October 2021
MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MEETING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021
AT 2:00 PM
LOCATION: FORT MISSOULA IRIS GARDEN
SNACKS WILL BE PROVIDED. PLEASE BRING A LAWN CHAIR
MINUTES OF MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY, July 10, 2021
The Missoula Iris Society meeting was called to order at 6:50 p.m. by President Betty Ann Gustafson on Saturday July 10, 2021 following a potluck supper. It was an outdoor meeting in the beautiful garden of Gary Clark and Steve Hesla. This was our first meeting after many months of COVID limitations.
New members Lucia Young and Fran Coover were introduced. Welcome! Jim Sadler is recovering from knee surgery this week. Get well soon Jim.
Betty Ann showed a historical picture from 1981 when the Fort Missoula Iris Garden was first started and then she showed a current picture 40 years later.
The treasurer's report was given by Treasurer Swede Gustafson. His comments indicate it was an expensive period due to the annual show, judges training and having an outside judge come to Missoula.
OLD BUSINESS
Iris Show June 12, 2021 – Gary Clark, Show Chairperson, gave a show report; he reviewed the names of winning entries which also were printed in the newsletter. There were 104 entries. Gary thanked Betty Ann Gustafson for all her generous help. The judges training classes by Patrick Spence were very good. An apprentice judge from Colorado Springs attended as did Jeannette Graham, former RVP.
NEW BUSINESS
Rhizome Sale – Plans for the rhizome sale on Saturday, July 31, 2021 were discussed. Digging will take place at the yard of Eloie Jeter in Florence, at the yard of Fred Frey and at the iris gardens at Fort Missoula. Sorting and trimming will take place at the yard of Judy Blunt.
Fort Garden path – Discussion of a grant from the historical museum to provide handicap accessible walkways in iris garden at Fort Missoula. The construction bid is a total of $8,000. The grant provides $5,000 so additional monies are needed. It was discussed to hold the sale this year, encourage additional donations and then apply for the grant money when funds are secured. It was decided to hold the rhizome sale this year and apply for the grant money next year.
Presidential rhizome winner for July is Donna Dowell.
Judy Blunt pitched weeding at the fort garden to all members.
No meeting in August and September. The next meeting will be October 2.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Carol Addeo, Secretary
ADDENDUM TO MINUTES: A thank you card was received from Mark Warinner, Apprentice Judge, Elmohr Iris Society, Colorado Springs, CO, addressed to Missoula Iris Society. The card read “Thank you for all of the kindness shown to me June 11th through the 13th. It was a great learning experience. Special thanks to Betty Ann and Swede Gustafson, Donna Dowell, Roger Muir, Cindy Davis, Gary Clark, James Sadler and JoAnn Gibbons.”
REQUEST FROM AIS:
2022 AIS Convention - Silent Auction
Dear Regional Vice Presidents
2022 Convention April 11-16 Las Cruces, NM
I am requesting that you put together a regional basket of nonperishable items that represent your region. Each of us lives in unique areas with unique challenges. I am hoping that you will join the effort to make the 2022 convention a wonderful experience for all. I know from past experience that the silent auction makes for some wonderful stories and fun.
Thank You
Anita Moran
TREASURER'S REPORT: as of September 20, 2021
It's been almost two months since I reported the financial information to the membership. It has been a busy time with the maintenance of the gardens at the Fort Museum site as well as at our home. There were many days involved with a very stressful but successful time with the iris sale activities followed by the delivery of Presidential Irises to many members in and out of town. We were then involved with two floral shows at the Western Montana Fair in which Betty Ann and I were participants and judges. In September we were involved with a floral show in Polson as participants and judges. We then were confronted with mechanical problems which cropped up with our two vehicles which left us without one or both for a few days in early September. We did finally get our car back but the pickup is a goner as the engine locked up for some reason and was declared non-repairable by the mechanic. A replacement engine is very expensive so we decided not to replace it on a 32 year old vehicle. We will be on the lookout for a replacement pickup but are in no rush to do so. Anyway, it has given us time to catch up on a lot of business for the Society so shown below is the Treasurer's report on the activities since I last reported at the end of June. The values below are based on the bank statements of August 31, 2021.
