2024 American Iris Society Garden Medals:

• Walther Cup
• Awards Of Merit
• Honorable Mentions

American Dykes Medal (Total votes cast = 298)

The American Dykes Medal "The Best of the Best" 32 votes
'Perry Dyer'
(Paul Black)

Runners Up 19 votes
‘Belle Fille’
(Marky Smith) TB 17 votes
‘Royston Rubies’
(Adam Cordes) TB
15 votes
‘Black Lipstick’
(Keith Keppel) TB
14 votes
‘Don’t Stop Believing’
(Thomas Johnson) TB
14 votes
‘Moose Tracks’
(Lynda Miller) MTB
13 votes
‘Bluebird Of Happiness’
(Paul Black) TB

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Wister Medal for best Tall Bearded Iris (Total votes cast = 690)

Wister Medal 43 votes
‘Rise Like A Phoenix’
(Paul Black)
32 votes
‘Blinded By The Light’
(Larry Lauer)
30 votes
‘Ninja Warrior’
(Lynda Miller)

Runners Up 26 votes
‘Ghirardelli Square’
(Keith Keppel)
25 votes
‘Molokini’
(Michael Sutton)
22 votes
‘Adriatic Noble’
(Keith Keppel)
22 votes
‘Marry The Night’
(Thomas Johnson)
20 votes
‘Mood Ring’ (Keith Keppel)
20 votes
‘Irresistible Charm’
(Richard Tasco)

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Caparne-Welch Medal for Best Miniature Dwarf Iris (Total votes cast = 101)

Caparne-Welch Medal 37 votes
‘Wee Dragons’
(Lynda Miller)

Runners Up 26 votes ‘Alas’
(Thomas Johnson)
21 votes
‘Sapphire Jubilee’
(Ginny Spoon)
17 votes
‘Bam’
(Richard Tasco)

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Debaillon Medal for best Louisiana Iris (Total votes cast 108)

Debaillon Medal 37 votes
‘Eyes Wide Open’
(Heather Pryor)

Runners Up 26 votes
‘Katrina Rising’
(Patrick O’Connor)
25 votes
‘Heartbreak Warfare’
(Hooker Nichols)
20 votes
‘Rougaroux’
(Joseph Musacchia)

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Founders of SIGNA Medal for best species cultivar (Total votes cast 62)

Founders Of SIGNA Medal 27 votes
‘Lavender Moonbeams’
(Richard Tasco)

Runners Up 18 votes
‘Precious Pearl’
(Barbara & David Schmieder)
17 votes
‘Brown Recluse’
(Walter Moores)

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Mitchell Medal for best Pacific Coast Native, (Total votes cast 28)

Sidney B. Mitchell Medal 11 votes
‘Caught In The Wind’
(Joseph Ghio)

Runners Up 10 votes
‘Blood Veins’
(William Plotner)
7 votes
‘Wilder Ranch’
(Joseph Ghio)

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Morgan-Wood Medal for best Siberian (Total votes cast 108)

Morgan Wood Medal 32 votes
‘My Girl Emily’
(Dean Cole)

Runners Up 28 votes
‘Art In Bloom’
(Marty Schafer/Jan Sacks)
25 votes
‘Hot Hot Hot’
(Robert Hollingworth)
23 votes
‘Fisherman’s Twilight’
(James Copeland, Sr.)

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Randolph-Perry Medal for best Species Cross (Total votes cast 71)

Randolph Perry Medal 49 votes
‘Violet Swallows’
(Chad Harris)

Runners Up 22 votes
‘Lawton Ridge’
(Bob Bauer/John Coble)

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White Medal for best aril or arilbred, (Total votes cast 83)

Clarence G. White Medal 33 votes
‘Enchanter’s Spell’
(Richard Tasco)

Runners Up 26 votes
‘Stolon Ginger’
(Cindy Rivera)
24 votes
‘Firefly Frenzy’
(Richard Tasco)

