NEWSLETTER

NO MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MEETING IN DECEMBER, 2025

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

DUES FOR 2026: It is time once again for your annual dues to the Missoula Iris Society to be paid. Dues are $10.00 per year per person. Please send your dues to the Missoula Iris Society, Attention: Betty Ann Gustafson, President, 3128 Eldora Lane, Missoula, MT 59803.

HOLIDAY PARTY INVITE from the Missoula Garden Club.

We have been invited to join the Missoula Garden Club at their annual Holiday Party.

DATE: Friday, December 12, at 5:30 PM

Guests are welcome! It is a potluck and there will be a gift exchange game that evening.

LOCATION: Holt Heritage Center, 6800 US-12, Lolo, MT

DIRECTIONS: Drive to Lolo, MT. Proceed through Lolo to the stop light of Hwy 93 and Hwy 12. If you are coming from the Bitterroot, turn left onto Hwy 12 at the stop light. The Holt Heritage Center is just west of the Lolo Steakhouse on the right.

POTLUCK DINNER: The Missoula Garden Club will be providing ham/turkey for the event. Please bring a salad or dessert to share.

GIFT EXCHANGE GAME: If you would like to participate, bring a gift in value of $15.00 to $20.00. It is optional if you want to participate.

RSVP: Please let Betty Ann Gustafson, know by December 4, if you plan to attend. If you have questions, please contact me at email: swedeandba@gmail.com or Ph# 406.251.3526.

The Fort Report

by Judy Blunt

MIS volunteers assisted in putting the Iris Garden to bed on October 18. Swede got in some licks the previous day as he could not be there on Saturday. Though the turnout was small, everyone worked hard to get the iris and the perennials trimmed back. A few areas remained, and were clipped in the days following. The next week, we shut down the water and had the sprinklers blown out for the season. Judy stumbled through the shutdown protocol, having been shown how in years past but never required to fly solo. The first attempt was marginally successful and Swede later discovered an exterior pipe that should have been empty was somehow leaking water. Seems there are two valves required to stop the flow from the Museum. Good to know. Fortunately, Swede knew how to put things right, and all is well.

On October 31, Caras Nursery workers delivered a Ginkgo biloba ‘Saratoga’ to the Fort. Bill Caras donated the tree in honor and memory of Billie Gray. At the request of County Extension agent Sandy Perrin, Judy and Betty Ann chose a spot at the end of the new Dykes bed—about the only area of real estate left on our grounds. Friends and relatives gathered to watch the planting, and share memories of Billie. MIS was represented by Swede and Judy.

Our organization is not responsible for the care of the tree, but given its location, it will need a dripline. Sandy Perrin has promised to coordinate with our sprinkler guy next spring to get that figured out. There are no plans to install a dedication sign; from its earliest days the MIS has resisted turning the Show Garden into a memorial garden, but those of us who knew Billy Gray will remember her fondly when we see her tree. It’s a lasting tribute.

The Ginkgo biloba is a small tree—the tag says to expect it to be 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide after ten years. We won’t have to worry about it casting shade on our iris. The tree is now surrounded by a deer-proof fence which appears durable if a bit unsightly. I look forward to watching it grow.

November 14 the leaves were done falling, and Swede and Judy took up their rakes to clear as many as they could from the trimmed iris beds and the lawn. About 10 huge bags of leaves left in Swede’s truck, headed for Eco Compost. At last the garden is sleeping, and I could use a nap too!

LAWN CARETAKER FOR THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY GARDEN: Anne Bowman has secured Pascal Redfern to take care of the lawn at the garden next year. Ron Dowell, Donna Dowell, and Anne met with Mr. Redfern at the fort iris garden to demonstrate what the task entails. He is on board for this task. Thank you Anne for finding a replacement for Ron and Donna.

CONDOLENCES: The Missoula Iris Society sends our condolences to Theresa Chalmers, member, in the loss of her father, Daniel Chalmers. Our thoughts are with you at this time.

REASURER'S REPORT: It's been a pretty easy month, financially.

$330.00 check to Ron Dowell for lawn care.

$20.00 Check to Gary Clark, reimbursement for the floral arrangement for condolences to Carol Addeo in memory of her husband and member Al Ledford.

We will be writing a check to Paul Ronaldo for $85.00 for sprinkler maintenance.

Checking balance is currently $9773.04

Savings balance is steady at $1224.41.

In December, Betty Ann and I will look into transferring a big chunk of the checking account amount and put it in a CD to procure as much interest as possible.

See you all at a meeting! Bronwen Harris, Treasurer.

November 1, 2025 MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MINUTES

Marie Nyquist won the monthly rhizome drawing!

We have $9,703.94 and $1,241.39 respectively in our checking and savings accounts.

We gave $350 which included the annual MIS $20 annual fee to Ron and Donna Dowell. Thank you so much for dedicating much time for mowing the Fort Missoula lawn! Anne Bowman will check on a possible lawn mowing person. Thanks a lot, Anne!

People can wait until the March 2026 meeting to pay their dues or send it to Betty Ann Gustafson, making checks payable to her.

Betty Ann Gustafson will remain President, Anne Bowman as Vice President, Bronwen Harris as Treasurer, and Shirley Hall as the new Secretary for the year 2026.

We received a $1600 Energize Your Neighborhood Grant for the Dykes Bed which we had inspected. However, we haven't received the check yet.

Bill Caras, owner of Caras Nursery, donated a gingko tree which was planted with deer barrier on October 31, 2025 in front of the north end of the Dykes Bed. There was a little ceremony with old friends of Billie Gray, several prior Missoula Iris Society members, and Judy Blunt and Swede Gustafson.

We won't have a Christmas party this year.

Cindy Davis recommended having gardening programs, Betty Ann Gustafson suggested maybe a peony program, and Anne Bowman suggested visiting iris gardens. Betty Ann said these activities could probably be before or after the show which will probably be on June 6th or 13th at the Butterfly House. In the past, we only had to pay $100 for rental space which is very inexpensive compared to other places like Southgate Mall.

PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME WINNER: November, Marie Nyquist

MEETINGS: There will not be Missoula Iris Society meetings in December, January, and February. See you in March.

THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT YEAR

HAPPY HOLIDAYS