MAD ABOUT IRIS, the 2010 American Iris Society National Convention, was held in Madison, Wisconsin.
Convention headquarters were at the Marriott Madison West in nearby Middleton, WI.
The registration desk
Convention Registrar Elladan McLeester talks to a registrant as Secretary Ledra Mohrmann distributes a convention bag.
Convention Assistant-Chair and Transportation Co-Chair Rob Meyer looks on as registration continues.
Convention Chair John Baker sets out iris flower arrangements in the hotel's Falling Waters Restaurant.
This iris-themed comforter was a popular raffle item sponsored by the Reblooming Iris Society.
The Japanese Iris Society had beautiful Japanese irises on display behind their table in the Atrium.
Iris arrangements provided by Karen and Keith Eirich of Stylistic Designs in Madison decorated the center of the Atrium Area.
The balcony on the 9th Floor provided a spectacular view of the Atrium and the A.I.S. Convention activities below.
MaryAnn Holman, A.I.S. President Judy Keisling, Ruth Baker, and Kitty Lack enjoy refreshments in the Atrium restaurant Monday afternoon.
Paul Gossett, A.I.S. Liaison, was always available to answer questions and help make the convention run smoothly.
Nelda Moore, left, President of the Iris Society of Austin, makes friends with a first-time convention attendee from Georgia.
Renowned hybridizer Dave Niswonger from Missouri presents the program at the Reblooming Iris Society meeting.
Kitty Lack (Tulsa, OK) and Judy Nunn (Salem, OR) welcome members and visitors at the Tall Bearded Iris Society table as John Rosini (Powhatan, VA) looks on.
Dennis Deegan (Twinsburg, OH) chats with Ron Killingsworth (Mooringsport, LA), Vice President of the Society for Louisiana Irises.
The Median Iris Society and the Society for Siberian Irises tables were busy.
Rick Ernst (Silverton, OR) and Jack Worel (Osseo, MN) ponder an attendee's question.
Ray and Karen Jones (Fairfax, VA) chat with John and Kay Ludi (Boring, OR) at the A.I.S. Store.
Nyla Huges (Webster Groves, MO) visits with Will Plotner (Molalla, OR).
A simulated Iris Show was held in the Atrium Area on Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Kathy Chilton (Tucson, AZ) and Hugh Stout (Oklahoma City, OK) seem entertained by Nick Stewart (Lawton, OK).
Sandy Ives and Markie Mark (Ottawa, ON) catch up on iris news with Barbara and Terry Aitken (Vancouver, WA).
Pat Byrne (Katy, TX) purchases some back issues of the Reblooming Iris Society's newsletter from Shirley Trio (Modesto, CA).
No A.I.S. convention would be complete without the appearance of Ethel or one of Shirley Trio's other beloved dogs.
Dennis Hager (Millington, MD) presents the Society for Japanese Irises program.
A convention bag from the Lone Star State in 2008 convention was one of the collectible items in the silent auction.
On Wednesday evening, Jim Landers and Ken Fuchs walked over to Sprecher's, one of the eateries near the hotel, for dinner.
And we thought barbecue burgers in Texas were big!
This would be a real challenge for Dagwood Bumstead.
Breezeway Iris Garden in Brooklyn, WI, site of the 2010 A.I.S. National Convention Master Planting
Although the garden was about a week past the peak bloom period, there were lots of blooms to enjoy.
Chad Harris (Washougal, WA) discusses Japanese iris and Iris laevigata.
Bonnie Nichols admires 'Pacific Fire' by Thomas Johnson, TB 2007.
One of the bus drivers tried to turn around on the narrow drive and got stuck in the soft grassy area.
Cindy Bacon serves Sandy Schroeder (San Marcos, TX) refreshments in the family garage as host George Bacon asks a question.
The poppies in the Bacons' back yard are spectacular.
Rick Ernst and Jack Worel check out some of the seedlings and introductions in one of the guest beds.
The mystery iris at the Skyline Garden, owned by Herb and Cathy Rowin, in Stoughton, WI
And the answer is -- Grey Pearls, Ben Hager, 1978.
The Skyline Garden, originally put together with around 500 varieties from the gardens of Madison Area Iris Society member Ledra Mohrmann and 300 varieties from John Baker, contains over 300 Guest Irises.
A cherry tree provides welcome shade to the visitors.
Hostess Cathy Rowin
Blue Bus riders had lunch on Thursday at The West Side Club in Madison.
Beginning as a business operation, Earthspirit Gardens in Oregon, WI, has evolved into a spectacular five acres containing over forty individual gardens filled with over one thousand varieties of perennials and many types of trees.
Delane Langton (Billings, MT) is impressed by the height of this clump of 'Conjuration.'
The serenity of the gardens was interrupted by a muffled barking from inside the house.
Earthspirit Gardens, created on the site of a former corn field, is privately owned, planted, and nurtured by retired teacher Jean Bawden.
