SHOWING IRISES
Maryann Anning
If you grow and care for your irises properly,
you have the same chance as anyone else to
bring home a ribbon, even from your first
show. It takes good culture, a good iris, careful
handling and grooming and some knowledge
of what iris judges will be looking for. The
most important thing to remember is that your
specimen is judged on how it looks at the time
it is being judged, not when it was cut or what
it might look like the next day. Here are some
pointers on what judges look for, as well as a
few “how to's” and “don'ts” on handling and
grooming.
Judges must pass judgment in two areas: (1)
Cultural perfection how well the specimen is
grown and (2) Condition and Grooming how
well the specimen was prepared for entry.
1. BLOOMS should all be fresh and in
perfect condition. Choose a stalk with 2 or 3
freshly opened flowers. There should be no
fading or oldness (carefully remove old
blooms with a sharp knife, razor or scissors);
no sign of insects (remove them with a cotton
swab or soft bristle brush) or signs of insect
damage; no bruises or breaks from careless
handling.
2. STEMS should be cut straight and as long as possible. The stalk
should stand vertically in the container. Use the material permitted by the
show schedule as a wedge to hold the stem firmly in position.
Fingerprints should be removed from the stem with a cotton ball or swab.
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