Potted!

Sunday was a Region 2 Meeting planning committee meeting. Cara, Judy, Wendy, Betty, Jim and I met at 6:30 PM for some final arrangement review.  On Saturday, October 19th, the Region 2 officers will meet in Rochester.  Part of that day and the evening before will include presentations by Stephanie Markham, iris hybridizer and owner of Toadland Gardens.  More information will be available soon in the Region  2 newsletter.

Before the meeting Jim brought material to pot many of the irises that remained after our sale.  He showed me how to do this and I finished them up today.  Hopefully some will grow enough for the Region 2 gathering silent auction.  Others will be wintered over for sale next year.

The 2013 Awards are Leaking Out!

I haven't seen an official release, but grower/hybridizer sites and Facebook pages are announcing what they know.  After searching the AIS website and finding nothing, here are what I did discover from various hybridizer's Internet sources:

North American Dykes Medal 2013

That's All Folks - Maryott/Joseph Ghio

Wister Medal for Tall Bearded (3 awarded)

Absolute Treasure - Rick Tasco

Ink Patterns - Thomas Johnson

Elizabethan Age - Lowell Baumunk

Knowlton Medal for Border Bearded

Bundle of Love - Paul Black

 Cook Douglas Medal for Standard Dwarf Bearded:

Wish Upon A Star - Paul Black

LAST DAY OF SALE!

Lent A Williamson, (Williamson 1918) TB Historic

Today, Saturday, August 3, is the last day to get locally grown, freshly dug iris rhizomes at amazing bargain prices.  "Named" tall bearded irises are $3, Medians "named" are $2 and "orphans" (No name, color identified) are a buck!  There are purples, gold, light yellow, dark wine and more. There are limited choices left but we have some great historics, Lent A Williamson, Gertrude and Glowing Embers, for tried and long bloom and color.  We also have some standard dwarf bearded varieties that are great for smaller spaces and more wind resistant, blooming at about 10-15".

Twist my arm and I'll dig and sell "Immortality" a pure white re-bloomer which you can see in my garden blooming right now.  See a daylily in the garden that you like?  If it's mature enough I'll dig you a fan or two.

All proceeds to benefit GRIS (Greater Rochester Iris Society).

Come see us at:
3873 Rush Mendon Road. Mendon NY
call: 585-301-8256

Chanted (Blyth, 1990) SDB 13"

We'll be open until 5 pm!

Glowing Embers (Sturtevant, 1923) TB historic

Shipshape (Babson, 1968) TB Dykes Medal 1974

A Very Successful Sale!

'Wabash' TB Dykes Medal Winner, 1940 .. 2 left.  Read on.

Many people left with great irises at great prices,  GRIS made money for our on-going program, and many attendees learned how to divide, treat and plant irises.  It was a great day!

Jim and Betty got our sign in place well in advance.

The day of the event we were so busy no one had time to take pictures.
After hours of work, Nate took a well deserved break....

... but not for long!

Wendy's median advice was invaluable.

Demos and advice from a group of irisians really enjoying themselves!

The remaining stock was moved to 3873 Rush Mendon Road, Mendon, NY.  Come on down to see what's left through Saturday.

Koda likes the sign.  We'll be selling great home grown rhizomes through the end of the week.

Here area few of the cultivars left.  None are more than $3.00.  2 of those 1940 Dykes Medal winners.  Don't know what that is? Come find out!

'Chanted' SDB

'Princesse Caroline de Monaco' TB

'Spring Fresh' SDB

The Annual GRIS Iris Sale on July 28

Iris flowers represent shades of every color of the rainbow as well as pure white and darkest purples and violets that approach black. With heights ranging from several inches to several feet, they offer months of springtime glamour to the smallest or largest garden.

 

Beginners and expert gardeners alike will find something to enhance their gardens at our Annual Iris Rhizome Sale. We’ll have exciting 2013 introductions and time-tested favorites from Aitken’s Salmon Creek Gardens along with healthy, home-grown varieties from members’ gardens and other local growers.

Iris aficionados and experts will be available to answer your questions about planting, growing and caring for this most spectacular flower.

The sale will take place Sunday, July 28 from 10 PM to 2 PM at the Cornell Cooperative Extension. 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester, NY (Directly across the street from the Highland Park lilac display area)

Watch this blog for more details on irises that may be available!

Dreams Can Come True

Donna Lowry, RVP for Region 2 of the AIS and founder and former long-time president of GRIS, realizes her hope of presenting a GRIS iris show in an area mall. Donna herself first became enamored of these beautiful flowers during a mall show. Now her dream has come true. GRIS is an affiliate of the American Iris Society.

Donna's entry in the Creative Division of the Artistic Design category won a blue ribbon. She named it "Yellow Submarine" after a Beatles tune, fitting in with this year's s theme, "The Music of Iris". With talent, imagination, and one magnificent bloom, who needs more.

2013 GRIS Show

It's a family affair . . . Wendy Roller, our tireless show chair, with son Michael and granddaughter Cora. Cora won a rosette for having the best siberian iris in the show. Wendy, in addition to winning 1st and 2nd Runner Up rosettes, received three Best of Section rosettes and the Silver Medal for having the most blue ribbons -- 11 -- in the show!

Some concentrate on bud counts, others see only the camera . . .

Taking a breather . . . Judy Tucholski-Zon, WNYIS president, show judge and much more, and her hard-working husband Bob, recharging with a quick power nap.