Canadian Iris Society

xCanadian Iris Society

Welcome

Time to take a look at some new 2010 introduction irises! This is Smoky Shadows (Tasco 2010) a new TB iris from Superstition Iris Gardens, height 34", mid-to-late season bloom, parentage = Solar Fire X Secret Service. Looking forward to iris time 2010... check back for new photos every now and then ...

Welcome to the official
Canadian Iris Society (CIS) website
Who belongs to the Canadian Iris Society?
...outstanding iris specialists, gardening experts and horticulturists are all members but the Society is primarily for the amateur gardener who enjoys growing irises.
Mission Statement
The Canadian Iris Society (CIS) is a non-profit organization with the objective to encourage, improve and extend the cultivation of the genus iris and to collaborate with other societies for this purpose.

Love irises? Would you like to become a supporting member of the CIS? Please go to the Membership area of the CIS website for full information. Thank you for being a CIS member.

Looking for a Canadian local or regional iris club/society?
Connect with other iris people in your own area. For information on this please go to the Regional Iris Societies area of the CIS website. Listed here you will find local iris/regional iris societies listed by province, plus various special interest iris societies with a focus on a specific type of iris.

Iris Books: Looking for iris gardening books to help get through through the off-season? Check the books section of selected informative iris books for your wintertime enjoyment.
Go to: Iris Books section

CIS Newsletter: (November 2009)

The Autumn 2009 CIS Newsletter has been published and sent out to you if you are a current CIS member. We hope you find the latest issue useful, interesting and informative. The CIS Newsletter is published four times per year.

CIS members receive the CIS Newsletter issues either electronically via e-mail distribution or via regular postal mailing. Bonus of the electronic version is that is comes to you sooner and has full color images throughout whereas the printed version is black and white only. You may change your preference any time by communicating your choice via e-mail to the CIS Membership chairman: e-mail: cdn-iris@rogers.com

For information on becoming a member of the Canadian Iris Society (CIS) please go to the membership area of the website.

Happy Gardening upcoming in 2010!
CIS website updated: January 26 2010

Canada Weather
Check the weather anywhere in Canada from here:

Forecast: good gardening is out there on the horizon. Springtime is closer every day!

Newer items of interest:
Dr. E. Roy Epperson - AIS President (January 2010)
It is with sadness that we advise that the American Iris Society President, Dr. E. Roy Epperson passed away suddenly on the weekend of January 23/24 2010.
It goes without saying that Roy will be greatly missed not only by those of us who knew him and worked with him for many years, but also by many others in the world of iris. See the item on the AIS Region 16 area of the CIS website. The CIS expresses our sincere condolences.
The AIS Officers are now:
Judy Keisling - President, AIS
Jill Bonino - First Vice President, AIS
vacant - Second Vice President, AIS

AIS 2009 Awards announced:
The top AIS award, the Dykes Medal for 2009 is awarded to the tall bearded iris GOLDEN PANTHER (Tasco 2000) height 34 inches, M, Heavily ruffled gold, overlaid bronze, highlighted with darker bronze at the edge, bright golden orange beard. Previously awarded; Wister Medal 2006... AIS AM 2004... AIS HM 2002... #1 Favorite Guest Iris at Memphis 2002 American Iris Society National Convention. Winner of the Presidents Cup award at the 2004 AIS Convention, Fresno, California. (photo by Rick Tasco)

Quick Tip on Iris Growing for Autumn (September-October-November)

Throughout most of Canada this is not the time to be planting iris. Planting iris late in the autumn may result in an insufficient root growth before winter and an increased chance of the plants being heaved out of the ground by frost action and associated winter kill.

It is time to clean things up in the garden and the iris beds are no exception.

In the very late autumn cut back the leaves 8-10 inches from the ground and remove all the dead leaves and any other garden debris. This keeps the plants free of materials than may retain moisture and disease, potentially causing damage to the rhizomes. Another positive aspect is that air circulation around the plants is also improved. The fall cleanup also helps significantly to reduce or prevent iris borer infestation. The best form of treatment is prevention and this may be accomplished by both fall and spring removal of possible borer egg-infested debris.

Irises are considered winter hardy, but in areas of Canada with more severe climates, a soil mulch or a cover of straw and/or cut evergreen boughs is beneficial as they protect the irises from damaging freeze-thaw action. This is an important over-winter protection of the garden especially if your region experiences very cold temperatures with intermittent, little or no snow cover. Wait until very late November or December to accomplish this last task.

Happy iris garden diggings as the 2009 gardening season closes out and we look forward to 2010. CH

For more please see the Cultural Information area of the CIS website. Further items regarding iris culture are also available in the Editorial section of the CIS website.

Quick Tip on Iris Growing for Winter (December-January-February)

This is the off season, time for renewal, time to plan for the upcoming season. Get some iris catalogues. Review them for up coming new iris acquisitions, make your want list and set up your new iris order. These you will plant in July/August 2010 for 2011 bloom. Now that's looking ahead! The results will be worth it. Closer at hand, time to plan your garden changes for the upcoming 2010 season, new gardens, bigger gardens, perhaps smaller gardens with updated content (quality over quantity). This time off lets you renew your enthusiasm for gardening and for that reason alone it is an important time.

Here is to thoughts of happy Springtime digging. CH

Index CIS website:
We welcome you to explore our CIS website and hope that you will find it a useful resource of information on all things iris! Follow the links that appear across the top of every page to navigate the various areas of the website. Happy Gardening.

History - information on the Canadian Iris Society (CIS), includes historical background.

Calendar of Events - Calendar of Events 2010

Membership - 2010 CIS membership information

Admin/Contacts- CIS Board of Directors listing and contact information, CIS Board meeting schedule, past CIS Board meeting minutes, CIS Committees, CIS Constitution.

News news of events past, present and future

Editorial various Garden Diggings items

Awards - CIS Awards and also an explanation of the AIS iris awards and a detailed listing for the years 1996-2008 inclusive.

Articles Index - follow this link to find a sub-index of many interesting and useful iris related articles

Cultural Info - follow this link to find growing information/tips and advice on various types of iris: Bearded, Siberian, Japanese. Also a glossary of iris terms; helpful to the understanding of the terminology used when reading iris catalogues and or iris related articles.

Iris Sales Events - details on upcoming various iris sales events

Regional Iris Societies - a listing of Canadian local/regional iris clubs/societies and special interest iris societies

AIS Region 16 - section provided for AIS Region 16 (Canada) and related American Iris Society (AIS) information.

Links to further iris information on the Internet. Includes info on Iris-Talk an internet mailing list devoted to the discussion of garden irises. Lots of fun and interaction with people who love irises! Find out how to join in.

Contact the CIS by e-mail at: cdn-iris@rogers.com
Leave us a comment/message/question and we will get back to you ASAP. Many frequently asked questions regarding iris or growing iris are answered in the articles contained on this website.
Please look for information on the website first.

Website created, produced and maintained by:
Christopher Hollinshead
Wolf Marketing Communications, Mississauga, Ontario Canada.
e-mail: wolf-com@rogers.com