The first Bennett C. Jones Outstanding Hybridizer
Award was presented to Bennett Jones at the Median Iris Society
General Meeting in Portland, OR May 2006.
President Perry Dyer conducted a tribute to
Bennett Jones detailing his history and early work that resulted
in forming median classes, his award winners and contributions
to the iris world. The culmination was the presentation of the
new Median Society award: The Bennett C. Jones Award
for Outstanding Median Hybridizing, which will continue in
future years, to Bennett as first recipient.
A
Hybridizer’s Hybridizer
- Born in Northern Colorado, his first exposure to irises was
a trip to Boulder, CO to meet J. D. Long and visit Long’s
Gardens.
- During high school, he earned enough money mowing and raking
lawns to order 6 irises for $5 from Schreiner’s Gardens
- After two disastrous springs in a row in Colorado, a friend
of Bennett’s told him of the ideal climate and growing
conditions in the Portland area.
- So in 1941, with new bride Betty Stuart, he picked up and moved
to the Promised Land.
- After serving in the Navy during WWII, he bought the parcel
of land where he built the house he resided in for over 50 years
in Raleigh Hills.
- In 1946 he began corresponding with the leading hybridizers
of the day, and with them was among the first to incorporate I. pumila into
his breeding program.
- This led to the birth of the Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris that
we know today.
- Through the years Bennett has introduced over 100 irises, in
classifications ranging from Miniature Dwarfs through Tall Beardeds
and even Pacific Coast Natives.
- He is best known for his pioneering work in the SDB class,
launching contrasting beards, advancements in form, success in
improving colors and exploring new colors and patterns.
- His Sass Medalist, Peachy Face, was one of the first Intermediates
recognized as having some degree of fertility
- Cook-Douglas Medal
- Cherry Garden
- Gingerbread Man
- Cotton Blossom
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Rain Dance
- Sun Doll
- Orange Tiger
- Bedford Lilac
- Dot Com
- Sass Medal
- Knowlton Medal
Thank you Bennett for all the beauty and wisdom
you’ve brought into our lives.
O.
David Niswonger Awarded
2008 Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding
Median Hybridizing
The
Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding Median Hybridizing this
year went to Dave Niswonger of Cape Girardeau, MO in recognition
of his many contributions to median iris hybridizing.
Dave’s
contributions to the genus iris include 40+ years of effort to
produce brighter colors, different patterns and improvements
in form in a wide range of irises. His numerous noteworthy and
award-winning SDB, IB and BB introductions include at least 17
median AM Award winners, 2 Cook-Douglas Medal winners, 2 Sass
Medal winners, 4 Knowlton Medal winners, and the first median
Dykes Medal winner, ‘Brown Lasso,’ which he selected
from the late Gene Buckle's seedling patch and introduced in
1975. Dave’s work has brought us brighter, clearer colors — especially
pinks and oranges — improvements in form and ruffling,
increased bud count and, perhaps most important, improved “growability” in
median irises of all types.
His
dedication to the promotion of median irises in his region and
elsewhere has included mentoring and AIS Youth members and fledgling
hybridizers, providing everything from gifts of irises to encouragement
and practical advice. He has served as a spokesman for AIS and
MIS as well as other AIS sections, and has contributed generously
of his time, effort and irises over the years to help these organizations
thrive. And his advice and counsel has been sought by the major
iris hybridizers of our time as well as of previous generations.
Dave’s
body of work, which has not been limited to median classes, includes
nearly 400 irises that he has introduced into commerce. He has
used his knowledge of genetics and iris species to further advance
the genus in a wide range of areas. Among his introductions are
species and species crosses, together with irises in almost every
bearded and beardless classification grown in the United States.
Many of his award-winning irises are still grown in many gardens,
including his TB Dyke’s Medal winner, ‘Everything
Plus’ (‘83); his Knowlton Medal winners ‘Raspberry
Sundae’ (’72), ‘Marmalade Skies’ (’78), ‘Apricot
Frosty’ (’92) and, of course, ‘Brown Lasso;’ his
Cook-Douglas Medal winners ‘Little Black Belt’ (’80)
and ‘Raspberry Jam’ (81); and his Sass Medal winners ‘Honey
Glazed’ and ‘Prince of Burgundy.’
Thank
you, Dave, for your many contributions to the advancement of
our favorite flower!
ALLAN
ENSMINGER AWARDED
2007
MEDIAN HYBRIDIZING AWARD
By
Jim Morris
It’s official. Allan Ensminger of
Lincoln, NE has won another award. And it is a big one. On
May 8, 2007 during “Prairie Gold” the Median Iris Society
and Region 21 Spring Meeting and Garden Tour, Allan was presented
with the Bennett C. Jones Award for Outstanding Median Hybridizing. The
presentation was made by MIS president Perry Dyer of Blanchard,
OK. This was only the second time this award has been made
since it was just established in May 2006 by the Median Iris Society.
In making the 2007 award, President Dyer summarized
some of Ensminger’s truly important contributions to the
genus iris. Region 21 RVP Gary White, wrote a detailed article
in the 50th Anniversary History Edition of The Medianite,
on pages 56-58, regarding Ensminger’s hybridizing career. He
is affectionately known as the “Wizard of Odds” for
his intensive work with variegated, broken color irises. Everyone
in AIS and MIS is probably familiar with his broken color varieties ‘Batik’ (86,
BB) and ‘Hubbub’ (89, IB).
During the presentation, Jean Morris of Ballwin,
MO recited Ensminger’s famous poem Impossible, Impossible, about
iris hybridizing and which she had reconstructed from memory (she
has a special talent for poetry). Later on Allan told her, “You
did pretty well, you only missed two words [out of 235]!” In
his acceptance speech, Ensminger thanked many people and it was
clear to all just why he is considered the patriarch of the Lincoln
Iris Society. He was their first president and still attends
their monthly meetings at age 95. He was also a former RVP
and Bulletin editor for Region 21. A fun evening was had
by all with a local fiddler, awards to local AIS youth members
and the Region 21 Distinguished Service Award presented to another
former RVP, Carolyn Lingenfelter of Norfolk, NE.
Winners of the Bennett C. Jones Award for
Outstanding Median Hybridizing
2008 O.
David Niswonger Cape Girardeau, MO
2007 Allan Ensminger Lincoln,
NE
2006 Bennett C. Jones Portland, OR
Nomination forms for this award are due each
year by December 31.
To make nominations,
click on the PDF below to obtain a copy of the Nomination Form.
