It's time for Iris Show in Santa Fe--and after several years absence, Sisi and I are back in the Iris Society and active in putting on the show.....................

Yup, I'VE got hope..............................

For all my Iris artistic creations--and for getting them safely to the show.................

Since we set up the tables, etc. yesterday, Sisi and the other Irisarians are ready to get the Show on the road...............

Even if they are injured!...................

Henry marshals the troops..................

And Barbra is ready to authenticate all entries......................

I'm happy to add my arrangements. In the artistic Division, you need not grow your own Iris, so it is a way for those of us who have no horticulture specimens today to still participate...................

This is my entry in the "New York" themed division that features line arrangements....................

This is Sisi's New York entry--the freshness of her materials is pristine........................

This is the second place winner in the division................

Many folks liked this colorful entry in the "New York" division because it is something you can imagine displaying in your own home....................

Ceil was the talented designer of that entry..............

This is my somewhat homely entry in the "New England" division that featured arrangements in the Japanese tradition featuring water. (What that had to do with New England remains a mystery)..........................

If you click on this image, you can see my little one surrounded by her beautiful "sisters"--despite the unfortunate theme title, this proved to be one of the loveliest divisions in the show..............

The Iris corsages are always a big hit.....................

This is my entry in the "Texas Two-Step" Division featuring designs using two separate containers.................

Click on the image to enlarge the other entries and get a glimpse of the "Trays Division"...........

I chose this container for my entry in the "Midwest Living" section because I thought it looked sort of log cabiny-Frank Loyd Wrighty-Craftsmany, but Giano pointed out that it probably is an Asian type container.....................

This is Sisi's Midwest Living entry--colorful and totally charming................

And the sign on the back is the real capper.................. (Click on the image to enlarge it if you can't read it.)

If you click on the image to enlarge it, you will see the arrangement on the far left that won the blue ribbon in the Midwest Living division and the other two entries from the "Montana Skies" division that featured Mass Arrangements possibly using some dried plant materials. The arrangement in the big boot won the Blue Ribbon in that division....................

This is my "Montana Skies" entry..................

And this is Sisi's..................

Sisi and Gwen are going to be clerks, so they are awaiting..................

The Judges! Nice floral dress there, Judgie......................

I wonder if the judges will like my designs.................

As the afternoon progresses, the menfolk arrive to admire the show and , in the case of Dwight, to help break down the show after the Awards Ceremony...................

The hot sun on the arrangements, causes dome flowers to wilt, some buds to open and in this case, the wild grasses used to really get a wide, wild look..................

This is a photo taken by Artie. I posted an "ordinary" shot from this same angle earlier in this post, but Artie's is so much more artistic.......................

Awards time!! And President Fran does the honors..................

Pat is one of the first prize winners.......................

This Irisarian is shocked to be a winner........................

But I hope she enjoys her prize--it's one I donated....................

She won the Blue Ribbon in every category she entered.................

Including Best Arrangement of Show from the "New York" division..................

Maggie won the top Horticulture Award..................

Including a hand-beaded pouch necklace with an Iris on it that Sisi made and donated. Maggie loved it!

And as Sisi collects her last Horticulture entries as we break down a very successful Iris Show, I will have to say: "A FABULOUS TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!"