For those of you who are interested, the 2017 AIS awards are here: https://www.irises.org/pdf/AIS...

These are separate from the TB Symposium popularity poll results thatI posted a few days ago. This, too, downloads as a .pdf document, openable with the Adobe Reader app.

I don't know about you, but I like getting all the info on cultivars that I can, before making purchasing choices. My budget and space for irises is very limited, unfortunately. I'm not saying that all my iris are Dykes and Wister winners. They're not. Some are just Award of Merit winners that I happen to be wild about, LOL

Enjoy the info.

OMG. Another acorn! Thanks so much, Evelyn!

Daisy ~ You are

I'd like to make some observations about the TB honorable mentions for 2017. I thought it quite interesting that the one with the highest number of judges votes, Footbal Hero, got 100 votes, while the next one down, High Desert, got 59 votes. Why the spread?! It does make one wonder. Anyway, it does make ME wonder.

Here 's the database photo for Football Hero

And I just have to say ho hum. Seems to me I've seen many similar and this is nothing particularly new or special. I seem to recall my Mom had a similar one, back in the 1950's. But then I've never been fond of the yellow/ purple or yellow/ blue combos, so maybe it's just me.

Now let's look at the next one down the list, High Desert.

Now, in my view, that one is more special. Just my opinion. Next I'm going to look at more of the TB Honorable mentions, because in just a few years, these will be the ones vying for Award of Merit, Dykes and Wister awards.

Now, further down on the 2017 TB Honorable Mentions list is one that really does press my buttons: Watercolor Print Just love that broad blue band on the falls.

And also on the 2017 Honorable Mentions list: Marying Kind

The HMs are newer introductions. It takes a few years to work their way up the ballot.

"What a Beauty" is another Honorable Mention beauty. Truly gorgeous
. I may have to buy this one.

Another 2017 HM. A pretty ruffled purple: Fit for Royalty:

The vote spread is just the actual count from the ballot. And there are an awful lot of irises on a ballot. You can vote for up to 50 of them.

Lestv, I realize that, but look at the rest of the distribution. It's strange to have just one iris with a total number of votes 49 votes in excess of the next closest one, and then all the others just 1 or two votes apart from each other. Distribution-wise, it's screwy.

Here's another 2017 HM. Pictures show it having gorgeous form. But I won't know how really red it is until I see it in person. Red Dirt Road:

Pretty for a hot garden. Salsa and Chips:

Anothet 2017 HM looker. I love the gold eges on the standards comined with the picote falls and bright beard. In the Loop:

What a pretty blue with contrasting beards. Multnomah Falls:

Oh, wow. Look at this 2017 HM winner: Having a Party

Another. Hello Darling:

Okay, those are my favorites from the list of 2017 HM winners. Any of you who have these in your gardens should let us know how they do for you.

I only have Hello Darling and Having a party. They were both bought last year and are still in pots.

Barbara, I hope you get them planted soon.