NEWSLETTER

MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MEETING, SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026

6:00 PM POTLUCK

Please bring a dish to share

LOCATION: HOME OF MARV VINION, 4100 SPURGIN ROAD

DIRECTIONS: Go to the intersection of South Reserve Street and South Avenue where you see Rosauers, Winco, Circle K, and Goodwill on the corners. Proceed West on South Avenue to Clements Road, just past the Target Range School. Turn right and proceed to Spurgin Road. Turn left. The house is on the corner of Clements and Spurgin Road, address 4100 Spurgin Road. Call 406-370-1696 if you have problems.

DUES FOR 2026: It is time once again for payment of your annual dues to the Missoula Iris Society. 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.

The Missoula Iris Society Budget Meeting was held February 10. All officers were present. The board meeting minutes and the proposed 2026 budget are included in this newsletter. Acceptance of the budget will be voted on at our March meeting.

Missoula Iris Society Tour: It has been asked if the society could possibly have a tour of member gardens, either when iris are in bloom or other blooming flower times. If we were to plan for a tour, we need to know who might be willing to host a tour of our members and friends...it takes early planning for a tour. Please contact Betty Ann, email swedeandba@gmail.com, or call at 406-370-1696

TREASURER'S REPORT: Checking Account balance: $10,098.04

PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME WINNERS: October: Shirley Hall, November: Marie Nyquist

Come to the meeting and we will draw Presidential Rhizomes for January and March. You could be a winner!

FEBRUARY 10, 2026 MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Attendees: President Betty Ann, Swede Gustafson; Treasurer, Bronwen Harris; Secretary, Shirley Hall; Judy Blunt; Vice President, Anne Bowman; and new Member Denise Alley

The Secretary of State Iris Society Business Filing was completed on Jan. 22, 2026, for free of charge. Our non profit status is in good standing.

American Iris Society Affiliation papers and $30 were mailed. This entitles us to be an affliliate of the American Iris Society. These dues also pay for our insurance.

Betty Ann said we are still waiting for the Dykes bed renovation $1600 check from the city.

Dues are coming in. A notice will be sent after the March meeting to those who have not yet paid, and a new membership list will be sent probably at the end of April.

Treasurer Bronwen Harris posted MIS garden videos on Facebook and Instagram. Please check them out!

She showed us the proposed 2026 budget. We are keeping it the same as the 2025 budget, but making a few changes; decreasing the new bed renovations from $1500 to $1000, increasing new rhizomes for both the Fort Gardens and Presidential from $300 to $500, increasing document printing from $100 to $200, increasing ice cream social from $150 to $300, and plant markers from $100 to $200. In sum, we are increasing the 2026 budget to $6450 from $6150.

A Missoula Iris Society member donated $500 for annuals. Thanks so much! Betty Ann would like to add a line to the budget: $500 for the annuals.

An audit of the treasurers books will be in the next couple of weeks.

Our new kiosk was $889.95, but we received a grant for $500. We had major, one time only sprinkler renovations, 2 payments totaling $1212. We decided to keep the budget for kiosk at $300 because posts need to be painted. Judy suggested stabilizing and capping them, so water doesn't get into them and rot them.

We will have different lawn care this year due to retirement. Anne Bowman's neighbor, Pascal Redfern, will mow at the same rate that Ron and Donna Dowell charged.

Judy said the west end bed irises need to be pulled out. She wants to do that before they bloom, like in May or June before it gets too hot

Every year we contribute $100, as a patron member of the Friends of the Fort! It is time once again.

Iris Shows:

Median Show, May 16

June Iris Show, June 6. We hope to have the show at the same venue as last year, but we can't book until 90 days out which is March 6. Betty Ann will be in contact.

Iris Sale: Saturday, July 25 at the Missoula Iris Society Fort Garden. Digging, sorting, labeling prior to the sale will occur July 18 to July 24.

Judy suggested having our ice cream social at her home in mid June.

Meetings: next meeting March 7, at the home of Marv Vinion. Discussion on ideas for programs like a progressive lunch or dinner and view member gardens in June.

Lynn Weger, member, made a suggestion we should look into the format of the AIS virtual Shows. She is going to get further information on virtual shows. We could have one just for ourselves. This would mean you need to take a lot of pictures this iris season!

Bob Symes, charter member, died in January 2026. His memorial will be at the Missoula Iris Society Fort Garden sometime in July.

Alexandra Brown, Rocky Mountain Gardens Program Development Coordinator Request: Phlox Festival participation on Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 to 2:00. We will provide a table sharing our work.

Missoula County Horticulture Extension Agent, Sarah Holden Request: offering support from the county extension office. Has provided us a questionnaire which we distributed at the meeting. She would be willing to put MIS information/pic on their website to help promote our society. Thanks for your valuable help, Sarah!

2026 PROPOSED BUDGET

Element of Budget 2025 Budget 2025 Actual 2026 Proposed

Shows:

Median 300   25 300

June Show 700 341.80 700

TOTAL:     1000 366.80     1000

Rhizome Sale:

TOTAL: 500 207.25 500

Iris Gardens:

Maintenance 700 350.94 700

Lawn Care 350 351.93 350

Renovations* Existing Bed*  1500 1292.06 1000

TOTAL: 2550 1994.93 2050

Repairs to Kiosk:

TOTAL: 300 389.95** 300

New Rhizomes:

Fort Gardens 300 583.60 500

Presidential 300 299.90 500

TOTAL: 600 883.50     1000

Annuals for the Garden:

Total:   0 92 150

*To be paid with a $500 donation for 3 year’s worth of Annual Flowers

Society Operations:

General Operations 300 100ish 300

Newsletter 400 300ish 400

Document Printing 100 70.55 200

Contributions 200 200 200

TOTAL: 1000 670.55 1000

Special Events:

Ice Cream Social 150 140.73 300

Plant Markers 100 0 200

TOTAL 250 140.73 550

TOTAL 6,150 4,653.71 6,550

** New Kiosk was $889.95, we received a grant for $500