING August 9-10, 2019
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38
2019 Annual Meeting Opportunities
The Fort Worth Iris Society is looking for folks who would like to assist with the Annual Meeting this August.
AUCTION
Do you have a favorite iris you think is great?
Do you have an uncommon iris you would like to share with oth-ers, either for conservation purposes or just because you think it is great?
Consider donating a rhizome or two to the Auction. They do not need to be current introductions, just healthy good growers that you feel people would like to buy and grow.
Please contact Dell Perry ([email protected] or 972-816-3418) by August 1st so they can be included in the slideshow and auction list.
GOODY BAGS
Auction not your “thing”? Help with the Goody bag irises. The theme is “Luau, Texas Style”, so irises with Pacific, tropical, beach, Hawaiian, ocean, volcano, etc. related names are desired. If you have a few rhizomes that fit the theme, please contact Happy Carver ([email protected] or 817-946-8473) or Dell Perry, by July 25th.
Examples, but by no means all, of themed iris names: ”Hawaiian Surf”, Maui Moonlight”, “Tropical Cooler”, “Hula Hands”, “Volcanic Glow”, “Pacific Fire”, “Beach Boy”, “Mauna Loa”, “Hot Lava”, “Blue Water”, “Aloha”.
Irises do not need to be Tall Bearded for either donation oppor-tunity.
Thank you for helping make our Regional Meeting a great event.
39
40
The convention website is not up as of 9/19/18.
Please direct questions to Shirley Trio
209-551-6323 (leave a message) [email protected]
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CLUB REPORTS
43
2019 Calendar
Jan 14: Christmas Party 6 pm at Clem Mikeska’s Pit Bar-B-Q & Steakhouse
1217 S 57th St., Temple, TX. Annual social for members, family, & friends (Dutch treat). Bring a named potted iris or rhizome (description/picture helpful) for our gift exchange (all attending can play).
Member door prize.
Feb 11: Meeting 6pm, Potluck Refreshments Drinks: Nita Culp
Mar 02: Gardener’s Education Series Spring Fling (Seed Swap) 11 am – 1 pm Harker Height’s Activity Center 400 Indian Trail, Harker Heights, TX.
Informing the public about our club & growing irises. Selling irises.
Mar 11: Meeting 6pm, Potluck Refreshments
Drinks: Joan Ervin
Mar 30: Spring Potted Iris Sale 8 am – 1 pm, Held in conjunction with the Bell County Master
Gardener Association’s Plant Sale at the Learning Center next the Bell County AgriLife Building 1605 North Main St, Belton, TX.
Apr 05: Set Up for Iris Show (working meeting) 6pm
Bring your own snack foods & drinks.
44
BELTON IRIS SOCIETY Karen Woods, President
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
Apr 06: Show Door open at 7 am, all entries due at 10 am Luncheon at noon Public viewing 1-3 pm, potted iris sale at 1 pm.
Coffee, Drinks & Hospitality Table: Colleen Barnes
Apr 08: Meeting 6pm, Potluck Refreshments Drinks: BJ & Frank Wheeler
May 13: Meeting 6pm, Officer Elections & Potluck Refreshments Drinks: Nelwyn Persky
Sep 09: Meeting 6pm, Potluck Refreshments Drinks: Karen Woods
Sep 23: Preparations for Rhizome Sale (working meeting), 6pm Bring your own snack foods & drinks.
Sep 28: Fall Rhizome Sale 8 am – 1 pm, Held in conjunction with the Bell County Master
Gardener Association’s Plant Sale at the Learning Center next to the Bell County AgriLife Building
1605 North Main St, Belton, TX.
Oct 14: Meeting 6pm, Potluck Refreshments Drinks: Jim Landers and Ken Fuchs
Nov 11: Meeting 6pm, Potluck Refreshments Drinks: Davis & Susan Krauskopf
Note: Meetings & Iris Shows are held at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall 2407 West Ave P Temple, TX (corner of 49th St & Ave P) unless otherwise noted.
