Thanks,
-- Dave
Table of Contents
- American Iris Society including its sections and cooperating societies:
- Median Iris Society
- The Society for Siberian Irises
- Spuria Iris Society
- Society for Japanese Irises
- Reblooming Iris Society
- Dwarf Iris Society
- Society for Pacific Coast Native Irises
- Species Iris Group of North America (SIGNA)
- Historic Iris Preservation Society
- Aril Society International
- Society for Louisiana Irises
- British Iris Society
- Canadian Iris Society
- Société Français des Iris et PlantesBulbeuses (S.F.I.B.)
- Societá d'Italiana dell'Iris
- Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde
- Nihon Hanashobu Kyokai (Japanese Iris Society)
- Nihon Iris Kyokai (Iris Society of Japan)
- New Zealand Iris Society
- Iris Society of South Africa
- The Iris Society of Australia
- Aril Society International
- World Iris Association
- Belgian Iris Society
- The Central Iris Society (Moscow)
- Danish Iris Society
- Iris Society of Southern Africa
- Schweizer Iris-und Lilienfreunde (Swiss iris society)
American Iris Society
The A.I.S. has a home page on the web.The American Iris Society was founded in 1920.
Publications of the A. I. S.
The A.I.S. publishes the Bulletin of the American Iris Societyquarterly, and the Iris Check List every ten years with annual updates.Past Bulletins and Check Lists are available from the A.I.S. aswell as a Membership Book, RHS Colour Charts, Iris Calendars, a booklet onBasic Iris Culture, iris calendars, and the informative, 494 page The World of Irises edited by Warburton and Hamblen.Contact Jerry Gifford, 5647 Myrtlewood Drive,Nashville, TN 37211, orcheck the latest Bulletin for more information.Sections of the American Iris Society and cooperating societies
- Median Iris Society.
- Medians consist of the middle sized bearded irises, and these areclassified into four sizes: Standard Dwarf, Intermediate, Miniature Tall,and Border.The Median Iris Society was founded in 1957 and incorporated as a sectionof the A.I.S. in 1960. It has published a quarterly journal, TheMedianite, since 1962.
- The Society for Siberian Irises.
- The Society for Siberian Irises was founded in 1960 as a section of theA.I.S. It publishes a semiannual journal The Siberian Iris.
- Spuria Iris Society.
- The Spuria Iris Society was founded in 1952.
- Society for Japanese Irises.
- The Society for Japanese Irises was founded as a section of the A.I.S. in1962. It has published The Review semiannually since 1964. It hasheld annual conventions for Japanese Irises since 1962.
- Reblooming Iris Society.
- The Reblooming Iris Society was founded in 1962 and incorporated as asection of the A.I.S. in 1967. It has published The Reblooming IrisRecorder since 1962.
- Dwarf Iris Society.
- The Dwarf Iris Society was founded in 1950 and incorporated as a sectionof the A.I.S. in 1980. It has its own page on the web
- Society for Pacific Coast Native Irises.
- Species Iris Group of North America (SIGNA).
- This group has published the SIGNA Newsletter since 1968. It has web page.
- Historic Iris Preservation Society.
- The Historic Iris Preservation Society was founded in 1988 as a section ofthe A.I.S. It publishes a journal Roots semiannually. There is ahome page for HIPS.
- Aril Society International.
- The Aril Society International (see below) is a cooperating society of the A.I.S.
- Society for Louisiana Irises.
- The Society for Louisiana Irises was founded in 1941. In 1978 a sectionof the A.I.S. called the Louisiana Iris Society of Americawas created for furthering Louisiana Irises. In 1993 the two were merged asthe Society for Louisiana Irises to become a cooperating society of the A.I.S.It publishes the Society for Louisiana Irises Newsletter quarterly.
Awards of the American Iris Society
The American Iris Society has announced its 1995 awards.The hightest award by the A.I.S. is the American Dykes Medal which has beenawarded since 1927. Recently the A.I.S. restructured its award system.
- Exhibition Certificate (EC)
- Awarded to seedlings (irises not introduced to commerce) at shows
- High Commendation Award (HC)
- Awarded to seedlings based on garden performance
- Honorable Mention (HM)
- First award to introduced irises based on garden performance
- Walther Cup
- Given annually to the iris which received the most votes for HM
- President's Cup and Franklin Cook Cup
- These are awarded at the annual national convention. The President's cupis awarded to the most popular iris inside the host region, and the FranklinCook Cup to the most popular iris outside the host region.
