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The Greater Omaha Iris Society

Founded in 1950, GOIS is a group of iris enthusiasts in the greater

Omaha, Nebraska area who get together to learn and discuss all

aspects of growing irises. We welcome guests and new members.

Contact: Susan Anderson at 402-731-0962

Becky Kadel at 402-556-2025.

2010 Officers

Becky Kadel, President

Linda Wilkie Treasurer

Susan Anderson, Vice President

Chris Janke - Secretary

Sass Memorial Iris Garden

Built and maintained to show historic iris in a beautiful garden setting.

This garden is devoted to the pioneering iris hybridizing work done by

Hans, Jacob, and Henry Sass. The garden also includes modern

reblooming irises, as well as varieties which have won the American Iris

Society Dykes Medal or the Sass Medal medal.

Please see seperate 'Sass Iris Garden page' on this web site.

Club meeting dates

(all meetings held at the Douglas/Sarpy County

Extension office at 8015 West Center Road in Omaha

unless otherwise noted.)

March 15, 2010 / 6:30 PM TENTATIVE, WEATHER DEPENDENT! Potting iris with John Randall.

Get your hands dirty potting iris for sale in May

at 10:00 AM. Bring garden tools and bags or buckets for clean-up

April 19, 2010 / 6:30 PM Speaker: Don Hollingsworth of Hollingsworth Peonies will speak about Peonies. This is your opportunity to listen to one of the most knowledgeable peony

experts in the world. We are very fortunate to have him speak to our group.

April 24, 2010 / Work day at the Sass Memorial Garden at 9:00 AM. Bring garden tools and bags or buckets for clean-up

May 14, 15, 16, 2010 / Spring Into Spring Festival at Lauritzen Gardens. Find lots of treasures

for your gardens. Spend a few hours at the GOIS table talking iris and buying potted iris

May 17, 2010 / 6:30 PM TENTATIVE Joint Pot Luck meeting with the Lincoln Iris Society at the Sass Memorial Garden at Mahoney State Park. Come early to do some clean-up work. Picnic area will be reserved for our group

May 23, 2010 / Annual Iris Show At Douglas/Sarpy County Extension office. Entries accepted from 7:30 to 9:30 AM. Iris entered in the Horticulture Division must be correctly identified as to variety name and grown by the exhibitor. Arrangments may also be entered in the artistic design division. An exhibitor may enter only one exhibit per class, but may enter as many classes as desired. Judging will be done by judges of the National Council of State Garden Clubs and/or The American Iris Society. Open to the public at no charge from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

June 15, 2010 / Picnic at Ron and Meri Crampton's home in Omaha. Arrive between 5:30 and 6:00pm. Dinner to start about 6:00pm. Bring a salad or a dessert or a meat dish to share; beverages and utensils will be provided by the club. Talk about all the great (and maybe not-so-great) iris blooms this Spring.

June 19, 2010 / Work day at the Sass Memorial Garden at 10:00 AM. Bring garden tools and bags or buckets for clean-up

July 10, 2010 / Digging Project at the Sass Memorial Garden, 7:30 AM. Get there early before

the heat. We'll have coffee ready for you. This is the day we dig iris for sale to the public!

July 12, 2010 / Meeting: Prepare Rhizomes for sale 6:30 PM. Bring scissors, paper bags, and

newspapers to work on rhizomes. Great opportunity to get your hands dirty again!

July 30 (Friday, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM) and July 31 (Saturday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM), 2010 / Annual Rhizome Sale at the Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office. Also, see beautiful photos of

iris at the Annual Photo Contest. All photos are done by members of GOIS. Some are for sale.

August 14, 2010 / Work day at the Sass Memorial Garden at 8:00 AM. Bring garden tools and bags or buckets for clean-up

September 13, 2010 / Fun activity: Create an arrangement Not demonstration, but a hands-on lesson in creating arrangements and decorations with things from our gardens.

September 18, 2010 / Work day at the Sass Memorial Garden at 9:00 AM. Bring garden tools and bags or buckets for clean-up

October 11, 2010 / Program: The Development of Lauritzen Gardens 6:30 PM Learn how our local botanical garden has been developed. Speaker is Spencer Crews from Lauritzen Gardens.