45
BENSON IRIS SOCIETY Mary Rhodes, President
46
One of our founding members, Annetta Reusch, has had to close her garden. She experienced an unexpected illness and had to move to Dallas to live with her daughter. During the past two years, her garden, including her Dykes bed, fell onto hard times. Because the person taking care of the yard knew nothing about iris, all iris, including their name tags, were mowed down. An-netta is unable to tell her daughter where her planting charts are; and so we are left with little knowledge, except that one bed (whose location we knew) was devoted solely to Dykes Medal winners and that the oldest were at one end and the newest were at the other. So we platted out as best we could the rows, and eight members went to her yard before the house was put on the market and dug all the iris in that bed, denoting where in the bed they were according to our grid. The iris were split among the eight members who helped dig, and they are caring for these iris until such time as the iris bloom and can be identi-fied. At that point we will see what we have and determine what will happen to them. We are fortunate indeed to have members who are devoting their time and efforts to this chal-lenge. ( Ed.—see related article on pages 24-25)
Plans are underway for our annual iris show, which will be April 27, 2019, at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 5800 South-west Parkway, in Wichita Falls. Our show program has been ap-proved and judges secured. Judging starts at 11:00 a.m. Our ar-tistic judge will again give a flower arranging class free to all members interested in competing in the shows artistic division.
We will be selling potted iris at our show, and plan to have a sale
at the Farmers Market in downtown Wichita Falls at the Peach
Day Festival July 6, 2019.
East Texas Iris Society is managing pretty well in spite of the cold, wet weather. (Ed.—see related article on page 22.)
In January we picked up a couple of new members, and we now meet in the Tyler Public Library.
We still maintain two public gardens, one at the East Texas Arboretum in Athens, Texas, and the other at the Tyler Rose Gardens which is next to the East Texas Fairgrounds.
We’re pretty proud of our rebloomers which are ‘Hemstitched’, ‘Over and Over’, ‘Coral Chimes’, and just about to open: ‘Low Ho Silver’!
Our 2019 show “Hats off to Iris” will be at the Hampton Inn & Suites in South Tyler on April 13, and we have tentative plans for our rhizome sale in Tyler on Sept 1, but Athens Farmers Market wants us back as well as Canton Trade Days in October.
OVER AND OVER
LOW HO SILVER
HEMSTITCHED CORAL CHIMES
47
EAST TEXAS IRIS SOCIETY Connie Ford, President
Region 17 Silver Medal Club 75% of members are AIS members
The Ft. Worth Iris Society has approximately 44 members. Many of
these members are ‘lifetimers’ who are not able to attend meetings. We
have 18-20 active members. We meet the first Thursday of each month
at the Ft. Worth Botanic Garden at 7:00 for refreshments and for the
meeting to start at 7:30. After the meeting we have a program and then
a raffle of items club members have donated.
Most of our members live at least 25 miles away. We took a poll at the
last meeting and there was only one member who actually lives in Ft.
Worth. Our members come from all over. Several are members of oth-
er clubs or societies and stay very active in promoting gardening and
learning about plants.
Club members have planted three different Iris collections at the Ft.
Worth Botanic Gardens. We ‘snuck in’ some Arilbred Iris in the Cactus
Garden and they are doing quite well. One of our members, Rene Carl,
has been doing a very good job grooming the iris and keeping them
weeded. It will be worth the time to get around the Botanic Gardens
this spring and look at the blooms.
Our Show will be with Flowercade on April 13-14, 2019 at the Botanic
Garden.
Our annual Sale will be September 28, 2019 at the Botanic Garden.
2019 is our Society’s 60th Anniversary.
We are looking forward to hosting the 2019 Region 17 Meeting in
Weatherford, TX.
It will be a Texas
Luau. All of the
club members are
working hard to
find decorations
and entertainment
so it will be fun for
all who attend.
ALOHA Y'ALL!!!
