New Zealand Iris Society Awards
THE DYKES MEMORIAL MEDAL
The Dykes Memorial Medal was instituted by the British Iris Society in 1926 to honour William Rickatson Dykes (1877-1925), a founder of that society and a noted English and a noted English researcher, hybridiser and gardener as well as the writer of the authoritative monograph, The Genus Iris. The Dykes Medal is the highest award an iris can receive. The New Zealand Dykes Medal can be awarded every second year by the British Iris Society on the recommendation of the New Zealand Iris Society. Frances Love won the first New Zealand Dykes Medal in 1995 for the Siberian iris 'Emma Ripeka'. This medal is awarded also in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. The Australasian Dykes Medal was first instituted in 1985 and allowed a medal to be awarded to New Zealand and Australian irises in successive years. However the process of sending irises out of the country to be tested in Australia proved unworkable and as a result in 1992 the New Zealand Dykes Trial Garden system was set up.
An iris which gains an average of 80 points across two bloom seasons in two of the Society's three Trial Gardens, as judged by a panel of three judges including one senior judge, is eligible for a Dykes Memorial Medal from the British Iris Society.
Protocols for testing of Dykes entrants are available in the working Handbook (from the Treasurer) or by applying to the Test Garden Director.
An Award of Merit may be awarded to an iris in the Dykes Test Garden if it receives over 75 points during the judging cycle.
An Honourable Mention may be awarded if an iris achieves 70 points during the judging cycle.
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Siberian Iris - SIB - "Emma Ripeka" |
Tall Bearded Iris - TB - "Salute D'Amour" |