July 2022

MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MEETING, SATURDAY, JULY 9, AT 5:30 PM

(NOTICE CHANGE OF TIME)

Our meeting will be a POTLUCK DINNER

hosted at the home of Carol Addeo and Al Ledford, 5805 Helena Drive, in Linda Vista.

Directions: Proceed to the Walmart on Brooks Street/Hwy 93. At the stop light for Miller Creek Road and Brooks/Hwy 93, proceed south. At the roundabout on Miller Creek Road, follow the road to the right onto Lower Miller Creek Road. Proceed to Linda Vista Blvd., just past the golf course, and turn left. Once on Linda Vista Blvd., go ½ block and turn right on Helena Drive. Their home is on the right side of the road just around the curve.

This will be an important meeting. We will be discussing our annual rhizome sale which will be on Saturday, July 30. We will also have a demonstration on how to dig, clean, trim, and label your iris.

The ice cream social was a big success. We had about 25 people enjoy Judy Blunt's homemade ice cream, toppings and angel food cake. Thanks again Judy for preparing the ice cream and being a gracious host.

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Please review the following proposed schedule for all the events involving the sale.

SCHEDULE FOR PREPARATION OF THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY IRIS SALE

IRIS RHIZOME SALE, SATURDAY JULY 30, 2022, 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. AT THE FORT MISSOULA IRIS GARDEN

Thursday, July 21, at 11:00 A.M. Location: Garden of Eloie Jeter, member, located in Florence. Eloie will be digging her iris and will be needing 2 or 3 people to help, trim and label the clumps in a well shaded garage. We will ask for volunteers to help.

Sunday, July 24, at 8:00 A.M. Location: MIS Fort Garden. Under the direction of Judy Blunt, a few iris clumps will be dug, washed, clipped and labeled. Bring a lawn chair and clippers. We may also finish processing iris from Eloie's garden.

Tuesday, July 26, at 8:30 A.M. Location: The garden of Fred Frey. Directions: At the intersection of North Reserve and Mullan Road proceed west on Mullan Road to Homestead Drive. (If you get to Sunset Memorial Cemetery you have gone too far.) Turn left on Homestead Drive and go the end of the road, just a few blocks. The dirt road continues into the farm of Fred Frey. Continue on the farm road to the garage area for parking. (Call 406-544-9544 or 406-370-1696 if you are lost.) We will ask for a couple of volunteers to help Fred dig. The rest of us will wash, trim and label the clumps in a well shaded garage. Many hands will make quick work of the task. Bring a lawn chair, gloves, scissors or clippers.

Wednesday, July 27, and Thursday, July 28, at 9:00 A.M. Location: Garden of Judy Blunt at 1901 ½ South 4th Street West. Directions: Proceed to Russell Street. If you are going south on Russell from the bridge, turn right at 4th Street and continue to the 1900 block. If you are going north on Russell, turn left on 4th Street and continue to the 1900 block. Do not go over the bridge. We will label each individual iris rhizome for sale. Bring gloves, scissors or clippers. We will also put the trays of iris alphabetically on tables, match pictures to the iris and make final preparation for the sale. Please bring any iris you plan to donate. They should be cleaned and labeled prior to bringing them to this sorting location. If you need labels, contact Betty Ann at 406-370-1696. Please get a list of the iris you plan to donate to Judy Blunt, email: JJBlunt@msn.com as soon as you can so we can be sure to have pictures for them.

Purchase time for MIS members prior to the sale is Thursday and Friday until noon at Judy Blunt's.

Members are allowed to choose 1 rhizome for every variety they bring. Example: 2 varieties 2 rhizomes. These are free. You may also purchase additional iris.

Friday, July 29 at 5:00 P.M. Load up iris and tables in pick ups for transport Saturday morning to the fort. At 6:00 P.M. we will have soup, etc. for dinner at the home of Judy Blunt.

Saturday, July 30, 7:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Location: MIS Garden at Fort Missoula. Set up at 7:30 A.M. The sale is from 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. We need cashiers, members to help customers, and people to clean up after the sale.

Saturday, July 30, at 1:30 P.M. After sale party at the home of Judy Blunt. Chicken, pizza and drinks are provided by the society.