FORT WORTH IRIS SOCIETY Kay Anderson, President
48
It will be a Luau—Texas Style. Grab your Hawaiian shirts and join us. A HUI HOU See Y’all there!
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
The Iris Society of Dallas was established in 1954. Meetings are hold on the third (3rd) Sunday of each month at 3:00 PM, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 11425 Marsh Lane, Dallas, Texas. We have one hundred and twenty-two (122) members. Our elected officers for 2018-2019: President: Kathy Wade 1st Vice President (Programs): Diane Fidler 2nd Vice President (Membership): Judy Schneider 3rd Vice President (Show Chair): Pat Norvell Secretary: Vicki Howard Treasurer: Bonnie Nichols
The iris Society of Dallas maintains a display garden in Addison. This garden was originally set up for the 2013 AIS Convention but ISD has kept the garden, and updates it with new irises periodically. This year we have completely cleared out two of the beds and had planned to replant it shortly after remov-ing all the irises but the massive rain storms seem to have put a damper on that. plan The beds are almost reworked and hopefully we can start re-planting them by March.
Our iris show will be April 13, 2019 (this is a Saturday) at Holy Cross Lutheran Church with Pat Norvell as Show Chair. There is no Artistic Design division. Potted irises will be available at the show but we do not have many of each variety so you might want to come early.
Our iris sale and Christmas in September will be September 15, 2019 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The sale starts at 9AM and goes until around noon. A short break for lunch and then on to Christmas in September. ISD members with qualifying points get to pick their new introduction and then the rest are auctioned off. Lots of fun for all.
Each year ISD has a two-day bus tour (with lunch included) of local iris gar-dens. This year’s tour will be Monday and Tuesday, April 15-16, 2019. Any-one interested in going on the bus tours can contact Bonnie Nichols ([email protected] or 214-352-2191) for details and prices.
Dell Perry is our newsletter editor and does our website. She posted pictures of the irises that are for sale at both the iris show and the September sale on our website. She also has lots of great information.
Website: http://www.irisesdallas.org
IRIS SOCIETY of DALLAS Kathy Wade, President
49
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
Johnson County Iris & Daylily Society Vicki Howard President
Johnson County Iris and Daylily Society meets the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m., except for August and December when we have our pot luck meetings which begin at noon. We meet at the United Cooperative Services community room in Cleburne. Our club year begins in August. We currently have 34 members and 31 are AIS members. We have a drawing each month for an AIS membership. As a result, we are now a Region 17 Gold Medal Club with 90% of our membership being AIS members.
Our annual iris show is held the 3rd Saturday of April at the J. N. Long Cultural Arts Complex gym. The theme of our show this year is The Iris of Texas. Show Chairman is Karen Singletary.
Our big fundraiser for the year is our annual Iris Rhizome and Plant Sale held in the J. N. Long Complex cafeteria the 2nd Satur-day in September, which is September 14th this year, from 9:00 a.m. until sold out .
Our Youth members have a raffle each month where they sell tickets and offer raffle prizes. The money they earn buys their yearly membership in AIS.
We have our yearly “stand-by” meetings which include our Christmas luncheon and party, iris show, iris sale, annual iris and daylily giveaways, exchanges and auctions, and Bingo. The other months we invite guest speakers to give interesting programs.
Our club is active on Facebook and we have a club website. Hope you will “check us out”.
website: Johnsoncountyirisanddaylilysociety.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnsoncountyirisanddaylilysociety
50
Region 17 Gold Medal Club 90% of members are AIS members
Lone Star Iris Society of Hico was formed in 2008. We current-
ly have 32 members which includes one youth member. Our
meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month at 12:00 at
the Hico Community Center. Our current officers are:
Jerrie Cage, President
Patty Lewis, Vice President
Laurie Paulson, Secretary
Leroy Nabors, Treasurer
Naomi Nabors, Parliamentarian
June Hivnor, Historian.
Our Club is busy preparing for our April 7th Iris Show. Our
Show theme is “Wild, Wild West” and will be held at the Hico
High School and open to the public from 1:00 to 4:00.
