2026 Awards for Garden Value

2026 American Iris Society Garden Medals:

Return to the main 2026 Awards page.

See Below

• Walther Cup
• Awards Of Merit
• Honorable Mentions

American Dykes Medal (Total votes cast = 266)

The American Dykes Medal "The Best of the Best" 28 votes
'Alabama Blue Fin'
(Jill Copeland)

Runners Up

21 votes
‘Dark Universe’
(Keith Keppel) TB 18 votes
‘Blinded By The Light’
(Larry Lauer) TB
15 votes
‘NinjaWarrior’
(Lynda Miller) TB
15 votes
‘Rise Like A Phoenix’
(Paul Black) TB
14 votes
‘Melody Wilhoit’
(Hooker Nichols) LA
12 votes
‘Fried Green Tomatoes’
(Hugh Stout) IB

---

---

Wister Medal for best Tall Bearded Iris (Total votes cast = 623)

Wister Medal 24 votes
‘Sunglasses Needed’
(Steve Kelly)
20 votes
‘Bright And Shining Star’
(Paul Black)
19 votes
'Arizona Cave Painting'
(Douglas Kanarowski)

Runners Up

18 votes
‘Mind Blowing’
(Thomas Johnson)
17 votes
‘Senor Jinx’
(Schreiner)
16 votes
‘Jedi Princess’
(Howard Dash)
16 votes
‘Royalty Remembered’
(Keith Keppel)
16 votes
‘Señor Jinx’ (Schreiner) 15 votes
‘Decked Out’
(Tom Burseen)
15 votes
‘When Doves Cry’
(Thomas Johnson)
15 votes
'You're So Veined'
(Richard Tasco)

---

---

Caparne-Welch Medal for Best Miniature Dwarf Iris (Total votes cast = 95)

Caparne-Welch Medal 30 votes
‘Ribbit’
(Thomas Johnson)

Runners Up

19 votes ‘Alas’
(Thomas Johnson)
17 votes
‘Sapphire Jubilee’
(Ginny Spoon)
17 votes
‘Twinkle Little Star’
(Paul Black)

---

---

Cook Douglas Medal For Best Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris (Total votes cast 174)

Cook Douglas Medal 26 votes
‘Fruit At The Bottom’
(Hugh Stout)

Runners Up

25 votes
‘Psychedelic Dreams’
(Robert Skaggs)
23 votes
‘Alaia’
(Thomas Johnson)
16 votes
‘ForeverOrange’
(Richard Tasco)
12 votes
‘Woody Woodpecker’
(Thomas Johnson)

---

---

Debaillon Medal for best Louisiana Iris (Total votes cast 107)

Debaillon Medal 29 votes
‘Acadian Sky’
(Joseph Mussacchia)

Runners Up

18 votes
‘Rougaroux’
(Joseph Musacchia)
15 votes
‘Annette Brown’
(Harry Wolford)
14 votes
‘Heartbreak Warfare’
(Hooker Nichols)
14 votes
‘Violet Visio’
(Robert Treadway)

---

---

White Medal for best aril or arilbred, (Total votes cast 74)

Clarence G. White Medal 26 votes
‘Eye Of Excellence’
(Richard Tasco)

Runners Up

20 votes
‘Stolon Ginger’
(Cindy Rivera)
18 votes
‘Smokin' Hot’
(Thomas Johnson)
10 votes
‘Firefly Frenzy’
(Richard Tasco)

---

---

Walther Cup Most Honorable Mention votes in any category

Walther Cup ‘Plumb Bob Line’ – 35 HMs (Lynda Miller)

Runners up

'Cape Cod Girls' - 33 HMs (Martin Schafer Janet Sacks) 'Romany Rogue' - 30 HMs (Philip Remare, deceased by Keith Keppel) 'Marionberry' -29 HMs (Lynda Miller ) 'Chihuahua Evening' -27 HMs (Howie Dash) 'Santa's Wiskers' -25 HMs (Louis DiSantos)

For complete list, see printable list above

Return to the main 2026 Awards page.

Lists still under construction

Awards Of Merit

Honorable Mentions

More to be added in next few days