Very Disappointed Iris Lover

18 years ago

Most of you know how excited I have been about joining the AIS and taking part in my very first iris show.

Well as the time grew nearer and nearer I was getting a little anxious on doing everything just so so. Still our local AIS had not mentioned our show.

I have asked advice from some of the Pro's on here and I had a good outlook on things to come, or so I thought.

At our last meeting they showed a slide presentation with all the winners, and going to Austin and so forth. The meeting was almost over and still nothing said about the up-comming show. I decided to ask about it and I was informed that they had took a vote last year and decided to have the shows and judging every other year.

Needless to say I was very disappointed. Then on top of that someone said they had some old ribbons left over and they would just give me one. A lot of the people said they would give me some of theirs. I'm sorry, but to me that defeats the purpose of my hard labors for over the past 8 months.

I've never belonged to the AIS and I was very mislead about the organization. On top of that, I'm then told I can take my irises to Dallas or some other iris show. I'm sorry, but this is crazy as far as I'm concerned.

I have been very happy growing irises for years and never once marked them in the beds. I've got everyone marked this year and now we're not even going to have a show. I'm sorry for venting but this did get under my skin just a little bit.

The only thing that made the meeting any better was that I did win the door prize and got a years subscription to Tall Talk.

Then I'm told we will have a show and we can all bring our irises, but there will not be any judges. We can have a ballot box and the public can pick the best or their favorite out of all the irises that are brought. The more I think about it, I'm not even sure I want to do that. I never pick my irises or any of my other flowers as far as that goes. I leave them in the garden for everyone to enjoy.

I guess you can say that this wasn't what I was expecting by joining the AIS. I don't blame anyone but myself for not asking more questions and setting myself up for disappointment.

Now I know if I'm going to show any irises I'll have to join again next year. (grin)

All's well that ends well or Blooms,

Happy Gardening, Marian

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

littlebit_gw
18 years ago
You know every spring I always tell my DH that I enjoyed my irises so much more before AIS and our local society...the showing, transporting, is a headache..

But the truth of the matter is that as a member of AIS, Region 7, I have met so many wonderful people who are now an extended part of my family. I can't imagine NOT being a part of AIS..just think of it this way..every other year you get to take a break from showing them unless you decide to take them to other areas :)

littlebit
iris_gal
18 years ago
Well Marian, it is a big disappointment. The good news is your year old iris will be 2 years settled in next year and there will be more stalks to choose from!

Every chapter is as different as the participants. I'm sure you will find a like-minded grower-friend there.
Related Professionals
Shreveport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Greenville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Spartanburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Buffalo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Erie Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Concord Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salinas Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Luis Obispo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lubbock Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lexington Landscape Contractors · Clearlake Landscape Contractors · Spanish Fork Landscape Contractors · Great Bend Design-Build Firms · Minneapolis Design-Build Firms · Olympia Design-Build Firms
Nancy
18 years ago
What a disappointment, I know how much you have been anticipating & working on this. Do they do garden tours in your area when the iris are in bloom? I know there would be no ribbons given out, but I bet your garden will be stupendous this year. I have heard though there are problems associated with that though.
I'm not a member of our local iris society, but I do like to attend the shows, just to see what is out there.
lovelyiris
Original Author
18 years ago
There are some really nice people that belong to our AIS group. It's just that I was really looking forward to participating in "MY" first show. I was all hyped up about EVERYTHING and then to have my bubble busted the way it was kind of sent me in a tail spin.

I've never ever marked all my irises. AS a matter of fact more of them I didn't care what the names where. IF I liked them I bought them and stuck them in the flowerbeds somewhere.

Now they are planted in neat little rows all by themselves with those paw paw labels in front of them. Looks more like a iris farm or seller than flowerbeds. They should still be beautiful once they start blooming.

Thanks for all the support and may all your beds be full of blooms this spring.

Happy Gardening, Marian
wmoores
18 years ago
I really don't think AIS is at fault here. I think the local affiliate dropped a stitch by not giving you a yearbook when you joined. It would have explained that there was no show in 2008. I can understand that being so close to the National, many club members would have preferred going to Austin over a local show.

First year stalks are not always show-worthy, so you will have a better chance next year.

You could have an 'open garden' and invite club members to see your garden on a Saturday afternoon and look for misidentified plants or show you how to groom an iris for a show.

All is not lost!

Walter Moores
lovelyiris
Original Author
18 years ago
AS always Walter you are so very right.

I've always had open gardens at my other homes. I suppose I could do the same here for a couple of weekends. I have lots of bulbs, rose bushes, azaleas, dogwoods, and other things that should be blooming close to the same time. Something to consider anyway.

Thanks everyone for replying.
Marian
shae8
18 years ago
Marian,
I can understand your disappointment, but I think you are quite lucky to actually have a local AIS affiliate. Because I live in Indiana I was automatically placed in Region 6 which is IN, OH and MI. I live in the far southwestern corner of IN and not close to any AIS affiliate clubs. Region 6 seems to be pretty active judging from the nice newsletters I receive, but it's too great a distance for me to get to any of the meetings or shows, particularly those in northern Ohio or Michigan. Still, I don't regret joining AIS. I find that the AIS Bulletins have been getting more and more informative regarding hybridizing and iris care in general.

I love sharing the beauty of my irises, so I usually invite groups of friends and neighbors for iris tours, but it would be even nicer to share them with other dedicated iris growers.

Enjoy your beautiful irises and your iris friends.
Shae