- Award of Merit (AM)
- Second award
- Medals
- Third award, one named medal in each class of iris annually awarded.
- Dykes Memorial Award
- Fourth award, given annually to one iris which has received a medal.
National Conventions of the American Iris Society
The AIS holds a several-day convention each spring in a different location.The next will be in Sacramento, April 24-28, 1996. The following four annual conventionsare scheduled for Dearborn, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Dallas.There will be a "M.A.S.S. Medley" convention June 14-16, 1996, in Westford, Massachusetts. This "M.A.S.S." stands for "Mad About Species and Siberians."
St. Louis will host a 1996 Japanese Iris Convention and Tour June 13-15, 1996.
The British Iris Society was founded in 1922.
British Iris Society
Publications of the British Iris Society
Publishes the Iris Year Book annually.Membership in the British Iris Society
ContactMr. E. H. Furnival 15 Parkwood Drive Rawtenstall Lancashire BB4 6RP UKNew American members may pay by check for $15.00 (in US dollars)made out to the British Iris Society and sent to Mrs. E. M. Wise, 197 The Parkway, Iver Heath, IVER, Bucks, SL0 0RQ, UK.
Awards and Shows of the British Iris Society
The society has annually awarded the Dykes Medal since 1927. In fact, theBritish Iris Society actually awards Dykes Medals for othersocieties including the American Dykes Medal and the Australasian Dykes Medal.Other awards include the Foster Memorial Plaque, the Pilkington Award, theHugh Miller Trophy, the Souvenir de M. Lemoine, and the Fothergill MemorialTrophy. It also elects irises for the Award of Garden Merit.The society holds an Annual Dwarf, Median, and Species Show, the Chelsea Show,and the Main Iris Show.
Canadian Iris Society
The Canadian Iris Society has a home page.The Canadian Iris Society (CIS) is a non-profit organization withthe objective to encourage, improve and extend the cultivation of thegenus iris and to collaborate with other societies for this purpose aswell as to regulate the nomenclature and colour classification.
The CIS was founded in 1946 under the leadership of W.J. Moffat ofHamilton, Ontario who became the first president until 1956. The societyfunctioned as a region of the American Iris Society until 1958 when theCanadian Iris Society was reorganized independently to promote irises tothe gardening public throughout Canada.
The society is concerned with the whole realm of garden irises,culture, trials of newer varieties and the encouraging of hybridizers toproduce varieties that are adapted to climatic conditions as they exist inour country. The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario is thefocus of a continuing CIS project since 1964. Specifically, the LakingGarden with its huge collection of irises, is each year complimented bythe addition of newer acquisition irises judged to be of high calibre bythe CIS. The absolutely spectacular showing of irises in the Laking Gardenis well worth a visit or two or more!
Regional Groups
Provision is made in the CIS constitution for the formation ofregional groups in geographical areas where there exists enough interest.The CIS will foster and assist such groups but their functions within theframework of the society depends on the initiative of local members ofthat particular region.Organization
The governing body of the CIS is comprised of a Board ofDirectors. The principal officers include the president, two vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, an editor of the newsletter and themembership chairman. Activity Highlights June Iris Shows - During themain flowering season for tall bearded irises the CIS holds annual irisshows at various locations. Members and the public are invited to attendand enjoy these shows. Iris Sales and Auctions - Iris sales and auctionsare held annually in August making available to the membership and thegeneral public newer and quality varieties of iris at very reasonableprices.Annual General Meeting
The final major event of the year, theAnnual General Meeting, is usually held in the autumn and combines abusiness meeting with a guest speaker presentation, a luncheon or dinner,the election of new officers, the presentation of awards and anopportunity to get together and enjoy a programme of interest about irisesto all the members who attend.Newsletter/Library
The CIS publishes a 24 page newsletter four times a year(January-April-July-October) to accommodate the needs of Canadian irisenthusiasts. Members are encouraged and invited to submit local iris newsinformation, iris experiences and articles for publication in thenewsletter. Each issue is full of informative articles about all types ofiris.Iris reference books may be borrowed by CIS members, either inperson or by mail, from the Library of the Royal Botanical Gardens locatedat the RBG Centre building in Burlington, Ontario.