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Awards Of Merit

• Awards Of Merit for Tbs
• Awards Of Merit for BBs
• Awards Of Merit for IBs
• Awards Of Merit for MTBs
• Awards Of Merit for SDBs
• Awards Of Merit for MDBs
• Awards Of Merit for AR & AB
• Awards Of Merit for ABs
• Awards Of Merit for SPEC
• Awards Of Merit for SPX
• Awards Of Merit for CA
• Awards Of Merit for LA
• Awards Of Merit for SIB
• Awards Of Merit for SPU
• Awards Of Merit for JI

2024 American Iris Society Awards Of Merit

Awards Of Merit for Tbs Total votes cast = 2782

59 votes
‘You’re So Veined’
- (Richard Tasco)
39 votes
‘Bright And Shining Star’
(Paul Black)
38 votes
‘Gold Dust Woman’
(Howard Dash)
31 votes
‘Arizona Cave Painting’
(Douglas Kanarowski)
30 votes
‘Outside The Lines’
(Roger Duncan)
29 votes
‘North Rim’
(Richard Tasco)
28 votes
‘Chinese Lantern Factory’
(Douglas Kanarowski)
27 votes
‘Mind Blowing’
(Thomas Johnson)
27 votes
‘Orange Temptation’
(Thomas Johnson)
27 votes
‘Reality Check’
(Richard Tasco)
25 votes
‘Howla Pena’
(Tom Burseen)
25 votes
‘Paisley Print’
(Paul Black)
25 votes
‘Sunglasses Needed’
(Steve Kelly)
25 votes
‘True Patriot’
(Anton Mego)
24 votes
‘Magic Ring’
(Keith Keppel)
23 votes
‘Illuminati’
(Keith Keppel)
22 votes
‘Scaredy Cat’
(Schreiner)
21 votes
‘Boundless Beauty’
(Richard Tasco)
20 votes
‘Beautician’
(Thomas Johnson)
20 votes
‘Edwardian Era’
(Keith Keppel)
20 votes
‘Painted Sky’
(Thomas Johnson)
20 votes
‘Shandygaff’
(Keith Keppel)
20 votes
‘Sheer Panic’
(David Toth)
20 votes
‘Wild Streak’
(Paul Black)

Runners Up 19 votes
‘Champion Bloodlines’
(Patricia McNeal)
19 votes
‘Game Changer’
(Keith Keppel)
19 votes
‘I’m Not Stable’
(Paul Black)
19 votes
‘Kissed By An Angel’
(Thomas Johnson)
19 votes
‘Wichita Falls’
(Z. Benson, deceased, by Mary M. Rhodes)
18 votes
‘Brass Lamp’
(Keith Keppel)
18 votes
‘Candy Corn Treats’
(Lynda Miller)
18 votes
‘Ice Cream Sundae’
(Richard Tasco)
18 votes
‘Lavender Breeze’
(Thomas Johnson)
18 votes
‘Nestucca Rapids’
(Schreiner)
18 votes
‘Picked For Pat’
(William Tyson)
17 votes
‘Amazon Queen’
(Lynda Miller)
17 votes
‘Arctic Chill’ - (Keith Keppel) 17 votes
‘Beautiful Edging’
(Richard Tasco)
17 votes
‘Dressed In Black’
(Lesley Painter)
17 votes
‘Lone Wolf’ - (Schreiner) 16 votes
‘Above It All’
(Michael Sutton)
16 votes
‘Autumn Jewel’
(Paul Black)
16 votes
‘Black Hole’
(Paul Black)
16 votes
‘Cowboy Culture’
(Hugh Stout)
16 votes
‘Electromagnetic’
(Michael Sutton)
16 votes
‘Santa Cruz Surf’
(Joseph Ghio)
16 votes
‘Silver Silk’
(Howard Dash)
15 votes
‘All Too Exciting’
(Paul Black)
15 votes
‘Big Badda Boom’
(Douglas Kanarowski)
15 votes
‘Blackberry Torte’
(Michael Sutton)
15 votes
‘Don’t Mess With Texas’
(Hugh Stout)
15 votes
‘Highway To Heaven’
(Ramona Speer)
15 votes
‘Hot Embers’
(Howard Dash)
15 votes
‘Me And My Shadow’
(Paul Black)
15 votes
‘Medal Of Honor’
(Thomas Johnson)
15 votes
‘Moonglint’
(Keith Keppel)
15 votes
‘Night Whispers’
(Thomas Johnson)
15 votes
‘Pearls For Girls’
(Tom Burseen)
15 votes
‘Sea Eagle’
(Schreiner)
15 votes
‘Under Dog’
(Paul Black)

