LA: SLI Convention in L R

From: "Walter Moores" <wmoores@watervalley.net>

	One hundred and forty Louisiana iris enthusiasts were drawn to 
Little Rock this past week-end for the first ever SLI meeting held 
outside of Lafayette in the fifty-eight years of the Society's 
existence.

	For early arrivals on Thursday, there was a reception honoring 
Dennis Vercher, retiring editor of the SLI Newsletter, and for 
Patrick O'Connor, incoming editor.  The home-made goodies were 
delicious, and it was great to meet Patricia, Harry, Patrick, Beth, 
Bill, and others who are on this list or have been from time to time. 
 Some have graduated to Lairis.

	Friday morning, the conventioneers boarded three buses for garden 
tours.  Our nametags indicated which bus we were to ride.  
Fortunately, I was on the Frank Chowning bus with our darling Celia 
Storey as the bus captain.  We did not get lost or wander aimlessly 
as Celia knew the route.  If you have been to Little Rock, you know 
this extremely clean and beautiful city is situated in the foothills 
of the Ozarks as were all the gardens.  What a scenic location for a 
tour!

	Bloom was past peak, but lots of companion plants made up for the 
sparse LA bloom.  All the gardens were manicured to perfection, and 
they gave visitors many  ideas of ways for landscaping with our 
favorite water iris.

	The first of two banquets was on Friday night.  The speaker was a 
local landscape architect and close friend of Tom Dillard, convention 
chairman.  The  quest speaker was followed by a fantastic slide show. 
 We saw things to come from Kevin Vaughn, Farron Campbell, Dorman 
Haymon, Patrick O'Connor, Richard Morgan and others.  If these slides 
are to be believed, 'you ain't seen nothing yet" - new colors, halos, 
upright standards - to name a few.

	Saturday was involved with more slide shows and the show itself.  
Later that day there were two auctions, one silent and the other the 
usual kind.  MUD BUG seemed to be the iris everyone wanted in the 
silent auction, and the GREAT WHITE HOPE was irrisistable in the 
regular auction.

	Saturday night's banquet following dinner ran from the sublime to 
the ridiculous.  Dick Butler, Arkansas' 'iris father,' spoke on the 
AIS Foundation.  Then, there was the 'art show' from old masters 
narrated by Tom and his library co-worker, Tim.  Imagine the painting 
of The Diggers, not digging potatoes but digging LA iris blooms!  
Others were in a similar vein.

	Sunday morning the school bell rang - three hours of judges 
training, and then the final recess.

	Thanks Central Arkansas Iris Society for all the fun, door prizes, 
hospitality, and wonderful tour.  Please don't wait another 
fifty-eight years to do this again!

	Walter Moores
	Enid Lake, MS 7/8 (who was greeted by a reblooming stalk on LEMON 
POP when he drove in the driveway)



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