Home

Our Annual Show

Newsletters

Meetings and Minutes

Membership

Further Information

Newsletter: February 2006

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN IRIS SOCIETY Inc.

As your Newsletter Editor for 2006 I hope to bring to your attention various items of interest and information, with the help of the members of the society, to increase your knowledge of your favourite flower the Iris. Each month Ann Head will bring to your notice items of interest which are available in our excellent library.

Don Burg will be on hand at each meeting to help you source information from the excellent books and files he has catalogued in the Library. Cultural notes will be available to you in the “For this Month” column. All members are asked to volunteer a contribution with some items of interest or short profile of themselves.

A list of questions are attached to this Newsletter for you to use as a guide line for your article if you wish, or you may have some other item you would like to share with the society.  I would appreciate your contribution be handed to me at the meetings for possible inclusion in the following Newsletter as I wish to have all minutes and news completed by the end of the first week after the Iris Society meeting.

Keep the Newsletters so you can refer to them and keep abreast of the monthly floral art programme and refer back to items of interest.

Looking forward to this year and hope we can get to know each other better through the Newsletter.

Your editor, Rosemary Turner.

LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS by Ann Head.

I have now finished collating the rebloom reports submitted by our members in 2005. The finished report was too long to be included with the Newsletter, so two copies will be placed in folders in the library. The list of varieties that have been reported as reblooming in our area is quite extensive – approx. 140 varieties, and the list include some surprises. It is worth reading to find out which irises have rebloomed in several different gardens, and thus are more likely to rebloom for you.

My request is that you continue to tell me which varieties rebloom for you (even if it is only one or two), so that we can add to this survey and find out to a greater extent which irises rebloom best in South Australia.

Also new to the Library this month – AIS Bulletin (American Iris Society) – Members considering attending the AIS convention in May this year, may wish to consult the Bulletin. There is lots of information about the convention, incl. Registration forms, costs, descriptions of tour gardens. The article Reigning Iris: All That It Can Be (Part1) (pp 90-93) contains advice on what to expect at the convention, transport, accommodation. NOTE: The convention hotel is now fully booked – see p 24 of the Bulletin for other accommodation options.

CUT FLOWER COMPETITION

The monthly cut flower competition has been revised for this year, namely –

From September -  November only the Iris and Iridacea will grace our show bench.

February – August  - In addition to any rebloomer iris that may favour us with their presence , garden cuts can be exhibited according to the club schedule.

FLORAL ART PROGRAMME – for each club meeting, iris and iris foliage to be included when available.

FOR this MONTH – by Ann Head and John Turner

Irises, particularly tall bearded, need dead or dying foliage removed now as they are in dormancy. With autumn approaching, a good clean up allows no place for snails to hide.

Summer Rot – if you find you have this problem, dig up and cut out the affected area of the rhizome. Let the rhizome dry out and bake in the sun. Treat with white king bleach. If using as a neat solution – paint it on the affected area with a brush or if preferred, soak the rhizome in a 1 – 6 white king solution for 10 minutes. Replant in a different situation in the garden or treat the soil with the same solution before replanting. Bearded Iris is the most commonly affected.

It is still a good time to dig, divide and replant Bearded, Spuria and Louisiana iris. Consult our clubs new cultural booklet for details available for $3 per copy.

KEEP this DATE FREE

A bus trip is being organised for Sunday 12^th November to visit gardens and for a pleasant Sunday out.

Watch this space for further developments.

HELP – helpers are needed to weed the iris trial gardens at Colleen and Les Modra’s Iris Nursery on Hartmann Road, Charleston on Tuesday 28 February for a 9am start. Many hands make light work. Thanking you in anticipation. If you need transport, phone John or Rosemary on 8387 4647.

GET WELL WISHES are extended to Ron Malthouse and we hope you will fully recover and be able to continue with the life style you enjoy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to Muriel Watson, mother of Darrelle, on your 95^th birthday.

THOUGHT for the MONTH – Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Minutes AGM 9 February 2006

Annual General Meeting opened 7.35pm

President Julia Jacobs welcomed members and new member Luke Smith and guest Terry Pomeroy.

