HOIIG is again meeting regularly at a new location. Wednesday, July 19, 2023 we met at the West Des Moines Public Library and the main topic was Iris Borers. Learn more about these iris pests (pdf) including ways of destroying them.
Update February 20 – We will not be meeting this month because of the weather forecast. Hope to see you in March.
Our speaker for the HOIIG meeting on Thursday, February 22nd, will be Dian Curran sharing growing iris in climates differing from Iowa. The meeting starts at 7 pm in Cafe Diem in Ankeny. We have the room from 6 pm if you are wanting to come earlier for food, beverage, or added social time. The public is invited!
And an Iowa reminder, the meetings are weather permitting. We will contact members (email and posting) if it looks too difficult for travel. Stay safe on the roads!
Our January Heart of Iowa Iris Growers meeting will have Pam Messer addressing Container Gardening. Come and learn more about this for enjoying irises. The meeting is Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 7 p.m. at Cafe Diem in Ankeny.
Everyone is invited to attend. Please consider becoming a member, only $12 per household.
Note that the meeting is weather dependent. Currently the forecast looks good; however, we will email members and post here if the weather becomes too bad. Hope to see you at the meeting.
Photo is ‘Sign Me Up’ Niswonger 2001, a SDB (standard dwarf bearded) iris in our garden.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We will be meeting at the Ankeny Café Diem at 7PM for viewing a CD about reblooming iris. And as a reminders we won’t be meeting in December. We would love to hear about your experiences with rebloomers.
Our speakers for the Heart of Iowa Iris Growers meeting will be Kelly and Libby Jensen talking about soil preparation. Our location is Cafe Diem in Ankeny. This is on route 69 on the east side across from the DMACC east entrance. Meeting time is 7 p.m. on August 31st. Hope to see you there!
The speaker this month for the Heart of Iowa Iris Growers is Gary White, American Iris Society President. His topic is: Judges Training: Roles and Requirements. A timely topic this time of year with the judges currently voting on the AIS 2017 Awards. Remember, the June 29 at 7 PM meeting is at Cafe Diem, 2005 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, a change from our usual location.
Sue Witt, the Heart of Iowa Iris Growers President, sent out this meeting notice.
Meeting Notice
Program will be provided by Wanda Lunn. Wanda will be sharing information on Historic Irises and the Historic Iris Preservation Society (HIPS)
Business Meeting to follow
Agenda
a. Secretary and Treasurer’s reports
b. Program Committee Report
c. Affiliation confirmation
d. Region 21 Silent Auction Basket items (Basket provided)
a. Suggested basket items
e. June Meeting location change, Café Diem 2005 S. Ankeny Blvd #800.
f. Meeting suggestions
The speaker for the February 23, 2017 meeting of the Heart of Iowa Iris Growers will be Kris Jurik talking about species irises. Note that this is a change from the original calendar. Wanda Lunn will be our speaker in April.
Meeting Schedule: 7:00 P.M. the last Thursday of the month .
Meeting Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
517 SW Des Moines Street
Ankeny, IA 50023
Updated Calendar:
February 23 Species Irises – Kris Jurik
March 30 2017 Convention Host Garden Plant Markers Work Session
April 27 Historic Irises – Wanda Lunn, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
May 23-27 AIS 2017 National Convention Des Moines
June 29 Gary White, American Iris Society President, Lincoln, Nebraska – Topic to be announced
July 27 TBD
The Heart of Iowa Iris Growers has an exciting schedule lined up for 2017. We will learn about various types of irises, plan for and have our first iris sale, and much more. There is also the American Iris Society 2017 Convention in Des Moines! The public is invited and we hope to see you all at the meetings!
The Heart of Iowa Iris Growers is part of Region 21 of the American Iris Society. Their Upcoming Events page lists Regional Events. See the Region 21 website for other Region 21 information and more details on upcoming events.
Meeting Schedule: 7:00 P.M. the last Thursday of each month (except as noted below)
Meeting Location: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
517 SW Des Moines Street
Ankeny, IA 50023
2017 Meetings
[Note the schedule was updated February 19 to show changes in the order of speakers.]
January 26 Mid-Winter Social and Round Table Discussion – We are asking everyone to join the round table with their favorite tips, tricks, and any questions about preparing for a successful iris growing season. There will be an irises eye candy slide show (courtesy of Brad Collins) and handouts with best practices information from AIS sources. Because January can be a very iffy weather/road condition month leaving us vulnerable to cancellation, we will call and/or email members if cancellation is necessary. A notice will also be posted on this website.
February 23 Species Irises – Kris Jurik
March 30 2017 Convention Host Garden Plant Markers Work Session
April 27 Historic Irises – Wanda Lunn, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
May 23-27 AIS 2017 National Convention Des Moines
June 29 Gary White, American Iris Society President, Lincoln, Nebraska – Topic to be announced
July 27 TBD
August 11-12 Region 21 Fall Meeting Kearney, Nebraska
August 31 TBD
September 28 TBD
October 26 TBD
November 30 TBD
Heart of Iowa Iris Growers 