| Place a Classified | Subscribe today | July 10, 2009 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Iris show here draws crowd
POCATELLO - Dianne Kline strolled between the rows of tables displaying irises of every color at the Red Lion Inn on Saturday with the American Iris Society Handbook for Judges and Show Officials clutched in her hand.
Kline is in her third and final year of apprenticeship with the American Iris Society, meaning next year she can judge flower shows. Even though she couldn't make any official rulings on what irises should receive awards at the Pocatello Garden Club's 13th annual Iris Festival, Kline knew exactly what to look for in the flowers. And with 213 total entries in the Iris festival from places such as the Magic Valley, Idaho Falls and even some from as far away as Texas, there were plenty of irises to critique. ''There are several things you are looking for as a judge,'' Kline said. ''Such as a straight stock, how fresh and open the top flower is, bloom sequence and the spacing of each flower. Those are just a few of the things judges are looking for.''
Pocatello Garden Club President and Iris Festival Lori Bergfield said she doesn't have a trained eye on what to look for when people bring in their irises, she bases her opinions purely on aesthetic value. ''The judges are looking at very specific things when they look at (the flowers),'' Bergfield said. ''I just look at them and say, 'Oh, I love that one,' but don't have a reason for why I like it.''
Bergfield several of the exhibitors at the well-attended event had a difficult time preparing irises for this year's festival because many of the gardeners had trouble with early blooming due to the warm weather in early spring. The three judges for the Iris Festival were Brad and Kathy Kasperek, and Bob Jensen.
As part of her apprenticeship, Kline - who is an accredited advanced master gardener - followed the judges and took part in their discussions. According to the American Iris Society, iris shows must be arranged with the flowers grouped alphabetically by their type name, or according to color. The Pocatello Garden Club organized the Iris Festival by using the like-color grouping.
The judges awarded best-in-show to Inel Geddles, of Pocatello, for her bitone ''Sweet Musette'' iris. The People's Choice Award went to Janice Larson, of Pocatello, for her iris ''Blue Sky.'' Article RatingReader CommentsSubmit a CommentCommenting RulesWe encourage your feedback and dialog. All comments are subject to deletion by our Web staff.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Comment
Rate
Report a Comment