Rhizome Sale Guidelines:

Please read the Pre-Sale Guidelines carefully. These guidelines were put together to avoid confusion during the sale preparation on Thursday and Friday.

SALE GUIDELINES

1. Iris rhizomes shall be grown by MIS members only.

2. All rhizomes are to be washed, trimmed and labeled as to variety and type prior to delivery to the collection site. Trim fans to about 4 inches – 6 inches depending on type and roots. MIS will provide labels. These labels should be tied to the rhizome. MDB's and SDB's should be in bundles of 3 rhizomes, with rubber band and label attached. Beardless iris are to be in clumps.

3. Iris varieties introduced 30 years ago or before are to be labeled with year of introduction and marked as historical.

4. Pricing of rhizomes is at the discretion of the sale committee. Age is considered but not color for setting price.

5. All rhizomes are to be delivered to the collection site by Wednesday evening preceding the sale.

6. Sorting will be done on Thursday and completed on Friday.

7. There are to be no pre-sale orders! (If there are mitigating circumstances, it could be considered by the sale chairman.)

PRE-SALE CLARIFICATIONS:

1. There is to be no trading of rhizomes among members at the collection site. Members are encouraged to share or trade before bringing rhizomes to the collection site.

2. The sale chairperson shall determine which varieties may be traded/purchased by the MIS members. The trading/sale hours are Thursday evening after all are sorted, labeled and the rhizomes have been pulled for planting at the fort.

3. Members donating rhizomes may:

A. Take one rhizome for each variety donated, (no matter how many of one variety are donated).

B. Take like variety donated (SDB, TB for TB, etc.)

C. Take no more than one (1) rhizome of any one variety.

D. May not choose from a variety that has fewer than six rhizomes in a tray. These rhizomes must be purchased only.

E. Members not donating rhizomes may purchase rhizomes with the above restrictions.

F. Varieties 5 years and newer from date on introduction will be so marked and priced accordingly. Fort Display Garden chairperson or the committee will have first choice of any varieties to be placed in the display garden.

G. Grab bags of iris rhizomes may be made up of unnamed or overstocked varieties the day of the sale. It is at the discretion of the sale chairperson.

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The 61st Annual Iris Show, Missoula in Bloom, was combined this year with a Peony Show. It was held at the Holiday Inn Downtown in conjunction with the Montana State Convention of the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs of which Jim Sadler, member, is president. It was a very beautiful and successful show. Betty Ann Gustafson was the iris show chairperson and members Gary Clark and Steve Hesla co-chaired the peony show.

Thank you all who exhibited and volunteered to make the show a success. We had 101 iris entered and not one of them was a duplicate. It speaks well of our members who are growing many varieties of iris.

The Best Specimen of the Show was “I've Got Rhythm” grown by Gary Clark; the First-Runner Up, “Butterscotch Wine” grown by Roger Muir; Best Novice Specimen, “Frison-Roch”, grown by Delane Langton; Best Design, “Beauty Loves Drama” by Donna Dowell; AIS Silver Medal for most blue ribbons, Delane Langton; and the AIS Bronze Medal for the second most blue ribbons, Judy Blunt.

A complete list of winners is included in this newsletter.

Garnet Ascher, member, donated a beautiful etched iris vase to be given to the winner of the Best Speciman of the Show. It will be kept by Gary Clark, 2022 winner, until next year's show when a new winner will enjoy the vase for a year. Also, she donated 2 etched iris glasses to the winner of the Best Design in the show. Donna Dowell was the winner, however, she gets to keep the beautiful glasses. Thank you Garnet for donating the beautiful vase and glasses.

