We joined UIS in the 1970's. At that time Iris Pioneer Melba Hamblen was still growing her Mission Bells garden, introducing her own iris and questing for other top Hybridizers of the time. She had rows of her own seedlings to look at. A yearly visit to her garden was a real treat.

I remember meeting Opal Brown many years ago -- (mid 70's?) She was a very kindly lady, and showed me around her somewhat weedy and unkempt iris patch in Milton Freewater, Oregon.
I'll never forget what she said to me -- and she had a rather pre-emptory tone in her voice, but a smile on her face.
"You young people will take up, where we older folks leave off, in the iris world -- DO BETTER!"
To me, it was like the Mother Goddess had spoken herself and given me a command. Oh, and i scored a couple of Winter Olympics as a result of the encounter.

I grew and loved some of Opal Browns Iris..........

Last May, my family and I spent the weekend with Don and Ginny Spoon in their iris garden in Virginia looking at all of the Spoon intros and helping him hybridize. The experience was so incredible that we went back again in July for a weekend, and then again at Christmas. They made us feel like family and we will be forever grateful. He definitely inspired me to want to try and create more beautiful bearded irises. It's a 6 hour drive one way for us and we can't wait to go back again soon. They are wonderful people.

If you want some fun go to the Iris Encyclopedia and read about the hybridizers and look at their intros.

Our area was lucky to have Bee Warburton in our midst. She inspired many of us to try hybridizing, (with the little guys of course.)

Brad and Kathy Kasperak attended a UIS sale and auction for the first time in the mid-80's. They bought lots of rhizomes and I was the auctioneer and gifted them some. They had been growing gladiolus but had a continuing problem with thrips. Brad became a serious program to create a stable of broken colored iris. The rest is now history. He has won every prize offered by AIS except The Dykes. He donated his intros to our yearly suction and they went for top money. Kathy and her twin sister Kristy were/are great designers and we three belonged to a club called Artistic Designers. AD did regular shows which were great fun. Kathy Chaired the flower shows at the Utah State Fair. Nice people and FUN to know.

Kasperek irises are usually easy to recognise due to their (mostly) broken colour and great names. I don't often buy an iris because of its name, but I must admit I have done so with some of theirs. I have quite a few including Hyenasicle, Bewilderbeast and Tucan Tango and I'm still looking for 'Chocolate Moose' and 'Elephant's Footprint'. Just looking at the names puts me in a good mood and then there's the blooms on top!

I love the name Toucan Tango but not Kickapoo Kangaroo. Something like Kangaroo Waltzaroo would have been nicer.