Apologies – Karl Meredith, Pam Hilton and Pauline and Neil Smith.

Minutes from 2005 AGM:  Confirmed as a true and correct record – Moved  J. Turner, seconded G. Kuchel.  Carried

Presidents Report

It was my pleasure to be your president in such a successful year. I personally congratulate you all as members for your enthusiasm and dedication for the hard work you put into the club both as committee and club members to achieve the success the convention and show proved to be.

Firstly my 2005-committee members deserve a huge amount of praise for all their time and constant hard work they put into its success. I do not think you can imagine the volume of work they actually put in, unless you were closely associated with the members. I wish to thank Gwen Alexandrou, Natalie Houba, Margaret and Graham Kuchel, Rosemary and John Turner and Pam Hilton who did such a marvellous job in pulling together for the good of the club and making the convention and show such an outstanding success. My heartfelt thanks to you all. My greatest wish was not to put the club in debt. Financially to be able to draw even would have been a bonus, however, with the club working together we realised a very healthy profit. Well done! I would also like to thank the members who previously spent time on this committee prior to it reforming from April 2004  to the committee just mentioned.

Our dedicated annual show committee – Betty Parsons, Ronda Burg, Margaret Kuchel, Marlene Gibson and Jenny Kempe – thankyou for all the hard work you put into the show and for going the extra mile, thankyou for working together with the 2005 committee. To the executive committee, to Sandra Westbrook for your excellent job as Secretary and all the hard work over the last 12 months.  Again to Margaret Kuchel as Treasurer and our grateful thanks to Pauline and Neil Smith for stepping in and assisting Margaret over the show period. To Pam Hilton, Ronda Burg and Marlene Gibson, thankyou for all your help also on decisions concerning the club.

To all members who cooked biscuits and slices for the bus tours, made articles either for the fashion parade and/or auction, who helped to set up and pull down the show and spent many hours on the door, stalls and displays, as stewards, assisting with printouts, donations of money, plants and goods. To those who opened their gardens for bus visits, as guest speakers promoting the convention and show.  Members  who came on bus tours and to the forums and dinners, entered in the cut flowers and floral design competitions, brought blooms for all the Display Designs in Ikebana and on the stage for David Ruston’s floral demonstrations. For table designs and hotel foyer arrangements. A THANKYOU to all who helped in any way to support our club and for the wonderful support you gave me as President.

We have gained new members this year, which is very encouraging. We hope this will continue after all the effort, which has been put into the huge promotions and publicity to the other clubs and the public.

An Iris Cultural Booklet on the different varieties and their cultural needs for the SA climatic conditions was produced and launched at the show. Our grateful thanks go to the very knowledgeable members for giving their time to write up these articles for the booklet, namely Colleen Modra, Pat Toolan, Pam Hilton, Peter Jackson, Margaret Kuchel, David Barrington and Sue Stribley. Grateful thanks to Sue for compiling all the articles for printing.

Darrelle Watson is putting together an album on the History of the club. If any one still has not got their contribution to her, please do so immediately.

Guest Speakers this year featured -

• Trevor Ellis on Birds. This was very popular with members.
• A speaker on behalf of Nutrog Fertilisers.
• A colourful display and talk on Dahlias by Joan Matulick.
• The showing of a DVD on wearable fashions in fresh flowers by Julia Jacobs.
• Our other monthly meetings were taken up with convention and show preparations.
• Presentation of awards to the winners of the show competitions in cuts and floral design was the feature of the November meeting, and included was a summary of the convention and show.

In December we closed the year with a lovely Christmas Luncheon at Impressive Iris and I thank Colleen and Les Modra for their wonderful hospitality as hosts. I would also like to thank them as hosts of the Trial and Dykes Medal Gardens, which are still in their early stages. Congratulations to all winners at the Spectacular Show “Well Done”. A report on this goes into the yearbook. My congratulations also to the all members who entered even if you did not win a major prize, just by entering you are winners and you most certainly contributed to the great display of both cut flowers and floral design. A wonderful effort from you all, it certainly made an eye-catching display that the public really enjoyed.