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Awards Of Merit for BBs Total votes cast = 211

35 votes
‘Broken Border’
(William Tyson)
33 votes
‘Calico In Pink’
(Kimberly Rieniets)

Runners Up 30 votes
‘Coin Flip’
(Joseph Ghio)
20 votes
‘Dark Harmony’
(J. T. Aitken)
18 votes
‘Picaro’
(Marky Smith)
18 votes
‘Tagline’
(Joseph Ghio)
16 votes
‘Costume Jewelry’
(Keith Keppel)
14 votes
‘Clearly Pink’
(J. T. Aitken)
14 votes
‘Merry Mulberry’
(Paul Black)
13 votes
‘Hi Love’
(Paul Black)

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Awards Of Merit for IBs Total votes cast = 202

27 votes
‘Jack Of Clubs’
(J. T. Aitken)
26 votes
‘Hot Sister’
(Lynda Miller)

Runners Up 25 votes
‘Dark Triad’
(Keith Keppel)
22 votes
‘Aquarian’
(Marky Smith)
22 votes
‘Crazy Over You’
(Paul Black)
21 votes
‘Visual Pleasure’
(Richard Tasco)
20 votes
‘Hungarian Rhapsody’
(Paul Black)
13 votes
‘Dalriada’
(Philip W. Remare)
12 votes
‘Salted Caramel’
(Marky Smith)
9 votes
‘Blank Verse’
(Keith Keppel)
5 votes
‘Flashy Dude’
(J. T. Aitken)

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Awards Of Merit for MTBs Total votes cast = 200

36 votes
‘Lite Sprite’
(Charles Bunnell)
31 votes
‘Plinko’
(Thomas Johnson)

Runners Up 28 votes
‘Little Peaches’
(Lynda Miller)
26 votes
‘Emoji’
(Lynda Miller)
19 votes
‘Bingo Marker’
(Lynda Miller)
19 votes
‘Ginger Treat’
(Lucy Burton)
16 votes
‘To The Contrary’ - (Paul Black)
14 votes
‘Canby Gem’
(Lynda Miller)
11 votes
‘Probie’
(Lynda Miller)

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Awards Of Merit for SDBs Total votes cast = 547

22 votes
‘Little Miss Sunshine’
(Thomas Johnson)
20 votes
‘Fishnet Stockings’
(Paul Black)
20 votes
‘My Fair Cher’
(Paul Black)
19 votes
‘Berrylicious’
(Paul Black)
19 votes
‘So Noted’
(Thomas Johnson)

Runners Up 17 votes
‘Dab Of Butter’
(George Sutton, deceased, by Michael Sutton)
17 votes
‘Sherryl My Love’
(Hugh Stout)
16 votes
‘Kissed By A Rose’
(Hugh Stout)
16 votes
‘Kitten Whiskers’
(Lynda Miller)
16 votes
‘Princess Wildcat’
(Lynda Miller)
16 votes
‘Pumpkins’
(Lynda Miller)
15 votes
‘Dots And Spots’
(Michael Sutton)
15 votes
‘Wowzie’
(Thomas Johnson)
14 votes
‘Bug Zoo’
(Paul Black)
14 votes
‘Droid’
(Marky Smith)
14 votes
‘Egglicious’
(Thomas Johnson)
14 votes
‘Little Stitches’
(Robin Shadlow)
13 votes
‘Black And Blueberry’
(Michael Sutton)
13 votes
‘Searing Embers’
(Thomas Johnson)
13 votes
‘Sweet Devotion’
(Thomas Johnson)
13 votes
‘Too Cool For School’
(Hugh Stout)

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Awards Of Merit for MDBs Total votes cast = 138

39 votes ‘Ribbit’ - (Thomas Johnson) 28 votes
‘Twinkle Little Star’
(Paul Black)

