Tom Johnson just posted on the "Iris Lovers" facebook page that the 2013 Dykes medal has been awarded to Maryott for his "That's All Folks"!

I was kinda expecting "Gypsy Lord" to get the nod.

I was expecting 'Gypsy Lord' also but 'That's All Folk's' is a fine iris. Maybe next year for GL. Isn't it ironic that Bill Maryott is no longer hybridizing iris.

I have it and like it (Gypsy Lord), but I think we have had too much "keppel" at the top (again I really like his stuff). I would like to see some others get recognition (such as Ghio or Blyth).

I agree....to an extent...there are wonderful Ghio Iris like 'My Beloved' and equally wonderful Blyth Iris like 'Adoree' and 'Merry Amigo' that I would vote for, There are just to many beauties to choose from I hope that in the next few years that Keppel's "Haunted Heart" is considered.

I hadn't seen that iris "That's All Folk" until this spring when I went to visit Brad's garden in Iowa. He has a remarkably large Clump of them and they were awesome. Maybe he will post a picture of them, it seems I didn't take one. I remember that he said it was a finalist for the Dykes Medal.

It was a runner up last year. The discussion last year was the Wister contest and musings/guessing which of those would be picked as Dykes this year.

Gypsy Lord
Kathy Chilton
Chief John Jolly

not many were giving "That's All Folks" much of a chance. Gypsy Lord was supposed to smoke 'em.

'That's All Folks'

A friend here who's taste in iris I respect says Kathy Chilton is wonderful. He's going to give me a start next year. I haven't seen it myself.

Blyth is not elegible for Am Dykes as there is a Dykes medal for Australia & NZ irises. Unfortuately his don't grow well in northern A & Grovenor's don't do as well in Southern Australia.

If an iris from a non North American hybridizer is introduced here, it is elegble through the class medal, but not the Dykes.

Ok, I always wondered about that.

Paul you will love Kathy Chilton it is a great grower

Misawa77 said:I have it and like it (Gypsy Lord), but I think we have had too much "keppel" at the top (again I really like his stuff). I would like to see some others get recognition (such as Ghio or Blyth).

I thought that New Zealand originations are not eligible for American awards? That would leave out Blyth. England has their own Dykes awards, not sure about other countries and how they do their awards.


Oops I just saw another post that explained that the originations from other countries are not eligible for the Dykes but are eligible for all other awards? Is that correct?

Irises that are introduced in the US are eligible for awards. So the Blyth (he's Australian, btw) irises that have won awards are those that were introduced by Keith Keppel in Oregon. The American Dykes Medal has an additional restriction in that the irises have to be hybridized in the USA as well as being introduced here.

As an example, Barry Blyth created Decadence Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Decadence') in Australia and introduced it through Keith Keppel in 2004. It won numerous awards, including the Wister Medal (highest award for TBs), but it's not eligible for the Dykes Medal (unless they changed the rules recently?).

That is correct Dykes medal is from the British Iris Society on recommendation from AIS judges. So the north American one covers plants from US & Canada.

Tom here is the picture of That's All Folks I was hoping it would win it this year it really is a nice plant that put's on a good display every year. I think Gypsy Lord is equally deserving of the honor it is proving to be a awesome parent I hope it is next years winner. I read that Absolute Treasure won the Wister medal this year and Engagement RIng was a top HM exciting to see them both do well as they are favorites in my garden and make beautiful clumps.

That's All Folks


Absolute Treasure


Engagement Ring

Does anyone know where Bluebeard's Ghost ended up in the voting? I would have chosen it over any of the TBs that were on the ballot this year.

No, I don't, anyway . I checked the AIS site when I saw this thread, but I saw no posting there, yet, of any of the award winners...Arlyn

I guess we are waiting for an "official" notification. Hope we haven't jumped the gun.

KentPfeiffer said:Does anyone know where Bluebeard's Ghost ended up in the voting? I would have chosen it over any of the TBs that were on the ballot this year.

I take that back. Wintry Sky was still on the ballot this year (it's last year of eligibility I believe), I would have voted for Wintry Sky Still think Bluebeard's Ghost should win the Dykes Medal, though.

I first saw Bluebeards Ghost in bloom this spring at Breezeway, in Wi., and ordered it on the spot! So I would agree with you on that! It's a great plant, and I'm anticipating my OWN bloom, next season....Arlyn