AIS: Convention
- Subject: AIS: Convention
- From: J* H*
- Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 17:51:30 -0400
Hello, Talkers! Dean and I drove to Memphis last Thursday in high anticipation of a grand several days of beautiful irises and even more beautiful iris people...some of whom are already friends and the rest friends we had yet to meet.
We went to some of the section meetings on Friday -- SIGNA, Siberian (briefly), and Dwarf -- and the opening banquet Friday evening. Saturday morning bright and early (actually not BRIGHT -- it was pouring rain) we loaded on a bus (White Bus #7) and went to our first garden. By the time we reached the garden -- Dabney's Nursery -- the rain had stopped and it was cool and cloudy the rest of the day. Dabney's had two long double rows of bearded irises just inside the entrance. In spite of the rain and wind, most of the stalks were standing and looking cheerful, if a bid bedraggled. I don't have my notes at the moment, but Walter Moores' CHOCOLATE CHESS was lookin' good! It showed very little damage from the weather and is a very unusual blend of yellow, taupe, cream and tan shades, whose name suits it perfectly. Great form, too. George Sutton was on our bus and we chatted with him a good bit. As I recall, a majority of his (their!) introductions were in bloom and they looked great...some super space-agers with wonderful color and form. They were putting on a show in spite of less than ideal weather, too.
There was a gorgeous clump of Betty Wilkerson's BRIDGE IN TIME strutting its stuff. I also saw Betty's GILDED CREAM in a wonderful clump. They timed their bloom just right! I made lots of notes on other really nice irises, but these three come to mind as they have Iris-Talk connections.
We visited two more gardens, including the Master Planting at the Memphis Botanic Garden. A lot of clumps were full of stalks in bud and there was a fair amount of bloom as well. This was scheduled to be a stop on Monday, too. What a great job Brenda Belus has done in caring for this beautiful planting. It was immaculate and such a pleasure to view. I am sure we will be getting great reports from other Talkers on this and other gardens when they get back to their 'puters.
Unfortunately, we found out Saturday night that my mother was having some problems, so we had to drive home Sunday. We did get to see Walter Moores for a few minutes Saturday night and we visited with several other Iris-Talkers during the brief time we were there. We met several Talkers we previously knew only from this forum and it is wonderful to be able to put faces to names I see.
By the way, Dave Silverberg was in rare form. Every time I saw him, he was in high gear...wish I had half his energy!
And, on Friday morning at 7:30 a.m., Rosalie Figge was right at the front of the line waiting to board a bus, with umbrellas and rain gear covering all but her eyes, I think. (Several friends had gathered 'round to protect her from the wet, cold weather.) She is a truly remarkable lady that lets nothing stop her. We should all be so gung-ho! Both she and Dave Silverberg get the maximum enjoyment from this wonderful hobby of ours.
Enough chatter...wish we could have stayed longer, and I do hope those of you who have never attended an AIS Convention will be able to make one very soon. It is an experience that creates great memories and cultivates great friends. I look forward to reading reports from others who stayed to the finish.
Judy Hunt in Louisville, KY, Zone 6, who is now going out to the garden (while Mother is asleep) to see our own irises.
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