Runners Up 22 votes
‘Hot Orange’
(Paul Black)
15 votes
‘Oh Grow Up’
(Lynda Miller)
15 votes
‘Water Goblins’
(Paul Black)
13 votes
‘Minifigs’
(Lynda Miller)
6 votes
‘Cubbie’
(Schreiner)

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Awards Of Merit for AR & AB+s Total votes cast = 111

36 votes
‘Eye Of Excellence’
(Richard Tasco)
29 votes
‘Pirate’s Ransom’
(Paul Black)

Runners Up 25 votes
‘Eye On America’
(Paul Black)
21 votes
‘Nova’
(Richard Tasco)

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Awards Of Merit for ABs Total votes cast = 165

63 votes
‘Lucky Dragon’
(Richard Tasco)
50 votes
‘Pussycat Eyes’
(Paul Black)

Runners Up 26 votes
‘Pounce’
(Thomas Johnson)
26 votes
‘Runway’
(Michael Sutton)

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Awards Of Merit for SPEC Total votes cast = 48

25 votes
‘Aaron’s Blue’
(Gabriel Lecomte)

Runners Up 23 votes
‘June Lake’
(Chad Harris)

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Awards Of Merit for SPX Total votes cast = 76

49 votes
‘Antique Brass’
(Chad Harris)

Runners Up 27 votes
‘What’s On Second’
(Robert Hollingworth)

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Awards Of Merit for CA Total votes cast = 45

12 votes
‘Cheddar Cheese’
(Joseph Ghio)
8 votes
‘Big Waves’
(Joseph Ghio)

Runners Up 6 votes
‘Killer Smile’
(Joseph Ghio)
6 votes
‘Midnight Marvel’
(J. T. Aitken)
5 votes
‘Worker Bee’
(Joseph Ghio)
4 votes
‘Take The Red Eye’
(Joseph Ghio)
2 votes
‘Break In The Clouds’
(Joseph Ghio)
1 vote
‘Earmark’
(Joseph Ghio)
1 vote
‘Eye Of The Hurricane’
(Joseph Ghio)

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Awards Of Merit for LA Total votes cast = 223

20 votes

‘Michigan In Dallas’
(Jill Copeland)

19 votes
‘Queen Of Soul’ - (Hooker Nichols)
18 votes
‘Violet Vision’ - (Robert Treadway)

Runners Up 16 votes
‘Jean Betzer’ - (Ron Betzer)
12 votes
‘Flaming Hot’ - (Ron Betzer)
12 votes
‘Iko Iko’ - (Joseph Musacchia)
11 votes
‘Boiled Crawfish’ - (Roland Guidry)
11 votes
‘Goodwin Fire’ - (Gary Miller)
10 votes
‘Bayou Gambler’ - (Joseph Musacchia)
10 votes
‘Blue Moon Rising’ - (Hooker Nichols)
10 votes
‘Cone Of Uncertainty’ - (Patrick O’Connor)
10 votes
‘House Of Blues’ - (Patrick O’Connor)

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Awards Of Merit for SIB Total votes cast = 161

35 votes
‘Rubies On Tap’
(Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks)
31 votes
‘Purring Tiger’
(Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks)

Runners Up 27 votes
‘If Swans Were Blue’
(Robert Hollingworth)
20 votes
‘Juniper Leigh’
(Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks)
18 votes
‘Honeycomb Rock’
(Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks)
17 votes
‘Ay Caramba’
(Robert Hollingworth)
8 votes
‘Festive Coquette’
(Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks)
5 votes
‘Fashion-Forward’
(Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks)

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Awards Of Merit for SPU Total votes cast = 91

25 votes
‘Blue Fusion’
(Lee Walker)
20 votes
‘Hawthorne Bridge’
(Nancy Price)

Runners Up 18 votes
‘Apache Butte’
(Jim Hedgecock)
17 votes
‘Bees Do It’
(Nancy Price)
11 votes
‘Mister David’
(Anna Cadd)

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Awards Of Merit for JI Total votes cast = 87

32 votes
‘Blue Blue Heaven’
(J. T. Aitken)
28 votes
‘Becky’s Dream’
(Jill Copeland)

Runners Up 27 votes
‘Pagoda Temple’
(Chad Harris)

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Click here for Honorable Mentions