My appreciation also goes to Yvonne Corral and her Ikebana pupils for the wonderful foyer designs and window boxes. This certainly gave a wonderful entrance to the show to greet the public. To the Woodville Academy of Floral Design and especially Rosemary Capruso for her wonderful Australian and State Display of wearable fashion. To the Garden and Floral Art Clubs who entered displays. To the SA Quilters Guild for a wonderful display of Iris related quilts very professionally displayed by Penny Vanderwal and Rosemary Turner. The West Lakes Shores Primary School Art competition was a great draw card also, as was the floral demonstrator David Ruston of Renmark.

The official opening by Dr. Jane Lomax-Smith drew a very large crowd and was a highlight of the show despite the wet day.

Max Jacobs and Ron Malthouse spent both Saturday and Sunday parking cars and I thank them both most sincerely especially for having to be out in the rain and coping with the large crowds.

We had professional service from the Lakes Hotel, as they were most obliging.

Both bus companies were excellent for the day trips and especially the Goolwa Bus Co. for the KI trip. They helped greatly for the success of all tours.

The Shores Function Complex was absolutely wonderful to work with. They bent over backwards to oblige us and my personal thanks goes to Carin Waterson for her excellent assistance. I have had wonderful feedback from people on both the show and Saturday night Dinner at the parade and auction, in fact I even had calls from other clubs interested in having their shows at the same venue.

My sincere thanks to John Alexandrou for an excellent job as Master of Ceremonies for all the dinners and forums, to Peggy Lane for the excellent job she did on compering the fashion parade and for our wonderful models who all did a fantastic job. To John Turner, my grateful thanks for being the auctioneer of all the unique articles to auction. “Well Done”.

I wish to thank those members who helped at the monthly meetings and a special thankyou to Ronda Burg for the great job she always does conducting the trading table and to Marlene Gibson for her assistance. To Don Burg who always conscientiously sets out the Library – thankyou Don.

Approximately 50 thankyou letters were sent out on behalf of the club showing our appreciation to the many people involved in the convention and show.

Again I would like to personally thank all members for the wonderful support you gave to the club on both these big events. You are all to be congratulated.

Julia Jacobs  F.D.A.  A.I.F.D.

 President   2005

Treasurers Report   -  (Omitted from web version)

Moved – Margaret Kuchel,  seconded by J. Turner that the report be accepted.  Carried.

Membership fees – It was decided that the membership fees are to remain the same as the previous year

                Family $20.00,  Single $15.00,  Child $5.00

Moved J. Turner, seconded Natalie Houba.  Carried

All positions were declared vacant and Sandra Westbrook was invited to take the chair for the election of new officers.

Election of Officers:

President:  Julia Jacobs nominated by Margaret Kuchel, seconded by Colleen Modra. Carried

Vice President:  Ann Head nominated by Julia Jacobs, seconded by Gwen Alexandrou. Carried

Secretary:  Rosemary Turner nominated by Sue Stribley, seconded by Natalie Houba. Carried

Treasurer:  Margaret Kuchel nominated by Colleen Modra, seconded by Julia Jacobs. Carried

Committee of three persons: Marlene Gibson nominated by Ronda Burg seconded, by John Turner. Carried

                                                    Ronda Burg nominated by Don Burg, seconded by Natalie Houba. Carried

                                                    Sue Stribley nominated byJulia Jacobs, seconded by Colleen Modra. Carried

Show Committee:  Margaret Kuchel nominated by Julia Jacobs, seconded by Natalie Houba.

  Ann Head nominated by Gwen Alexandrou seconded by Natalie Houba.

 Marlene Gibson nominated by John Turner, seconded by Julia Jacobs.

 Nancye Kopunic nominated by Rosemary Turner, seconded by John Turner.

 Belinda Meredith, nominated by Betty Parsons, seconded by Marlene Gibson.

 Julia Jacobs (President) –Moved Sue Stribley, seconded Rosemary Turner that the show committee be accepted – carried.

Delegates to the Iris Society of Australia

                                Julia Jacobs (President)

                                John Alexandrou nominated by Julia Jacobs, seconded by Colleen Modra. Carried.