Société Français des Iris et PlantesBulbeuses (S.F.I.B.)
Publications of S.F.I.B.
The S.F.I.B. publishes Iris et Bulbeuses quarterly.Membership in the S.F.I.B.
Clarence Mahan writes in his column on international news in the April, 1995,Bulletin of the American Iris Society, page 24, that S.F.I.B.membership for overseas residents is 210 francs, which should be sent to theSecrétaire-Général, Mme Anne-Marie Chesnais, 19 rue duDr. Kurzenne, 78350 JOUY-EN-JOSAS, France. He adds that an inexpensive way toconvert U.S. dollars is by purchasing an International Money Order through theU.S. Post Office.Societá d'Italiana dell'Iris
Publications of the Societá d'Italiana dell'Iris
Membership in the Societá d'Italiana dell'Iris
(Send me me a note if you know.)Awards of the Societá d'Italiana dell'Iris
Since 1957 the society has held an annual International Iris Competition inFlorence. Various awards are given including the Primio Firenze prize to thebest tall bearded iris.Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde
Founded in 1950 as the Deutsche-Iris-und Lilien-Gesellschaft, it was renamedthe Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde in 1960 to include all perennials.Publications of the Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde
Publishes the quarterly journal Staudengarten.Membership in the Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde
(Send me me a note if you know.)Awards of the Gesellschaft der Staudenfreunde
The society holds an annual iris competition in the Palmengarten, Frankfort,and an annual Internationa Garden Exposition for Dwarf Iris in Vienna.Various awards are given at these two events.Nihon Hanashobu Kyokai (Japanese Iris Society)
The Nihon Hanashobu Kyokai was founded in 1931. Its primary interest ishanashoubu, that is, Japanese irises. It has published a yearbook since 1931.Nihon Iris Kyokai (Iris Society of Japan)
The Nihon Iris Kyokai was founded in 1967. Its major interest is in irisesother than the hanashobu (Japanese irises).New Zealand Iris Society
Publications of the New Zealand Iris Society
Publishes a Bulletin.Membership in the New Zealand Iris Society
Contact the Secretary, Marion Ball, 25 Lucknow Road, Havelock North, New Zealand.Conventions
An International Syposium on Iris is being held in Tauranga 2nd - 6th November 2000. international and local presentations. Tours are being arranged after the symposium. Options of North Island and South Island Tours. Local gardens, iris society members gardens and scenic adventures. Contact Alison Nicoll at: - irises@tasman.netIris Society of South Africa
Address:Iris Society of South AfricaP.O. Box 2924Edenvale, 1610South Africa
The Iris Society of Australia
Constacts:Heather Pryor. Federal President of the I.S.A.P.O. BOX 83, PENNANT HILLS NSW 2120 AUSTRALIA.Tel. 612 9144.3805 (H) Fax. 612 9980.6592NSW RegionPO Box 11GORDON NSW 2072Dora Cattanach, Secretary of the Victorian region I.S.A.1062 Norman Street, Wendouree VIC 3355Contact Heather Pryor, listed above, for more information.
(Last updated June, 1997.)Notice: The 1998 Sunraysia Iris Convention will be October 20th to 27th, 1998. The convention headquarters will be in Mildura, Victoria. Fully detailed registration brochures are available. Contact the convenor, Dianne Dalla Santa, P.O. Box 272 Cardross, Victoria 3496, Australia or dalla@ruralnet.net.au
The Aril Society International has a home page on the web.Aril Society International
The Aril Society International promotes aril irises and their hybrids.Aril irises belong to the Hexapogon section of the Iris genuswhich includes the regelias, pseudoregelias, and oncocyclus. Many, but not all, of the oncocyclus are native to desert areas, and so may be grown in regions thatmost other irises do not survive. Modern hybrids, especially "arilbreds" which are hybrids between arils and bearded irises, may also be grown inmoister regions.
Publications of the Aril Society International
The society publishes a yearbook and three newsletters per year.Membership in the Aril Society International
See the Aril Society International's home page.World Iris Association
The World Iris Association has recently been proposed. There is a web page describing its goals.Back to IrisesDavid Pane-Joyce 