SAVINGS:
June 28, 2021 reported balance.....$ 4 905.79
Receipts deposited............................5078.32
sub-total.............................................9984.11
Withdraws.........................................1100.00
August 31 balance..........................$ 8884.11
CHECKING:
June 28, 2021 reported balance........$ 293.08
Receipts deposited.............................2295.22
sub-total.............................................2588.30
Expenses Paid......................................827.29
August 31 balance...........................$ 1761.01
SAVINGS:
Receipts: June Judging Seminars $135.00; Iris Sale Receipts $4943.00; Interest income from Bank for 3 months 0.32.
Withdraws: Iris rhizomes purchase for Presidential Awards and Fort Garden plantings: $600.00; Iris Sale Cash box setup funds $500.00
CHECKING:
Deposits: Sale of PawPaw metal plant markers - $52.50; 2 memberships - $20.00; Rhizome Sale credit card receipts - $1490.72; Rhizome Grab Bag Sales receipts - $125.00; Schreiners Irises, refund for non-receipt of 1 variety not shipped - $7.00; Cash Box Set up funds - $500.00.
Expenses Paid: Eagle Ridge Irises, for Presidential Irises and Fort Garden irises - $629.95; Marchies Nursery, soil mix - $21.60; Elizabeth Gustafson, After sale party food expenses and fuel to deliver irises to Presidential drawing winners (29 irises in all) - $ 175.74.
Respectfully submitted, Swede Gustafson.
2021 RHIZOME SALE REPORT
Activities for the annual Missoula Iris Society Rhizome Sale on July 31, 2021, began on Thursday, July 22, at the home of member Eloie Jeter, south of Florence, MT. Members helped with digging and trimming the irises being donated by Eloie for the sale. These were brought into Missoula and stored at the Fort Missoula iris shed.
On Sunday, July 25, Judy Blunt supervised the digging of irises from the fort garden and members washed and trimmed them in preparation for the sale.
On Tuesday, July 27, donations of irises at Fred Frey's garden were dug, washed, and trimmed for the sale by members.
Members Cindy Davis, Gary Clark and Swede Gustafson also donated iris for the sale.
All in all, 180 varieties of iris were donated which included tall bearded, border bearded, miniature tall bearded, standard dwarf bearded, miniature dwarf bearded, Aril bred, and Siberians.
Judy Blunt lent her home and back yard for the collection and sale preparation site to ready the rhizomes for sale. Many members identified, tagged, alphabetically arranged, and bagged the iris to take to the fort on July 31, for the sale. On Friday night, July 30, after the iris were loaded, homemade taco soup, salad, and dessert, prepared by Judy Blunt, was enjoyed by our members.
23 Missoula Iris Society members contributed 376 hours of work & 1064 miles of travel towards making our sale this year a success.
What a success it was!! Lots of customers purchased many varieties of irises on the day of the sale, July 31. The sale day began at 7:30 AM with setting up, sale starting at 9:00 AM, and ending at 1:30 PM.
The left over rhizomes were then gathered into 24 “grab bags” to sell at the Farmer's Market on August 7. However Gary Clark called a lot of his friends and lo and behold, the 24 grab bags were sold by Thursday evening.
This year we used a credit card device installed on a cell phone so customers would have a choice of cash, check or credit card. Many sales were credit card sales and perhaps people spent a little more knowing we had credit card ability. Who knows. However, the biggest sale made was a cash sale.
After the sale site was cleaned up, we gathered at Judy Blunt's home for a celebration luncheon, our usual pizza and chicken, purchased by the society.
NOW FOR THE ASTONISHING FINANCIAL RESULTS OF THE SALE!
