Re: JT Handbook Revisions

Most exhibitors have a horror story about a perfect stalk that was ignored by the judges, often because it didn't fit the standard for a TB, even if it wasn't a TB. I have to admit that I no longer grow certain older irises because even if the stalk was the best specimen I ever had OF THAT CULTIVAR, it would get unfavorably compared to newer, bigger, better branched irises. Newer, rare, or extremely unusual irises will always have a harder time getting a fair shake.

One problem is that even if there were a new class of judges who judged shows only, there are limited numbers of shows each year for them to see and become familiar with various cultivars. There is also the problem of having them remember each of the cultivars based on the 1 minute judging it. If a judge is visiting some gardens, there is more of a chance of him/ her being familiar with a variety on the bench.

The pool of available judges for shows around here is small and is shrinking due to health issues, attrition, travel restrictions and because some judges have done such a horrible job that they will never be asked back.

Also, most shows are timed to be around peak TB season. If the weather does not cooperate, these "show judges" may end up looking at a lot of types of irises that they are totally unfamiliar with. This happened to me when I had asked judges who grew only IBs and TBs to judge a show, and the warm weather meant that half the stalks were Siberians, Louisianas, and species. Luckily, there were other judges present who were familiar with these types.

I have no real solutions, other than stronger recommendations that judges should be visiting shows and gardens. (I think it would not be prudent to make this an additional requirement.)

Vince Lewonski, who not long ago judged a show with someone who hadn't ever seen THORNBIRD...



From: CEMahan@aol.com
Reply-To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Re: JT Handbook Revisions
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 07:52:44 EDT

It is all well and good to advocate more rigorous requirements for judges.
There is, however, one problem. The tougher the standards the fewer the
judges. The fewer the judges, the more difficult it is to obtain judges for an
iris show. This is precisely the reason that I have come to believe that a class
of show judges is desirable. Show judging is fundamentally an exercise in
aesthetics.

And now I will speak the unspeakable. The pretense that judges are judging
each cultivar on the show bench against its own best performance is just that,
a pretense. Except in a few areas where the same irises show up on the bench
all the time, it is a rare judge who has a familiarity with many if not most
of the irises exhibited in a show.

If the iris is new or unusual, it is rare for judges to have even heard of
it. Once when I exhibited 'Big Money,' none of the judges even knew it was a
Pacific Coast Native, and when I exhibited Iris gracilipes none of the judges
had ever seen it before. But even in the popular tall bearded category, I
have seen blue ribbons on misnamed cultivars. Indeed, I have seen Best Specimen
awarded to misidentified tall bearded irises. And I'll bet many you have seen
this also.

Iris shows are probably the most effective way we promote irises. It is
crucial that show officials be able to obtain judges. I am not against tougher
standards for garden judges, but I caution that AIS should also be considering
how to aid people to put on iris shows. I personally think that a class of
show judges would be a good solution. If others disagree, what are their ideas
for addressing this very real problem? Clarence Mahan

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