The American Dykes Medal is one of the highest awards judged by the American Iris Society Judges. It is awarded by the British Iris Society in honor of William Rickatson Dykes to the best Iris developed by an American hybridizer. The candidates are chosen from the AIS Medal winners that have been bred by American(US & Canadian) Hybridizers. The Medal winners are the best irises in their class. These award-winning irises have three years to be chosen for the Dykes Medal. Thus, the 2010, 2011, and 2012 medal winners in each of the iris classes are candidates for the 2013 Dykes Medal.
While the irises are judged in the gardens, here are the 52 candidate irises pictures in alphabetical order for your consideration.