The Missoula Iris Society has applied for 2 grants to aid in the cost of the proposed asphalt walkway in the iris garden at Fort Missoula. We have applied to the Marshall & Mary Brondum Foundation and the Preserving Missoula County's History Grant. Alan Fugelberg, of Summit Independent Living in Hamilton, wrote the grant for the Brondum Foundation and Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson wrote the grant for the Preserving Missoula County's History Grant. Anne Bowman did the leg work on finding possible grants to aid in our project. Anne also has a commitment from First Security Bank of Missoula of $250.00. The society uses First Security Bank for their financial institution. The grants will be let on July 15, 2022.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Checking Account Only

May 25, 2022 reported balance:........................$329.85

Transferred from savings:.................................1000.00

Dues received for 2021, 2022, 2023 ....................80.00

Excess show volunteers’ funds redeposited.......120.00

Total...... $1529.85

Expenses Paid:

1. Paul Ronaldo Sprinklers: Replace spray heads for 2018 new bed, Siberian bed, and big bed sprinklers ...........$232.00

2. Gratuity: To Allen Fugelberg, Summit Independent Living, Hamilton, to prepare documents for Brondum Foundation grant to fund the asphalt walkway in iris garden. ................................................................................... $30.00

3. Judy Blunt: Ice Cream Social Expense .................................................................................................................$122.96

4. Betty Ann Gustafson: Office expenses and sunshine gift to Linda Sadler ............................................................ $71.54

5. Elizabeth Gustafson: Expenses incurred for Holiday Inn Iris Show ................................................................ $101.44

6. Judy Blunt: Show schedules expenses ................................................................................................................ $13.80

Total.................... $571.74

June 27, 2022 Balance: ....................... $958.11

Note: $300.00 in cash was withdrawn from the savings account to assist show volunteers in purchasing lunch on the day of the show. Of that amount, $180.00 was used and the remaining $120.00 shown above was deposited in the checking account.

There will be no meetings in August and September. We have been so busy with iris society events this summer that we want to allow you time to enjoy the rest of the summer and the beginning of fall.

See you in October!

News flash: There is a wonderful drone video of the Missoula Iris Garden in full bloom on YouTube: https://youtube/mdXDwCda8Lo, “Sensational Iris Garden at Fort Missoula”. It was made by a volunteer at the Fort and forwarded by Carolyn Thompson, Assistant Director. See it!

MISSOULA IN BLOOM, 2022 ANNUAL IRIS SHOW, JUNE 10 AND JUNE 11

SHOW RESULTS

(101 Varieties of Iris Entered)

Best Specimen of Show:........................I've Got Rhythm ...................................Gary Clark

First Runner-Up.....................................Butterscotch Wine.................................Roger Muir

Best Novice Specimen...........................Frison-Roche' .......................................Delane Langton

Best Design............................................Beauty Loves Drama.............................Donna Dowell

Artistic Sweepstakes Winner.................................................................................Gary Clark

AIS Silver Medal (Most Blue Ribbons)................................................................Delane Langton

AIS Bronze Medal (Second Most Blue Ribbons)..................................................Judy Blunt

Best Tall Bearded..................................I've Got Rhythm............................Gary Clark

Best Other Than Tall Bearded..............Butterscotch Wine..........................Roger Muir

People's Choice.....................................Coronation Anthem.......................Judy Blunt

Best Space Age.....................................Mad About Saffron........................Cindy Davis

Best Median..........................................Butterscotch Wine..........................Roger Muir

Best SDB..............................................Yahtzee ...........................................Fred Frey

Best IB .................................................Twilight Delight..............................Fred Frey

Best MTB .............................................Butterscotch Wine ..........................Roger Muir

Best BB.................................................Batik................................................Denise Severson

Best Aril................................................Desert Snow.....................................Fred Frey

Best Species..........................................Violet Constellation.........................Delane Langton

Best Other .............................................Gracchus.........................................Roger Muir

Best White.............................................Frison-Roche...................................Delane Langton

Best Pink...............................................Town Flirt........................................Delane Langton

Best Orange...........................................Yahtzee............................................Fred Fry

Best Yellow............................................Mad About Saffron.........................Cindy Davis

Best Blue ...............................................Nestucca Rapids.............................Delane Langton

Best Red.................................................Thriller............................................Gary Clark

Best Lavender.........................................Twilight Delight.............................Fred Frey

Best Purple ............................................Batik................................................Denise Severson

Best Blend .............................................Fabuleux..........................................Gary Clark

Best Amoena.........................................Mad About Saffron..........................Cindy Davis

Best Plicata............................................Violet Constellation.........................Delane Langton

Best Bi-Color, Best Bi-Tone..................No Restraint....................................Fred Frey

Best Broken Color..................................Hot Dogs and Mustard....................Ron Dowell

Best Banded, Rimmed or Edged Type...I've Got Rhythm..............................Gary Clark

Best Brown Tone...................................Butterscotch Wine ...........................Roger Muir

MIS MINUTES OF JUNE 4, 2022

The Missoula Iris Society meeting was called to order at 6:50 pm. by President Betty Ann Gustafson at the home of Mitch and Shirley Hall.

