July 2025

POTLUCK MEETING

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 6:00 PM

AT THE HOME OF SWEDE AND BETTY ANN GUSTAFON

3128 ELDORA LANE

NO MEETINGS IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

Directions: Head west on Hwy 93/Brooks to Wal-Mart. Turn left at the light onto Miller Creek Road. Proceed to the roundabout and veer right onto Lower Miller Creek Road. Travel just past the golf course. Turn left onto Linda Vista Blvd. Proceed 2 blocks to Eldora Lane and turn left. Go another 3 blocks and Gustafson's is on the left hand side.

PARKING: Park on Eldora Lane and also on Lori Court. We are on a corner lot bordered by Eldora Lane and Lori Court. If it is full in front of the house on Eldora Lane or you do not want to walk up the driveway, turn left onto Lori Court and park. On Lori Court you will cut across our neighbors’ yard into our yard. We have many deer in the area so be sure to watch your step.

* * * * * * * * *

ANNUAL RHIZOME SALE: Saturday, July 26, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at the Fort Missoula MIS Fort Garden. There are many opportunities where one can join in and help with the biggest event of our year. Let us know if you have iris to donate and if you can help with prepping the iris for sale.

WE NEED LOTS OF HELP! PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH PREPARING FOR OUR ANNUAL SALE AND DURING THE SALE!

SCHEDULE FOR WORK PARTIES FOR DIGGING AND PREPARATION of iris for the MIS Iris Sale. Below are many areas for volunteer opportunities. Please join in on the biggest event for our year. Proceeds from the sale funds our shows, garden tours, meetings, purchase of iris rhizomes for the fort and the MIS Garden.

SUNDAY, JULY 20, at 8:00 A.M. Location: MIS Fort Garden. Under the directions of Judy Blunt, iris clumps will be dug, washed, clipped and labeled. Bring a lawn chair and clippers. Also, iris dug from Elloie Jeter's garden will be processed as well.

MONDAY, JULY 21, at 8:00 A.M. Location: A garden dig, washing, and trimming, Fred Frey's home, 1760 Frey Lane.

Directions: At Mullan Road and North Reserve Street, head west on Mullan Road away from Reserve Street. Now there are 2 choices:

(1) After the Hellgate Trading Post Conoco Station but before starting up the hill to Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, turn left (south) on Homestead Drive. Drive straight back but rather than follow the street when it makes a hard right corner, keep coming straight between the 2 houses on a narrow, single paved and dirt road and follow that road to the house. This is behind the subdivision.

(2) Continue on Mullan Road a short distance past Homestead Drive to Frey Lane and take a left. Continue straight back past the intersection with Homestead Drive. Then, between the 2nd and 3rd house on the left, turn left on the paved drive shared with those houses and come back between their yards. Again it is behind the subdivision. (Call 406.370.1696 if you are lost.)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, at 9:00 A.M – 2:00 P. M. and 6:00 P.M – 9:00 P.M. and THURSDAY, JULY 24, at 9:00 A.M. Location: The home of Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson, 3128 Eldora Lane. 

We will sort and label the iris rhizomes for sale. Please bring lawn chairs and clippers.

Directions: Head west on Hwy 93/Brooks to Wal-Mart. Turn left at the light onto Miller Creek Road. Proceed to the roundabout and veer right onto Lower Miller Creek Road. Travel just past the golf course. Turn left onto Linda Vista Blvd. Proceed 2 blocks to Eldora Lane and turn left. Go another 3 blocks and Gustafson's is on the left hand side.

PARKING: Park on Eldora Lane and also on Lori Court. We are on a corner lot bordered by Eldora Lane and Lori Court. If it is full in front of the house on Eldora Lane or you do not want to walk up the driveway, turn left onto Lori Court and park. On Lori Court you will cut across our neighbors’ yard into our yard. We have many deer in the area so be sure to watch your step.

Please bring any iris you plan to donate. They should be cleaned and labeled prior to bringing them to the sorting location. Please get a list of the iris you plan to donate to Judy Blunt, email: JJBlunt@msn.com.

Purchase time for MIS members prior to the sale is Thursday and also Friday until noon at Gustafson'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. There is no presale before the sale is open to the public on Saturday, July 26.