                                Ann Head to sit in on meeting. Nominated by Colleen Modra, seconded by Sue Stribley, carried. News Letter Editor:  Rosemary Turner nominated by Colleen Modra seconded by Julia Jacobs, carried

Librarian:  Don Burg nominated by Sandra Westbrook, seconded by Natalie Houba, carried.

Trading Table:  Ronda Burg – volunteered – carried.

Raffle Convenor: Margaret Douglass and Nancye Kopunic nominated by Julia Jacobs, seconded by John Turner, carried.

Auditor: Brian Patterson nominated by Colleen Modra, seconded by Gwen Alexandrou, carried.

Bank Signatories: President - Julia Jacobs, Vice President - Ann Head, Secretary -  Rosemary Turner, Treasurer – Margaret Kuchel. Carried.

AGM concluded at 8.37pm

Minutes 9 February 2006

Meeting opened 8.40pm

President:  Julia Jacobs welcomed 20 members present. Special welcome to new member Luke White and guest Terry Pomeroy.

Apologies:  Neil and Pauline Smith, Karl Meredith, Peter and Pam Jackson, Doreen Churchill, Pam Hilton, Evelyn Canney and David Barrington.

Minutes of the previous meeting were adopted. Moved Betty Parsons seconded Marlene Gibson. Carried.

Correspondence: 

• Iris Society Year Book Editors – Delma & Maurie Berthisel – Cost of Year Book to be increased to $10 per copy, account submitted for $867 plus $69.60 for outstanding monies re lost cheque.

• Iris Society of Australia – Helen Reid –Accreditation of  judges

• Country Arts SA,

• Enfield Horticulural Society (Inc)

• The South Australian Begonia Society

• Western Australian Iris society

• Garden Clubs of Australia – Bulletin and State Rally notification.

• Letters of thanks from Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, David Herbig, Murray Bridge & Districts Orchid Club Inc., David Ruston. Australian Plant Society(SA region)Inc.,

• Neutrog.

• SA Zoo Times to library

• 2005 Year Book  to library.

Treasurers Report – (Omitted from web version)

• Moved Margaret Kuchel seconded Nancye Kopunic  reports be accepted. Carried

• 2005 Convention Account be closed and money be transferred to the cash management account . Moved Margaret Kuchel  seconded Gwen Alexandrou. Carried.

• Iris Society Year Book account of $867 plus $69 To be paid. Moved Margaret Kuchel seconded John Turner.

• Aril Society be paid $38.50 for registration Moved Margaret Kuchel  seconded Julia Jacobs. Carried.

• Pat Toolan be granted $30 to purchase seeds of Iris for Club Members to purchase. Moved Sandra Westbrook seconded Natalie Houba.

New Business

All Meetings to be held at the Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa Street, Goodwood at 7pm for 7.30 sharp start.

2006 Programme 

Iris Culture talk for 5 minutes be presented to meeting each month – moved John Turner seconded Natalie Houba. Carried

Graham Kuchel moved Natalie Houba seconded that the 2005 Convention Committee be disbanded.  Carried.

Show Bench

Section  1.  -  Iris –  tall bearded  -1 stem 
                                                     1^st   Margaret Kuchel

               2.  -  Iridacea - 1 stem
                                                     3^rd   Julia Jacobs

3.         One cut any garden bloom
                             1^st  John Turner -  Rose – Tineke
                             2^nd John Turner  - Obedient plant
                             3^rd Ronda Burg  - Rose

Floral Art    Arrangement for Valentine Day

1^st   John Turner – Lavender and white

2^nd John Turner -  White rose bowl

Show and Tell

Margaret Kuchel - Iris bag, Iris silk scarf and 2 iris china mugs were given to her for Christmas
Natalie Houba  - Innovations Catalogue with a French Iris patterned quilt cover
Sue Stribley  -  Three dimensional Iris quilt and an iris bag made by Irene England of Gawler was given to Sue by her husband for Christmas.

Auction

Neutrog  Bucket of Rapid Raiser  - Ronda Burg
                Bag Sudden Impact – Margaret Kuchel

Meeting Closed - 9.50pm

Back to the Newsletter list