AIS Region 15 Spring Trek 2013
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| Background art: 'Iris Riot' by Nel Jansen |
Hosted by The San Diego Iris Society
I would like to invite all irisarians to the Region 15 Spring Trek taking place April 26-27, 2013 in sunny San Diego. We have themed our Trek, ‘Flores del Arco Iris’ (flowers of the rainbow). The San Diego Iris Society (SDIS) will have three gardens with a fine selection of recently introduced bearded iris from noted hybridizers that have been grown for two years in the guest gardens. Our guest gardens are located in unincorporated communities of San Diego County with a range of microclimates to insure bloom regardless of whether we have spring or early summer conditions. We are following the lead of the Tucson Iris Society and holding a bus-free Trek. While our gardens are some distance apart, it is mostly freeway driving with lots of scenic San Diego to enjoy.
Spring Trek Gardens:
- The commercial garden of Ted and Rose Howse, the Iris Howse and Garden, located in Bonita, has a lovely park-like setting. The San Diego Iris Society holds our April meeting at their garden and it is easy to spend hours in their extensive beds of iris.
- Pat and Richard Wurtele have a large field of iris and have the master planting of the guest iris. We will have in-garden judge's training at this garden that has a view of the Ramona grasslands and Palomar Mountain.
- The third garden is my own, and the guest iris bed was created just for this event. By created, I mean a sloped area of clay/DG/rock was removed, a retaining wall built, the area under-laid with wire mesh to discourage gophers, and truck-loads of top soil brought in. My husband, Gordon, built a short staircase for easy access and from the garden you have a great view of my neighborhood of Blossom Valley. In addition to the guest iris I have about 130 iris cultivars including PCIs, Spurias and Louisianas and the remainder of my garden is filled with flowers in spring.
Guest Speaker & Judges Training:
There are other reasons to visit the Region 15 Trek in April. Steve Schreiner of Schreiner's Iris Gardens will be traveling down from Salem, Oregon to talk to us at Saturday's Banquet Dinner about Schreiner's newest creations. Read all about Schreiner's in the Spring edition of the Region 15 AIS newsletter. The Banquet Dinner menu offers a few delicious entrees to choose from. Please let us know your preference on the registration form. Judges Training will be offered on Friday evening and an in-garden Judges Training will take place on Saturday at The Wurtele's garden in Ramona (Time to be determined). Everyone is welcome to participate in the Judges Training. Please indicate if you plan to participate in the Judges Training on the registration form. Region 15 meetings will take place on Friday afternoon.
Raffle!!! & Sightseeing:
Fortunately, one of our former members contributed boxes of unique, iris themed items that need a new home. Raffle anyone? In addition, San Diego offers many opportunities for sight seeing and visitor attractions if you can come early or stay after the Trek. We have arranged with the trek hotel (The Holiday Inn Mission Valley) to offer the same rate we are guaranteed for our trek weekend. There is, of course, the San Diego Zoo and it is easy to spend a day in Balboa Park with its many museums and gardens. San Diego's Old Town and Sea World are just a short drive west of our hotel, and the Cabrillo National Monument offers wonderful views of the City of San Diego and Harbor. If you can only spend a couple of hours on Sunday before heading home, go for a cruise around the harbor, a fun excursion my husband and I do once a year.
Hotel Information:
The hotel is the Holiday Inn Mission Valley Stadium, 3805 Murphy Canyon Road. Phone: 858-278-9300. Ask for the San Diego Iris Society special rate of $109 (+ tax) per room, single or double, which includes breakfast. The special rate is valid for three days before / after the Trek for those of you who plan an extended visit. The special rate is available until March 27th.
Transportation:
We are organizing this trek as a "low tech Trek" similar to the Tucson Area Iris Society's recent trek. We will arrange car pools for anyone who does not have transportation. If there is room in your car for another irisarian or two, please let us know on the registration form.
If you are flying into San Diego, the hotel offers a free shuttle from the airport on weekdays. Please note that if you leave the hotel on Saturday or Sunday there will be a charge for the shuttle. You can make arrangements with the hotel for the shuttle to the airport when you make your reservation.
Please print the registration form and agenda, fill out the information and mail your payment to Pat Wurtele at your earliest convenience and in any case no later than April 1st. Update: Registration Deadline extended until April 15th.
We look forward to welcoming you to San Diego in late April!
Janis Shackelford
President, San Diego Iris Society & Secretary, Region 15
Map:
 | Hotel | Holiday Inn 3805 Murphy Canyon Road San Diego, CA 92123 (858) 278-9300 |
 | Garden | Iris Howse and Gardens Shackelford Garden Wurtele Garden |
