Encompassing the Greater Seattle/Metro area, the King County Iris
Society is a group of active gardeners
growing many kinds of irises. We are affiliated with the American Iris
Society, meet monthly (except in the summer), and have great
flower shows and plant sales. If you like to grow irises and want to
learn more about them and meet other iris fans, we invite you to join
us. For more information, feel free to contact us using our on-line
contact
form, visit our website (www.kcis.org) or join us at one of our
meetings. Our regular meetings are held September thru April, at 7:00pm
at:
The Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington
3501 NE 41st St, Seattle
on the first Monday of the month, or the second Monday if the first is a
holiday. Visitors are welcome!
Our membership consists of “irisarians” ranging from novice
to expert, including commercial growers and hybridizers. Our
meetings are relaxed and fun, generally beginning with the
program for the evening. Programs vary, including notable speakers, slides of
recent irises, judges' training sessions, interesting garden
updates or activities. After the program we have a brief
social and refreshment break, for which members take turns
providing refreshments, followed by a short business meeting
to discuss future events and educational opportunities. At
the conclusion of the meeting we hold a drawing for the
treasures that have been contributed as the evening’s door
prizes---newer iris hybrids, pots of iris species, iris
artifacts or other garden goodies.
The May meeting is usually held in a
member's garden, as a session for judges training is
customary. We wind up the meeting and show season with a
weekend picnic in a member's garden in June or July. A
lively Holiday Party is hosted by one of our members in
December. There is usually no meeting in July or August, but
we have work parties for the iris sales!
The Society hosts one or two Shows in the spring, complete
with various awards to exhibitors. Our iris Shows are an
opportunity for us to share our joy of iris as well as offer
education to the public. The Shows generally focus on
whatever iris are in bloom, and are a magnificent display.
As KCIS is a non-profit organization, our income for our
educational endeavors is generated primarily through our Iris
Sales. Depending on member iris availability, one Sale in
August for Bearded varieties and another in September for
Beardless varieties are generally held.
Our sales are primarily of iris donated by members,
and sometimes also of some grown commercially. No member is
required to do anything, but all are encouraged to
participate because it's more educational and many hands
make the events cheerful and fun!
All of the mentioned events, plus cultural tips, are covered
in our fine monthly newsletter. King County Iris Society
membership includes a subscription to the semiannual
newsletter of AIS Region 13, the local tri-state subdivision
of the American Iris Society. A large number of the club's
members are also American Iris Society members and enjoy
various Regional Conventions as well as AIS National
Conventions and the quarterly national publication, the
AIS
Bulletin.
For information on becoming a member of the King County Iris Society,
please visit our
Membership Application site.