Beardless show: Diamond State Iris Society (artistic?) AND LONG

From: "R. Dennis Hager" <rdhager@dmv.com>

After our discussion of artistic division last week, I thought you may be
interested in the way our beardless show turned out. Here, the beardless show
really means a Japanese iris show.

The Japanese iris bloom has been consistently early for the last few years, so
the show date was moved up one week.  Wouldn't you know it. The bloom is late
this year. Two days before the show, we were estimating 20 entries. The show
chairman called me the night before the show and reminded me that we have a
section for collections and that we should do our best go get the public to see
as many blooms as possible. With the usual cut stems under grow lights and hair
dryers, I didn't think I would have room for any collections.

Sunday morning (the day of the show) I  surprisingly had 4 huge clumps of JI
that decided to put on a show. I went through the garden with scissors and cut
like mad.

As it turned out, we had over 80 entries, with 2 Siberian, 6 Louisianas, 2
versatas, 2 versicolors, and 5 collections. In addition there were 5 seedlings,
3 of which were all siblings and have great potential. Drat!  None of them were
mine.

'Snowy Hills' won Queen of Show, closely followed by 'Japanese Pinwheel'.

One of the members had no entries, but she arrived with lots of plant material
including hosta leaves, pseudacorus pods and water lilies. She created ikebana
arrangements that would knock your socks off. Unfortunately, they were not
judged.

This if the first time that we have had any entries in the collections. The
containers for collections are provided by the exhibitor and some artistic
license was taken. They were a big hit with the public and clearly demonstrated
the impact that a clump of blooming irises can make in the garden.

The judges were the most objective I've ever seen. It was obvious that they
loved ALL irises. One of the Louisianas received a blue ribbon, as well as Tony
Huber's versata 'Enfant Prodige'. I had only one still in bloom and I opted not
to display it.

The show was held at a produce stand that has expanded into gift items, bedding
plants and more recently perennials and shrubbery. Traffic was heavy and we were
placed right by the entrance to the garden center. The interest from the public
was the best that the show has ever generated.

Another thing that we did differently this year was to display on tables that
are 14" tall. The tops are birch with a heavy coat of polyurethane and the legs
and trim are painted with glossy black enamel. I am sure the better presentation
made a big difference in public perception.

I have a few .jpg's from the show if anyone is interested. I don't plan to post
them to iris photo list at this time, but will send them privately if anyone
would like to see them.

R. Dennis Hager
on Delmarva





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