Sunday, May 24, 2015

In Memoriam: Jim Schnellinger

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of one of great contributing members and overall nice guy, Jim Schellinger.
Our deep sympathy goes out to his wife, Betty, an active member of GRIS.

Jim was always there to lead a hand on whatever project needed doing.  His generous sharing spirit will never be forgotten by all that knew him.


James T. Schnellinger, 78, of Corfu passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 7, 2015. 
Jim operated a landscape nursery at his home and was retired from National Fuel Gas in Batavia and Clarence, where he also was a past president of Local 2154, IBEW. Jim was a past president of the Pembroke Woodturners Guild and a member of woodturning 
groups in Buffalo. A life member of both the WNY Hosta Society and the Buffalo Area Daylily Society as well as an active member of the Genesee Valley Hosta Society, WNY Iris Society and the Greater Rochester Iris Society as well as the American Iris Society. 
Jim was an active member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, formerly St. Francis Church, in Corfu. 
Beloved husband of Elizabeth; dear father of James, Jeffrey (Virginia), and William (Soon-Gill); loving grandfather of Alex and Renee; dear brother of Michael Schnellinger (Elizabeth) and Barbara Davis, and loving uncle of several nieces and nephews. Jim was a good, kind and generous man. He was much loved by all who knew him and he will be deeply missed.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Roses before the Iris Convention

The day before the official AIS convention opening, we were taken by our host to the Portland Rose Gardens.  High above the the city the spectacular view is certainly enhanced by hundreds of roses blooming in this terraced section of Washington Park.


Sunday, May 17, 2015

To Oregon and the AIS Convention

For the first time I will attend the American Iris Society National Convention.  It begins tomorrow and end Saturday.  Folding in a trip to visit friends on the Oregon Coast and friend in Portland I arrived on May 9.  The next day I drove to Coos Bay, but on the way I could not resist a stop at Schreiner's. This largest of all iris retailers in the United States sits on the east side on I-5.  Acres and acres of color catch the eye and a stopover during bloom season is always with the time.  An hour or a day.  There are hundreds and hundreds of cultivars to see.

Near the parking lot was bed of seedlings.  This was the first to catch my eye.  YY197-D with white/yellow standards and mahogany falls has a nice growing habit and good substance.

The opportunity to see seedlings in the garden is a great joy!  Will they be introduced?  If so, when and what will their names be?