NEWSLETTER

POTLUCK MEETING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, at 6:00 PM

LOCATION: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 830 South Avenue West

PROGRAM: AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY CONVENTION POWER POINT, PRESENTED BY GARY CLARK AND STEVE HESLA. Members attending the convention were: Gary Clark, Steve Hesla, Fred Frey, Gary Steen, Erin Pollen, Swede Gustafson, and Betty Ann Gustafson.

Directions for the October meeting at Immanuel Lutheran Church:

Coming from the south on Brooks Street:

Turn east, right, onto South Avenue at the stop light by the fair grounds, go past the fair grounds, and the church is just across from Sentinel High School. Parking is behind the church on Sussex. Turn left onto Bow Street from South Avenue and go one block to Sussex, turn left and the church is the second church on the left. Go to the parking lot at the rear of the church. Use the church entrance from the parking lot on Sussex.

Coming from the North, East, or West:

Turn off Brooks onto Stephens Avenue, go past CVS and Walgreens on either side of Stephens. Turn left on Central at the Missoula Manor. Go one block and turn right onto Holburn Street. Proceed one block to Sussex and there is the church and its parking lot. It is the first church on the west end. Use the church entrance from the parking lot on Sussex.

Take the elevator to the the 2nd floor. Call Betty Ann at 406.370.1696 if you have question or get lost.

SUMMER PROJECTS AT THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY GARDEN: Judy Blunt has written two articles on the projects. The first is SUMMER PROJECT, regarding the expansion of the Dykes bed and the second is GAMAN, about a patch of wild iris grown by the Japanese at the Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp. The articles are an attachment to this newsletter. Thank you Judy! Her articles are very well done. Well worth the read.

FALL CLEANUP AT THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY AT HISTORICAL FORT MISSOULA:

Fall has arrived and that means the iris at the garden need to be cut back for the winter. A work party will be scheduled soon in early October. You will receive an email on date & time. Many hands will make light work.

GET WELL WISHES FOR MEMBER AL LEDFORD: Al had a long battle with Covid this summer. He is presently in rehab at the Village Health & Rehabilitation Center gaining strength to come home.

NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY OFFICERS:

It is time for nominations once again. The current officers are President, Betty Ann Gustafson; Vice President, Ann Bowman; Secretary, Mitch Hall; and Treasurer, Bronwen Harris. Mitch Hall cannot continue as secretary. Thank you Mitch for serving as secretary this past year. Members, please give some thought for accepting the secretary position for 2026.

President, Betty Ann Gustafson, Vice President, Ann Bowman, and Treasurer, Bronwen Harris are willing to continue in said offices for 2026. However, I, Betty Ann, have been president for some time. It is time for someone to consider this position. I will work with a new president through the year on the duties of the president. Please consider taking on this rewarding position.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Checking Account: $9,683.04 Savings Account: $1,241.37

Expenses: Judy Blunt $585.80 Dykes Bed expenses and $151.07 Iris Sale expenses; Swede Gustafson $817.06 Dykes Bed Expenses, Betty Ann Gustafson, $151.00 Iris Sale expenses.

(The Neighborhood City Grant will pay $1600.00 of the Dykes Bed Expenses)

Submitted by Bronwen Harris, Treasurer

Below is also a cost breakdown of the renovated Dykes Bed.

DYKES BED RENOVATION COSTS

2025

Lowe's:..............................................$727.36 Blocks, landscape mat, stakes, pea gravel

Mutual Materials:...............................$89.70 Scalloped Paving Blocks

Little Dumps.....................................$475.00 Top Soil, 10 yards

Mid American Iris Garden LLC:......$267.00 new iris

Soil Amendment from Lowe's:..........$ 99.88

Paul Ronaldo Sprinklers:..................$580.00 for the renovated Dykes Bed

Total: $2,238.94

Grant: $1600.00

Renovated Dykes Bed, Missoula Iris Society, Cost: $638.94

IRIS RHIZOME DRAWING to win an iris rhizome to plant next fall will begin again at the October meeting. You must be present to win. Come try your luck!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 is our next meeting after October.