AIS:Region 21 Spring Convention and Tour

Region 21had its spring meeting and tour in Norfolk, Nebraska from this past Friday evening through noon today, Sunday.  A very good attendance, great time meeting old friends and making new ones,  some outstanding gardens, and (as always) many good things to eat along the way.  The Elkhorn Valley Iris Society hosted the convention and did themselves proud.   We couldn't have had a better time.  They had procured a sizeable number of guest iris from over 30 hybridizers, and we were pretty close to peak bloom in most of the gardens, I think.  Too many fine iris on display to mention here, but there were definitely a lot of winners.   I kept noticing how many had the big, fat stalks that we need here on the windy, midwestern plains, and I took notes to that effect.  One fairly small bed, in the garden of Betty and Mike Stoley in Norfolk had perhaps 10 iris at most, of which 5 had show-winning stalks with 3 and 4 good blooms open simultaneously.  The most impressive thing I saw, though, was a seedling from Bob Stetson, Denver, CO, growing in the garden of Kathy and Bob Hayes, Pierce, NE.  A very large clump with several bloom stalks plus additional fans, and one stalk had 5 (FIVE!) good, open blooms simultaneously! The other stalks only had four open!!  Lacy, white blooms of fine size and great placement on the stalk.  I've never seen anything to match that.  It's seedling 
TB 95 K2, and I can't wait to acquire it.  I don't have any more room, but several things are now on my "want this" list anyway.  A great convention, and I wish all of you could have enjoyed it along with those who were there. 
     Leaving was only made easier by the fact that my own garden is now in full swing, new things opening every day, and Carol and I were eager to get home to see what had opened in our absence.  Heading into peak TB bloom probably the end of this week.  SDBs are all done, IBs mostly gone, and just a couple Siberians have begun to open so far.  Some damage due, I suppose, to late frosts, but even short stalks have big, beautiful flowers.  Going out to look at the new blooms is an adventure every morning.  Wonderful year--first the Memphis Convention, a month later things begin to open here, then our own Regional Convention, and this morning coming home to a garden just getting into high gear.  Worth waiting for.    
Arnold & Carol Koekkoek
38 7th Street, NE
Sioux Center, IA 51250
e-mail  koekkoek@mtcnet.net


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