Cash Receipts:...........................................$ 4631.00
Credit Card Receipts:................................$ 1490.72
Sub Total:.................................................. $ 6121.72
Grab Bag Sales:...........................................$ 125.00
Sub Total:................................................... $ 6246.72
Pre Sales:....................................................$ 312.00
Sub Total:....................................................$ 6558.72
7 individuals joined MIS the day of the sale: $ 70.00
Less Cash Box Set Up:.................................... 500.00
Net Sales Receipts:....................................$ 6058.72
FORT GARDEN REPORT:
Many thanks need to be extended to Judy Blunt for her diligence on the upkeep of the gardens this summer. She kept the weeds at bay with her hoop hoe and the irises put on quite a bit of increase.
I was not an active participant for most of the summer due to other facets in my life interfering with attendance at the garden. I did get the project of ordering irises completed.
I ordered 21 median irises through a special order from Schreiner's Irises back in April. I had talked with Delane Langton of Eagle Ridge Irise in Billings, MT, about sending us some newer introductions for our Presidential Irises and upgrading our stock at the Fort Garden. Both of these orders arrived while we were in preparations for our rhizome sale so I placed them in the cool of my basement until after the sale. After the sale activities were completed I sorted through the 40 Eagle Ridge rhizomes and selected irises for 12 Presidential Rhizomes, the 15 Surprise Award rhizomes and the 13 remaining irises which would be planted at the Fort Gardens. On Saturday August 7, Judy and I planted these 13 rhizomes as well as the 21 median irises from Schreiners. The Schreiners irises were placed in the renovated Median bed which Judy and I had completed in early July. Eagle Ridge Iris were planted by Judy in various locations in the other gardens with bearded irises. We are now almost to capacity for planting of irises. It is our desire to bring the quality of the rhizomes to a better level with newer introductions and better growing conditions.
One point both of us noticed this summer was with the sprinkler system incorrectly watering the plants. Some areas are getting over watered and other spaces receiving little or no water. We will be seeking to alleviate this with our sprinkler contractor in the spring of 2022. A second issue is with the big shade tree in the patio area. This tree has a split trunk which we believe could be a problem in the event of heavy snow or a windstorm. Judy has contacted a tree specialist who will be looking at the tree in the Spring of 2022.
Contact me if you have you have questions or comments about the garden.
Swede Gustafson
MISSOULA COUNTY IRIS GARDEN LEASE
It is time to renew our lease with Missoula County for the space at the Fort Missoula Iris Garden. The Fort Director, Matt, will be contacting us when it has been prepared for review and acceptance.
2022 MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY BUDGETING INFORMATION FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE MIS BOARD OF OFFICERS
ACCEPTED ACTUAL PROPOSED
VALUE EXPENSES VALUE 2022
CATEGORY 2021 2021 2022 ACCEPTED
SHOWS
MEDIAN SHOW...........................................200...........................0....................................0
GENERAL SHOW........................................400..........................531...............................600
JUDGING SEMINAR...................................500..........................700.................................0
NEW RHIZOMES.........................................400..........................400...............................600
IRIS SALE..............................................................400..........................132..............................400
FORT GARDEN
GENERAL MAINTENANCE........................600........................505.................................500
LAWN CARE..................................................350........................350.................................350
GARDEN WEEDER.......................................500..........................0.....................................0
MINOR RENOVATIONS................................200........................108................................400
MISCELLANEOUS........................................150..........................0...................................200
NEW RHIZOMES...................................................400..........................0....................................0
SOCIETY OPERATION EXPENSES
GENERAL.......................................................300......................505...................................500
NEWSLETTER...............................................150......................150...................................150
PRINTING.......................................................100........................0.....................................100
CONTRIBUTIONS.........................................200......................200.................................. 200
REGION 11 RVP...............................................50........................0...................................... 50
SPECIAL EVENTS/PURCHASES
ICE CREAM SOCIAL.....................................150........................91...................................150
PLANT MARKERS.........................................150........................0.....................................250
GARDEN RENOVATIONS- MAJOR..............500.......................0.....................................700
PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOMES.........................500.....................215....................................400
TOTAL 5800 3647 5550
NOTE: These numbers are only guidelines for each category. Expenses incurred may cause the category to exceed these numbers which therefore can cause some adjustment in the total expenditures at the end of the year.
Respectfully Submitted, Swede Gustafson, Treasurer.
MEETING LOCATIONS: tba