June 2025

NO MEETING IN JUNE FOR THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY

ANNUAL IRIS SHOW:

On Saturday, June 14, our annual iris show will be held at the G. W. Marks Exploration Center & Rocky Mountain Gardens, 1075 South Avenue West, Missoula County Fairgrounds, from 10:00 A.M – 5:00 P.M.

This location is the same venue as last year and is better known as the Butterfly House.

PLAN TO ENTER THE SHOW: Show time is a great time for the Missoula Iris Society. We hope to see your beautiful iris. They can be many single entries or participation in the design categories. We require the iris be named to qualify for the American Iris Society awards, but if you have some beauties that are unnamed please bring them. We will judge them and maybe we can name them for you. We will have lunch provided during the show. You are all welcome even if you don't have flowers to enter. If you need entry tags ahead of time, please let me know, Betty Ann, 406-370-1696, and I will get them to you.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE SHOW: Volunteers are needed to set up for the show Friday, June 13, from 2:30 P.M. until 5:00 P.M, and during the show, Saturday, June 14, from 7:00 A.M until 5:00 P.M. Please see the attached volunteer list. Please contact Anne Bowman, show chairman, bowmanab.61@gmail.com, or by phone: 406-360-3089, or contact Betty Ann Gustafson, swedeandba@gmail.com, phone: 406-370-1696.

MAY GATHERING KUDOS: Thank you, Judy Blunt, for hosting the May event of the Missoula Iris Society.

Thank you to Fred Frey, Gary Clark, and Jim Sadler for demonstrating different aspects of entering the annual iris shows.

Thank you to Gary and Katie Steen for donating a Montana themed multi-use hand towel, huckleberry candy bar, and huckleberry jam.

Thank you to Judy Blunt for donating Montana Flathead Cherry wine, Missoula Monopoly, and Montana jewelry and iris soaps made by her daughter.

Thank you to Anne Bowman for homemade jam made from grapes from her daughter's winery and a basket.

Thank you to Erin Pollen for donating her painting of an iris garden and hand painted Montana flowers on a small wooden plaque.

Thank you to Elloie Jeter for donating her greeting cards made from her original pastel paintings.

Thank you to Ron and Donna Dowell for a garden tool apron.

Thank you to Fred Frey for a cloth rope bowl with an iris painted in the center and single cans of Moose Drool, Huck It Up, and Big Sky IPA.

Thank you to Steve Hesla and Gary Clark for the Huckleberry Jam.

Who donated the flower themed hand towel, fork, and a spritzer for the AIS basket? They are greatly appreciated. Please let me know.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Finances: May 2025

Savings: $1241.21

Checking: $1648.15

May 3rd: Check 1875 Judy Blunt $566.22

Check 1876 Mid America $300.00

Check 1877 Schreiner's $200.00

May 23rd: Transferred $2000.00 from Savings to Checking

CD expires on June 15. The CD amount is $ 6319. There is a ten day grace period to roll it back in or pause it. We will discuss what to do and either way, we will continue to use the CD in the off season.

ROSE ARBORS AT THE FORT GARDEN: Thank you Gary and Katie Steen for staining the rose arbors this spring. They really look nice.

KIOSK AT THE FORT GARDEN: Gary and Katie Steen are looking into repairing or replacing the kiosk at the garden. The portion that holds iris information is rotting and the plexiglass needs to be replaced.

LAWN MOWING AT THE FORT GARDEN: Ron and Donna Dowell have graciously agreed to continue mowing the lawn within the garden. We certainly appreciate your time.

FORT GARDEN UPDATE: Judy Blunt has been working on the garden. She has fertilized the iris and is working hard on keeping the weeds down. She may be asking for help as the summer season progresses. The plants look wonderful this year! It is time to keep watch on the bloom.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM AT THE FORT GARDEN: Paul Renaldo, Renaldo Sprinkler Systems, has been asked for a bid to provide sprinkler heads to better serve the beds now that the beds are raised.

MAY PRESIDENTIAL WINNER: There was not a drawing at the gathering. We will catch up when we are together once again.

THANK YOU JUDY BLUNT for hosting the Missoula Iris Society Median Show and thanks to everyone who entered the show.

MEDIAN SHOW, DANCING WITH THE STAR WINNERS:

Best Specimen of Show: Swede Gustafson, Going Dotty, Miniature Tall Bearded, MTB

First Runner Up: Judy Blunt, Star Woman

Best Standard Dwarf Bearded,(SDB): Swede Gustafson, Color Blind, Roger Muir, Jungle Gem

Best Intermediate Bearded, IB: Judy Blunt, Action Adventure

Best Species: Cindy Davis, Aaron Blue

Best Aril-Bred: Fred Frey, Sri Lanka

Best Design: Judy Blunt, Class 5, Twist and Shout

Number of Exhibitors: 11

Number of Entries: 51

Number of Different Cultivars Entered: 47

ANNUAL IRIS SHOW, JUNE 14: See detailed information on the first page of this newsletter.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Wednesday, June 25, at 5:00 P.M. at the home of Judy Blunt,

1901 ½ South 4th Street West. Of course, the ice cream will be homemade by Judy!

NEXT MEETING, SATURDAY, JULY 12: Location to be determined. The meeting will be devoted to planning the annual iris sale of the Missoula Iris Society at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.

PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME WINNERS: October, Marie Nyquist; November, Gary Clark; December, Al Ledford; March, Judy Blunt; April, Ron Dowell

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Saturday, June 14 – Annual Iris Show at the Butterfly House

Wednesday, June 25, 5.00 PM – Ice Cream Social at the home of Judy Blunt

Saturday, July 12, Meeting, location to be determined