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 5:00 P.M. At the home of Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson, load up iris and tables in pickups for transport Saturday morning to the fort. At 6:00 P.M. we will have a soup supper. Please bring a salad or dessert to share.

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 7:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. MIS RHIZOME SALE. Location: MIS Garden at Fort Missoula. Set up 7:30 A.M. The sale is from 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. We need cashiers, members to help customers, members to set up the for sale, and clean up after the sale.

SATURDAY JULY 26, 1:30 P.M. AFTER SALE PARTY at the home of Judy Blunt. Chicken, pizza, and drinks are provided by the society. You do not need to bring anything to share.

* * * * * * ** * *

64TH ANNUAL IRIS SHOW was held at the G.W. Marks Exploration Center. The show was small but beautiful. There were 10 beautiful designs and the addition of single blossom entries really added to the show. Thank you all who brought your beautiful iris for everyone to see! Thank you Anne Bowman, show chairman! Thank you members for all your help during the show. Thank you AIS accredited judges and head judge Lynn Weger.

ANNUAL IRIS SHOW RESULTS:

Exhibitors: 12 Number of Entries: 81 Number of Different Cultivars: 64 Designs: 10

Most Blue Ribbons: Bronze Medal Judy Blunt

Next Highest Number of Blue Ribbons: Silver Medal Fred Frey

Best of Show: Tall Bearded, Sea Power Jim Sadler

1st Runner Up: Tall Bearded, Mary Frances Jim Sadler

Best Single Blossom Entry: Tall Bearded, Bright Sunshiny Day Judy Blunt

Best Design: Jim Sadler

Dorleen Bakke Award for the People's Choice Design: Jim Sadler

Best Space Age: Sea Power Jim Sadler

Best Spuria: Highline Cord Fred Frey

Best Variegata: Explicit Fred Fry

Best IB: Loreley Erin Pollan

Best Median: Loreley Erin Pollan

Best Blend: Now Playing Swede Gustafson

Best Banded: Just Between Us Judy Blunt

Best Plicata: Class Ring Judy Blunt

Best Bi Color: Ninja Warrior Judy Blunt

Best Lavender: Mary Francis Jim Sadler

Best White: Got Milk Jim Sadler

Best Red: Explicit Fred Frey

Best Orange: Blinded by the Light Fred Fry

Best Pink: Still the One Fred Frey

Best Purple: Circle of Light Fred Frey

Best Yellow: Bright Sunshiny Day Judy Blunt

Best Brown Tone: Hi Calypso Judy Blunt

THANK YOU TO JUDY BLUNT for the wonderful homemade ice cream at the annual Ice Cream Social. Once again a great time was had by all.

MIS GARDEN NEWS: Work on the last part of the renovation of the Dykes bed has begun. We received a $l,600.00 grant from the Energize Your Neighborhood Grant Award, written by Jim Sadler. Jim Sadler, Judy Blunt, Gary Steen, Katie Steen, Swede Gustafson, and Betty Ann Gustafson, met with the city officials at the garden for an onsite inspection. The work will begin by first removing and heeling in the iris that are currently in the bed to prepare for the renovation of the bed. This project will be ongoing throughout the summer. Contact Judy Blunt, JJBlunt@msn.com or 406-370-5310, if you would like to help.

TREASURER'S REPORT:

Checking:

1,418.29 (starting balance)

+ 6,379.38 ( It was decided among the board that we would dissolve the CD until after the sale and restart the CD in August 2025. The reasoning is to cover expenses for the show, renovations to the garden, maintenance and other expenses)

-77.81 (food & expenses for Annual Show)

-315.25 (ice cream social, soil & annuals)

= 7,404.60

Savings:

1241.21

CD: 0

PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME WINNERS: October, Marie Nyquist; November, Gary Clark; December, Al Ledford; March, Judy Blunt; April, Ron Dowell; May, Bronwen Harris; June, Betty Ann Gustafson

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Saturday, July 12, 6.00 PM – Potluck meeting at the Gustafsons’ home

Sunday, July 20 through Saturday, July 26 – Preparations for the annual sale and the sale itself, see details above