Minutes for May meeting were corrected to read: June Set up for the shows begins at 6 am. Friday, judging is at 10:30 am. - noon on Friday. Clerks are needed. Show will be dismantled on Saturday at 6 pm.

Treasurer's Report - Swede Gustafson reported the checking balance of $1,097.87. Miracle Gro fertilizer was purchased for $29.57 for the bearded iris. Funds were transferred out of checking for the show expenses. The sprinkler maintenance man Paul Renaldo came out to iris garden to change some sprinkler heads at a cost of $232.

New Members. Three new members were welcomed: Susan Hansen, Rachel Ballard, Debora and Keith Belden.

OLD BUSINESS

Garden Handicapped Pathway – Betty Ann discussed the grant of $6,500 for the new pathway. Still trying to make contact with Elizabeth Johnson of City of Missoula for final approval. Deadline is July 15, 2022.

June Iris & Peony Show – Betty Ann Gustafson is chairperson for the iris show. The set up for the iris show will take place on Thursday, June 9, at 7 pm. Ron Dowell and Swede Gustafson will pick up the vases at the Fort Missoula storage shed and deliver them to the Holiday Inn Downtown. Volunteers are needed in the staging area. Friday, June 10, is show day. Bring your flowers and set them up from 7 am. to 10 am. Design backgrounds can be set up Thursday night. Judging takes place 10:30 am. to noon. Judges will be Cindy Davis, Roger Muir, Jeanette Graham, Jim Sadler, Donna Dowell and Lynn Weger.

Parking at the Holiday Inn will be free but everyone should take a ticket and obtain a pass from Betty Ann. The awards reception will be on Friday at 4:00 pm. Cost is $15 for food. Drinks can be purchased from the bar. Treasurer Swede will give clerks and helpers $10 for lunch. Take down will be Saturday from 6 pm. to 7 pm. The cut peonies will be sold.

The garden bus tour is Saturday June 11 from 12:30 -5 pm. The bus cost is $22. The tour includes the peony garden at U of M, the iris garden at Fort Missoula and the home garden of Jim and Linda Sadler, from 3:30 to 4:30 and will includes snacks and champagne. The bus will hold 48 people.

Parking at Holiday Inn requires a pass so get the parking pass from Betty Ann. The Awards Reception will be held in the atrium on Friday at 4 pm. The cost is $15 including snacks. Members should register and pay all fees to Betty Ann by June 1. Those who help clerk will be reimbursed $10 for lunch money by the treasurer.

NEW BUSINESS

Thank you Judy and Swede – Judy Blunt and Swede have been giving the iris gardens a last minute weeding touch up, Mitch Hall also helped one day. Betty Ann will call for more help if needed.

Ice Cream Social – Everyone welcome to our annual ice cream social on Wednesday, June 22, at 5:00 pm at the home of Judy Blunt. Judy makes the wonderful homemade ice cream and extras.

Next MIS meeting will be Saturday July 9 because we do not meet on holiday weekends. Planning for the July 30th iris sale will take place at that meeting. The annual iris rhizome sale is scheduled for Saturday, July 30 at the fort gardens.

Presidential Rhizome – Fred Frey won the June presidential rhizome.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Addeo, Secretary

PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME WINNERS:

September, Jim Sadler; October, Jeanne Bowes; November, Anne Bowman; December, Ann McNallen; January, Roger Muir; February, Carol Addeo; March, Lucia Young; April, Gary Clark; May, Donna Dowell; June, Fred Frey

MEETING SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, JULY 9, AT 5:30 PM (NOTICE CHANGE OF TIME) - POTLUCK DINNER hosted at the home of Carol Addeo and Al Ledford, 5805 Helena Drive, in Linda Vista.

Saturday, July 31 – Annual iris sale at Fort Missoula Iris Garden. See detailed schedule above.