To date, plant sales will be held at Hamilton Extension Club
Spring Fling on March 12th, also in September in Hamilton and
also in Hico (exact dates to be determined). We will also have a
plant sale at our Iris Show.
Our Club maintains two public flower beds, one in Hamilton and
the other in Hico. Plans are underway for a Club Auction/
Giveaway in September. Programs this year, in addition to our
usual Club programs, will include container gardening of Irises,
Iris cultural practices, and Historic Irises.
Our Club continues to grow and we are looking forward to an
exciting 2019 year. We welcome new members always.
51
LONE STAR IRIS SOCIETY Jerrie Cage, President
Region 17 Bronze Medal Club 60% of members are AIS members
NPIS had another great year.
We had a good show in the snow last year, and also had a won-
derful sale. Our sale for 2018 was $2,330.65. We were down
from the last 2 years but we will do better in 2019. Our show
date is May 4th 2019. We have a new location, that being South-
west Library on 45th. We are having it on a Saturday this year.
Our iris looks lots better this year.
We have 6 new members join this last year. They all came from
our iris sale. Our sale date this year is July 13th and will be locat-
ed at the Amarillo Botanical Garden. Our show chairman is
Dawn Boyer. We will be celebrating 50 years as an AIS club. (Ed.
- see related article on pages 27-29.)
Officers:
President—Bill Pittman
Vice-President -Janet Chapman
Secretary—Stephanie Sullivan
Treasurer—Margaret Edgington
NPIS gave $850 to The Amarillo Botanical Garden. We maintain
a nice iris bed at The ABG, also. We also work lights in the gar-
den for ABG.
52
NORTH PLAINS IRIS SOCIETY Bill Pittman— President
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
The South Plains Iris Society is enthusiastic about 2019. We have
some great programs for our meetings, a sale or two, judges
training, and a whimsical show planned to delight all ages. Our
society is growing with 21 members and 3 new members from
across the South Plains of Texas. We are blessed to have some
long time members. With all that iris wisdom, Ramona Howard,
Glenna Keesee, and Dr Elmer Addington are still educating us
each blooming and planting season. As our membership grows,
so does the rainbow of color in the gardens on the South Plains.
Our current officers are as follows:
Kerry D. McKennon, President
Jennifer Zarate, Vice President
Mary Caffey, Recording Secretary
Mary Wilber, Treasurer
Glenna Keesee serves as our hospitality/courtesy chairperson
and Librarian.
The South Plains Iris Society meets at Red Zone Café located at
3602 Slide Road in Lubbock, Texas. Our meetings are held at 7
PM on the fourth Monday of each month-February thru October,
except where noted.
Our Meetings and Programs for 2019:
February 25th: Business and Brainstorming
March 25th: Preparing for the Spring Show
Digital program from the AIS website
April 28th(Sunday): 2:00 PM meeting at Red Zone Café followed by a garden tour of selected members’ gardens.
SOUTH PLAINS IRIS SOCIETY Kerry McKennon, President
53
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
May 20th (Third Monday): Photographing Your Irises
June 24th: Program TBA
July 22nd: Just for Fun .....Iris Trivia and games
August 26th: Surprise Package!” Distribution of Iris Rhizomes according to the Standing Rules. Prepare for the upcoming sale.
September 23rd: “Membership Swap Night”
October 21st: “SPIS Spring Iris Show Awards” and installation of officers for 2020.
Our Activities:
Spring Iris Show - “Iris In Wonderland”
Saturday, April 13th
Lubbock Gardens and Arts Center
4215 University Lubbock, Texas
Jennifer Zarate and Ramona Howard will co-chair our Spring Iris
Show.
Some exciting news about our iris show, South Plains Iris Society
will have a photography category. It will be wonderful to see
photographs of iris around the South Plains in bloom.
