South Canterbury Group
SOUTH CANTERBURY IRIS GROUP
of NZ IRIS SOCIETY
Office Bearers 2024 – 2025
Convenor – Jessica Ward ph 027 246 4206
Vice Convenor – Janya Lobb ph 021 325 040
Secretary – Lynda Crossen ph 03 686 4813 / 027 6000 107
Treasurer – Tania Sandri ph 027 437 2018
Committee –Jean Barkman ph 03 689 8653, Sharon Wilkins ph 03 689 8676,
Denise Sanders 027 282 2515, Stephanie Boot 027 482 8998
Makikihi Display Garden Co-ordinator – Marilyn Rathgen
Sales Table – Denise Sanders and Heather Sell Librarian – Sharon Wilkins
Press Reporter – Heather Sell Competition Steward – Jean Barkman
Berry Judd Brooch Competition – one stem per member each month, of any
iris. Other stems and single blooms most welcome for display and discussion.
Meetings Morning tea 10.00 am and meeting commences at 10.30 am
Hosts Arrange for the collection and return of the hall key and arrange to have a garden to visit
after lunch.
The hosts for the day provide a plate for morning tea, milk and bring tea towels. The host’s name
underlined is the host in charge of the day.
If you are unavailable for your month, please arrange a swap and tell Jessica and Lynda.
Please support the display table each month by bringing your irises.
Programme 2024
5 June Wednesday Oamaru 12 noon lunch
Star & Garter, 9 Itchen Street numbers attending to secretary by 29 May
Berry Judd Brooch competition
Display Table: (this month only, other flowers of interest also acceptable)
3 July Wednesday Geraldine 12 noon lunch
The Village Inn, 41 Talbot Street numbers attending to secretary by 26 June
Berry Judd Brooch competition
Display Table: (this month only, other flowers of interest also acceptable)
7 August Wednesday Timaru 10.00 am to 2.00 pm (no garden today)
Eco Centre, 55c Redruth Street
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: Iris reticulata and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: transporting irises to shows, bring your tips and tricks to share
After lunch there will be an illustrated talk
Hosts: Janya, Marilyn, Barbara
4 September Wednesday Waimate 10.00 am
Senior Citizens Rooms, 55 Shearman Street
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: Evansia, Dutch, Pacific Coast and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: Fertiliser and sprays
Hosts: Judith, Jean, Sharon
2 October Wednesday Oamaru 10.00 am
Eveline Church hall, 424 Thames Highway
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: Bearded, Spuria, Louisiana and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: patterns of growth for bearded irises
Hosts: Tania, Alison, Pam McKenzie
Open Days – Saturdays – from 26 October Labour weekend Makikihi Garden
6 November Wednesday Timaru 9.30 am also garden visit after lunch
Claremont Hall, 645 Claremont Road, Timaru
Iris Show – bring your own containers for showing
All members will be asked to judge as this will also be a judging workshop training day
Sales Table Bring your lunch
Hosts: Marilyn, Janya, Pam McClelland, Elizabeth
15 – 18 November Convention Christchurch
4 December Wednesday Lake Tekapo 11 am
Lunch at Mackenzies Café Bar & Grill numbers attending to secretary by 27 November
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table
Display Table: Japanese and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: ‘planting on’ of new seedlings
Hosts: Michael, Judith, Stephanie
2025
11 – 12 or 18 – 19 January dates to be confirmed Lily show – our display and sales
5 February Wednesday Temuka 10.00 am
RSA rooms, 130 King Street
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: any irises you have
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: digging and dividing etc
Hosts: Pam McClelland, Elizabeth, Denise
5 March Wednesday Waimate 10.00 am General meeting and AGM
St Johns rooms, 32 Shearman Street
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: rebloomers and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: rebloomers
Hosts: Sharon, Heather, Stephanie
2 April Wednesday Oamaru 10.00 am
Eveline Church hall, 424 Thames Street
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: late rebloomers and early unguicularis and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: Siberian and Japanese
Hosts: Tania, Alison, Pam McKenzie
7 May Wednesday Timaru 10.00 am
Eco Centre, 55c Redruth Street
Berry Judd Brooch competition Sales Table Bring your lunch
Display Table: unguicularis and any other irises
Iris Culture / Subject for Discussion: Spuria care
Hosts: Jessica, Barbara, Marilyn
Our News Section
Articles
Articles in our region related to irises. Click the link to read
Convention 23 Photos
Some photos from last year’s Convention are now on the 2023 page
Book Release – Why Irises?
It’s here, the eagerly awaited and definitive book on irises; many Iris lovers have waited a long time for Gwenda Harris to put pen to paper and give the world the benefit of her huge experience growing these amazing plants.
Gwenda is widely respected for her intimate knowledge of Irises and has travelled worldwide following her passion. Her talks and demonstrations have entranced audiences throughout the country and encouraged many to look further into the breeding, growing and showing this wonderful plant.
The combination of Stephanie Boot as editor with assistance from Tony Hall, with beautiful photographs by Gwenda, Stephanie, Judith Neilson, Graham Menary and Alistair Boot makes this a book to cherish. Why Irises is not limited to just tall bearded varieties but encompasses all the other members of the genus too. Gwenda, Stephanie and Tony are all well known in the iris world and have all travelled to lecture or to judge irises in worldwide competition.
This is a book for every iris lovers shelf, the stories of travels, talks given and general helpful hints contained within, make it a must have.
It’s available from the publisher Alspix Studios email: alistair@alspix.com at a cost of NZD$35 a copy plus postage as follows:-
New Zealand wide $8.00 please add an extra $5.00 if you are on Rural Delivery
Australia $18.00
USA $26.00
Europe $26.00
Other countries by arrangement.
To order please fill on the order form below and make full payment to the South Canterbury Iris Groups bank account # 03 0887 0290597 00 using your name as the reference.
Books will be dispatched in the order payments are received and as this is a limited edition be early to avoid missing out.