The enormous lupines were especially appealing to the attendees from Texas, who were reminded of their own bluebonnets.
Rain on Friday morning did not dampen our enthusiasm to visit more gardens.
Our next stop was Karl and Erika Becker's Garden in East Troy, WI.
Karl Becker's pheasants in this old corncrib caught everyone's eye as we entered the garden area.
Garden gnomes guard the decorative gardens surrounding the Beckers' house.
Karl Becker chats with Chad Harris in the front yard garden while Erika Becker looks on from the driveway.
Refreshments were served in the Beckers' garage.
Kitty Lack entertains one of the bus drivers.
Erika Becker
Karl Becker dries off some of the chairs so visitors can sit comfortably and enjoy the snacks.
Ken Fuchs (pronounced 'fox') was captivated by the stalwart concrete fox guarding the front yard.
While trying to pose with the little fox, the great big Fox lost his balance.
Mr. Landers, Mr. Fox, and Mrs. Moore
Siberian irises by the corncrib
Pheasant eggs
Karl Becker, Rick Ernst, and Rick Tasco
Ethel enjoyed her stroll in the garden.
The Green Buses visited Becker's Garden after lunch on Friday, and on board were the Four Judy's -- Judy Hollingworth (Williamston, MI), Judy Keisling, Judy Eckhoff (Haven, KS), and Judy Nunn. (Photo by Judy Nunn)
It's time to leave Becker's Garden.
Friday lunch break was at a park in Mukwonago, WI.
Gordon and Happy Carver (Weatherford, TX) and Frank and Helen Furr (Granbury, TX)
The Carvers' grandchildren Ty Cawley (Vacaville, CA), Claire Harding (Weatherford, TX), Jessi Cawley, and Alex Harding
Sandy and Lee Schroeder (San Marcos, TX), former residents of Madison, WI
Our next stop was at Meadowbrook Gardens, owned by hybridizers Francis and Ruth Rogers, in Waukesha, WI.
Kitty Lack and the Rogers' grandson.
Ethel is ready to see the Rogers' garden.
The Guest Gardens
Francis Rogers and one of his garden helpers
Ruth Rogers, M. L. Rieschl (Kenosha, WI), and Nelda Moore
Riley Probst (Modesto, CA), Ethel, Shirley Trio, and Ruth Rogers
Jim Landers admires the Rogers' private garden at the back of their property.
On Saturday we returned to Breezeway Iris Garden for Garden Judging classes.
To add a touch of levity, Happy Carver passed out clown noses to the Texans at the back of the bus.
Bonnie Nichols begins her Garden Judging class.
Riley Probst's class
Breezeway Iris Garden host George Bacon listens attentively as Riley Probst points out things to look for during judging.
Shirley Trio has a small class, but she's giving them excellent information.
Hooker Nichols conducts his class in the Guest Garden on the other side of the house.
The Bacons' dog Charlie
Host Myron Bacon and Charlie
Gordon Carver and Keith Smith (Fort Worth, TX)
Doris and Myron Bacon's stepping stone in the garden by the front door. There were separate stones for each member of the family.
George Bacon and his mother Doris pose of the porch steps.
Rick Ernst, Mike Loew (Blackstone, VA), Riley Probst, and Will Plotner stand behind the Bacons.
The always fun-loving Carvers were celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary on this day, Saturday, June 5, 2010.
Happy Anniversary, Gordon and Happy!
On this occasion, our buses backed out of the long driveway that leads up to the Bacons' gardens.
Our lunch on Saturday was at the Zor Shrine Center in Madison.
Frank and Helen Furr
Convention Chair John Baker, who works for the catering company that provided our lunches, walks through the dining room, making sure everyone is having a pleasant meal.
Jack and Jan Worel
The Carvers' grandkids had to ride the camel before getting back on the bus.
When the Green Buses arrived at Zor Shrine on Thursday, they were greeted by John Baker and Paul Gossett, sitting on the camel. Here, John Baker is joined by the present and past A.I.S. Presidents. (Photo by Judy Nunn)
Past A.I.S. Presidents Hal Stahly, Jeanne Clay Plank, Dave Niswonger, and Terry Aitken with current President Judy Keisling (Photo by Judy Nunn)
Our final stop was at the Rotary Gardens in Janesville, WI.
All of the benches in the gardens are inscribed with words of wisdom related to the joy of gardening.
The Italian Garden
One of the guest gardens by the lake
The Japanese footbridge adjoining the Japanese garden.
The main Guest Garden
MaryAnn Holman, Ledra Mohrmann, Jack Worel, and June Rosini (Powhatan, VA) relax near the Guest Garden. Jack served as Guest Gardens Chair on the Convention Committee.
More than a dozen of these decorated 'daisies' added color and whimsy to the different gardens.
Just as we were about to depart, a torrential downpour provided an impressionistic view from our bus window.
It was time to look at one of the pictures that Jim took with his new phone.
