The 76th annual Society for Louisiana Irises National Convention was held from April 21st to April 24th in Bossier City, LA, with 54 attendees enrolled.
An iris show consisting of only Louisiana Irises was held as part of the convention on April 23rd, 2016.
The winners of the show were:
Katherine and Ray Cornay Award
Members of the Society present at the show shall, by popular ballot, select the outstanding seedling from those that have not been introduced and those seedlings in the junior section that have not been introduced. A top seedling will be chosen from each height class and awarded a ribbon, which will be presented to the hybridizer. The person entering the iris selected for award will receive a small vase. An overall best seedling shall be selected and awarded the Katherine and Ray Cornay rosette, which goes to the hybridizer. A crystal vase shall be presented to the person entering the overall winner of the award during the awards banquet.
Outstanding Seedling: ‘Cajun Popcorn’ by Roland Guidry entered by Karin Payne
Best Tall Seedling: 05-07-15 by Ron Killingsworth entered by Lin Millar
Best Medium Seedling: ‘Cajun Popcorn’ by Roland Guidry entered by Karin Payne
Best Small Seedling: No entries
MacMillian Award
This award shall be given to the oldest registered iris receiving a blue ribbon. A cultivar may receive this award only once every five years. The winner of this award will be presented with a rosette and a crystal vase during the awards banquet.
‘Clyde Redmond’ entered by Lin Millar
Marvin Granger Award
This award shall be chosen by the AIS judges from the first place winners that are double or cartwheel form. This award honors Marvin Granger for his work with cartwheel form irises. The best overall cartwheel or double selected by the judges will be the winner of this award. The winner of this award will be present a Rosette and crystal vase during the awards presentations
.’Delta Star’ entered by Lin Millar
Joseph Mertzweiller Award
This award shall be presented to the best overall tetraploid iris selected by the AIS judges from all the blue ribbon winning tetraploid entries. The winner will be presented a rosette and crystal vase during the awards banquet.
‘Professor Marta Marie’ entered by Monica Cowan
Dr. Small Award
This award shall be presented to the best overall iris entered in the species classification of the show and will be selected by the AIS judges from the blue ribbon winners of this classification. The winner will be presented a rosette and crystal vase during the awards banquet.
No Entries
Ira S. Nelson Award
Members of the Society in attendance shall select three Louisiana iris winners by popular ballot chosen from the blue ribbon winners selected b the AIS accredited judges of registered AND introduced irises. First, second and third placed rosettes will be awarded. The person who entered the first place winner in the show will be presented with the rosette and a crystal vase during the awards banquet. Award rosettes for second and third place will be presented during the awards banquet.
First Place: ‘Delta Star’ entered by Lin Millar
Second Place: ‘Dark Dude’ entered by Lin Millar
Third Place: ‘King Alex’ entered by Monica Cowan
English Box
A collection of ‘Blue Jean Baby’ and ‘Bayou Tiger’ entered by Karin Payne
Caroline Dormon Award
The AIS judges shall select the best collection of irises for this award. The collection shall consist of six and the names of each iris will be written on the back of the entry card. The winner of this award will be presented with a rosette and crystal vase during the awards banquet.
A bouquet of irises consisting of ‘Red Velvet Elvis’ and ‘Laura Louise’ entered by Monica Cowan
American Iris Society Awards
Queen of Show: ‘Delta Star’ entered by Lin Millar
Best Seedling of Show: ‘Cajun Popcorn’ by Roland Guidry entered by Karin Payne
Sweepstakes Awards: Sliver by Monica Cowan with 11 blue (first place) ribbons and Bronze by Karin Payne with 10 blue ribbons.
There were 95 entries of 74 varieties of Louisiana irises exhibited by 7 exhibitors. The show was judged by Harry Wolford and Donna Wolford from Palm Bay, FL, and David Nitka from Feeding Hills, MA