Judging Training: TBA
Summer Sale: TBA
Fall Fiesta Iris Sale:
Saturday, September 14th
Lubbock Garden and Arts Center
4215 University Lubbock, Texas
Edna Rice and Pam Lamb are co-chairing the sale
54
TEXOMA RAINBOW IRIS SOCIETY Judy Schneider, President
1st VP (Programs) - Bill Richtermeyer
2nd VP (Membership) - Betty Morriss
3rd VP (Show) - Lori Mays
Secretary - D'Anna Lodge
Treasurer - John Lamb
TRIS meetings are held on the 4th Sunday of the month at
Grandy's, 3201 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX at 3 pm unless
special activities are planned. We have grown to 25 members,
most of which are very active and enthusiastic about the club.
In January the club hosted Hugh Stout, Jr. of Dancingtree Gar-
dens in Oklahoma City as their guest speaker. He gave a pro-
gram on iris hybridizing and showed slides of new hybrids for
this year. We have several members interested in doing hybrid-
izing so it was a particularly timely topic for them.
We are looking forward to our show on April 20 to be held at the
Sherman Senior Center. Last year our show was the biggest it
has been in many years so we are expecting another great one in
2019. Both the Horticulture and the Artistic Design divisions are
very popular with the club members. We will be having an Artis-
tic Design Workshop given by Dawn Boyer after the judging of
the entries at the show this year to assist the entrants on learn-
ing the good vs. bad things about their designs and how they can
improve them for the next year.
Several members are going to host open gardens for guest tours
55
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
during bloom season to give others a chance to see varieties
they may not be familiar with. We also have programs planned
on the various classes of irises, show preparation and other
pertinent topics at our monthly meetings.
Some annual activities will include the picnic in May, an ice
cream social in July, the always popular "Christmas In August"
rhizome gift/auction and two rhizome sales in Denison and
Whitesboro in late fall. The Christmas Party is held in Decem-
ber as well.
Our newsletter editor, Dell Perry, publishes a month-
ly newsletter to keep the members up to date on
club, regional and AIS happenings. We also have a Facebook
page that details meetings and other timely topics for our fol-
lowers. It's been so much fun watching the club nearly double
in size in the last 6 years and fulfill its true mission of educating
others about growing and showing irises!
56
WACO IRIS SOCIETY Dan Cathey, President
The Waco Iris Society is now in its 59th year. We currently have 38 members in good standing, including two new members, of which 26 are current AIS members.
Officers for the 2018-2019 club year are Dan Cathey, president, Ken An-derson Vice President and Show Chair, Bill Calhoon Secretary and Mitchell Whitley Treasurer. Our webmaster is Ken Fuchs and our web-site address is http://kenfuchs42.net/waco-index.html. Peggy Cathey is our newsletter editor and current and back issues may be found on our website and also on our Facebook page: https//facebook.com/WacoIrisSociety/.
Waco Iris Society was recognized as a Silver Medal Club this past year, meaning that 75% of WIS members are also members of the American Iris Society. We are currently at 65% so we are working to get the AIS membership improved, at least to last years level! We hold a drawing at each meeting for an AIS membership given to one lucky member (or dual membership) present.
We currently meet at the Crestview Church of Christ Community Center in Woodway at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of the months of January, March, May, September, and November. Our annual Iris Show will be held on the second Saturday in April at the LaQuinta Inn and Suites, Wa-co. The May meeting celebrates the end of our Club year and is tradi-tionally a luncheon at a Waco restaurant during which Show awards are presented to members and is paid for by the Club. September is a spe-cial meeting and one members look forward to each year - our annual Iris Giveaway, Exchange and Auction. The Giveaway is for qualifying members, the Exchange is for everyone who brings an increase of the iris they received in 2016 - OR - any iris introduced in the past 6 years, Any changes in meeting or show locations and times will be available on the website or our Facebook page.
