How to enter an iris show

Oklahoma Iris Society spring shows welcome members and newcomers. Staging looks formal from the aisle, but the checklist is straightforward once you have walked a table with a mentor.

Choosing stalks

Cut in the cool of morning the day before or the morning of the show. Pick stems with tight buds that will open under hall lights, plus at least one flower already open. Avoid weather-bruised falls and stalks that have been whipping in wind for days.

Transport

Carry stalks upright in bottles or tubes with a little water. Label varieties at home with waterproof tags so you are not guessing cultivar names at check-in. Soft padding between fans keeps blooms from rubbing during the drive to Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center.

At the show

• Arrive early—hospitality and placement volunteers can help with containers and class numbers.
• Groom carefully: remove pollen stains and spent flowers, wipe foliage, and check that the entry tag matches the schedule class.
• Ask a clerk if you are unsure whether a stalk belongs in tall bearded, median, or historic classes.

Hospitality helpers are always needed on show weekend; watch the calendar and May meeting notes. Growing tips for garden clumps live on How to grow irises.