By Andi Rivarola
A warm welcome to those who are seeing IRISES, the Bulletin of The American Iris Society for the first time. If you are a member of The American Iris Society I hope you enjoy this new edition, cover below, which you will receive via U.S. Mail very soon.
The Spring 2017 issue of the AIS Bulletin will also be available soon for online viewing and is accessible via the Emembers section of the AIS website. Note: to access this area of the website you must have a current AIS Emembership. AIS Emembership is separate from the normal AIS membership. Please see the Electronic Membership Information area of the AIS website for more details.
International News feature iris news from Italy and Australia, on page 14
Youth Views on page 15 focuses on Coloring Contest Winners, Photo Contest winners of the Clark Cosgrove Memorial Award for Youth Achievement and more.
New taxonomic arrangement of the Genus Iris? James Waddick's article, Comments on Crespo et al, on pages 20 and 21 exposes this dilemma.
Enjoy a second article about genetics through, Still Confused About Genetics? — a reprint of Dr. Currier McEwen's column from Spuria News dated 1967.
Our own blogger, Susanne Holland Spicker, has a fantastic article on subjects we know her to do so well: growing irises and capturing them for the rest of us to enjoy. It's on pages 24 — 27, Tall Bearded Irises: Companion Plants with Pink, Red and Purple Irises.
Don't miss the inspiring story of Cindy Rust, in Tell Me a Story, A Hybridizing Adventure — on pages 28 through 31.
"Although I am just an ordinary person myself, I inherited an extraordinary way of seeing ordinary things."
You won't miss the 2020 Centennial Iris Competition rules in the centerfold, pages 32 and 33. Thank you to the IRISES editors for giving it an extra push.
Bob Pries takes us to the origins of the Iris Encyclopedia with a write up on pages 34 and 35 — Confessions of an Information Junkie.
"The river of information on the Internet is miles wide but only inches deep."
Considerations for Cool Season Tall Bearded Reblooming Iris Judging on pages 36 through 40, is an thoughtful examination of judging reblooming irises, by Mike Lockatell.
Is your group interested in hosting a National Convention? If not sure, read Hosting an AIS National Convention by Paul Gossett on pages 43 through 45. It's an excellent source of information.
Lastly information on Des Moines, IA the site of this year's National Convention of The American Iris Society on pages 46 and 47.
There's a lot more to see and read in this edition of IRISES, either in digital or print formats. If you are an AIS member know that you will receive the print edition soon (it's in the hands of the U.S. Post Office), or if you are an e-member, then that version will be a available online soon.
Happy gardening!