The theme for the 2019 Iris Show is "Iris in All Kinds of Weather" and the artistic design categories are "Winter Wonderland", "Stormy
57
Region 17 Silver Medal Club 75% of members are AIS members
IRIS SOCIETY of AUSTIN Jaime Hadley, President
Region 17 Bronze Medal Club 60% of members are AIS members
Weather", "When the Wind Blows" (novice), "Frosty Autumn Morn-ings", and "Sizzling Summer". The Show is open to the public starting at 1:00 p.m. Additional Show information is available by contacting Dan Cathey at [email protected].
We offer potted iris for sale at our Show in addition to our annual rhi-zome sale which is, as always, the last Saturday in September beginning at 9 a.m. until sold out or 2 p.m. at the Green Life Nursery in Waco.
PERMIAN BASIN IRIS SOCIETY
Region 17 Bronze Medal Club 60% of members are AIS members
PINEY WOODS IRIS SOCIETY Jeana Christian, President
WEST TEXAS IRIS SOCIETY Marie Pate, President
Region 17 Pewter Medal Club 50% of members are AIS members
No report submitted.
No report submitted.
No report submitted.
No report submitted.
58
Hillcrest Iris Gardens 3365 Northaven Road Dallas TX 75229 214-352-2191
[email protected] www.hillcrestiris.com Bonnie and Hooker Nichols hybridize many outstanding iris and introduce exceptional new iris every year. Louisiana, Spuria and Bonnie’s space age rebloomers along with miniature tall bearded grace a garden location that is spaced out so visitors have a chance to walk among the plants with
ample space between the rows. Each row being over 200 feet long gives each person quite a workout when viewing the plantings. The Mesquite large garden has over 5,000 irises and over 1,000 new irises grow in the home garden at 3365 Northaven Road in Dallas. A journey to far northwest Dallas will find the home garden. The beautifully land-scaped garden uses most of the lot to grow over 1,200 bearded and beardless irises, day-lilies, roses, and various other types of flowers. Here you can evaluate the reselected Louisiana seedlings hybridized by Hooker Nichols. Through tried and true growing meth-ods, the Nichols' have successfully bloomed nearly 100% of their annual Louisiana seed-ling crop. Hillcrest Gardens will be selling Tom Burseen’s introductions and more. Check out their web site today.
Seandel Iris Gardens 800 Purcell Drive Plano TX 75025 972-816-3418
[email protected] https://www.facebook.com/SeandelIrisGardens/
Dell and Seann are growing a variety of interesting iris at their home in Plano. They started Seandel Iris Gardens in the early 1990’s. Over 1500 varieties are growing on the corner city lot including tall beard-
ed, border bearded, intermediate bearded, standard dwarf bearded, spuria, Louisiana, species, aril and arilbred irises. Seandel Iris Gardens is a display garden for the Aril Society International and the Median Iris Society. Dell is currently a member of three local iris societies, an AIS judge, and editor of the AIS Region 17 Newsletter. Color emailed catalog in PDF format available upon request. Catalog also in photo albums on the Facebook page.
The Shady Spot Judy Schneider 1778 CR 107 Whitesboro TX 76273 [email protected] www.theshadyspotiris.com
https://www.facebook.com/theshadyspot/
The Shady Spot is the result of a lifelong passion for gardening, flowers and animals. We are a small Texas farm located about an hour north of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area focused primarily on raising irises of many classes. We moved to this
location in 2008 and have been designing, building, digging and planting ever since. Now the iris collection features nearly 3,000 varieties from the newest introductions to many old historic varieties, including many rarities. Our iris varieties are interspersed in beds planted with shrubs, perennials and annuals that are drought tolerant and Texas tough. We are proud to be a Display Garden for both the Tall Bearded Iris Society and the Historic Iris Preservation Society. Each year we typically add several hundred different varieties so the scenery is always changing! The Shady Spot will be selling Tom Burseen’s introductions and more. Check out their web site today.
The garden is open to visitors during the iris bloom season, typically between April and mid May, or any other time of the year by appointment. Please phone 940-594-5557 for a visit. Are you a R17 commercial garden? Send Dell a write-up and it will be added to this list.
