Welcome to the Elmohr Iris Society

 

Let’s Bloom Together!

About Our Society

Elmohr Iris Society (EIS) was founded in 1966 to encourage growing and propagating all types of Iris in Colorado, and promote fellowship amongst the state’s gardeners and Iris enthusiasts.  Membership in the EIS is open to anyone.  Come to one of the events listed below to meet us, learn more about Iris and make some new friends!

 

EIS takes it name from the Iris ‘Elmohr’ (https://wiki.irises.org/Ab/AbElmohr, https://historiciris.org/gallery/elmohr) which was registered in 1942 by the Colorado Springs Iris hybidizer Dr Philip Loomis (https://wiki.irises.org/Main/Bio/HybridizerLoomisPA).  EIS is an affiliate member of the American Iris Society (AIS), in AIS Region 20.   A representative of EIS attends the annual AIS annual convention and reports on the convention to EIS membership at a subsequent EIS meeting.

Loomis Trial Iris Garden

EIS members maintain the Loomis Trial Iris gardens located on the grounds of the Colorado Springs East library at 5550 North Union Boulevard, Colorado, CO 80918. The trial gardens are open to the public, and used to evaluate the viability of different varieties of Iris under the climatic conditions of the Pikes Peak region of Colorado.  Recent introductions from various North American Iris hybridizers as well as many older and historic varieties are planted here.   Every few years the Iris rhizomes in each bed are dug up in late July, divided and the bed is replanted.   Excess Iris rhizomes are sold to the general public at our annual sale in late July or early August.

EIS Annual Iris Show, May 31, 2025

Spencer’s Garden Center, 4720 Center Valley Dr., Fountain, CO 80817

https://spencersgardens.com

Iris enthusiasts are encouraged to show their best Iris flowers as well as flower arrangements and photographs at our annual Iris show.  Iris flowers are judged by AIS certified judges, and prizes are awarded according to the categories and rules of the AIS (insert link to the rules).  Anyone may enter Iris flowers into the competition, membership in EIS or AIS is not required.  The show is usually held in late May or early June.  May 31, 2025, 8:30 am for entries, Judging starts 10:30 am. Show open to public for viewing 12 noon to 3 pm.

EIS Annual Iris Rhizome Sale: July 25 & 26, 2025

Spencer’s Produce, Lawn & Garden center, 1430 S. Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO, 80905 https://spencersgardens.com

Open to the public, hundreds of varieties of Iris rhizomes from the EIS trial garden and member’s own gardens are available for sale.  Sale is usually held on a Friday and Saturday in late July or early August.  Come early for the best selection!  July 25, 2025, 9 am – 5 pm, July 26, 2025, 9 am –  3 pm.

Upcoming Events

All members are welcome to participate in various other activities.  Come to one of these events to learn about Iris, help maintain our garden, and find some new friends

General membership luncheon meetings 

Members meet for lunch several times a year to discuss EIS business and attend presentations about growing different types of Iris by invited guests such as Iris hybridizers from across North America.

Pikes Peak Towers, 1912 Eastlake Blvd. Co Springs, CO 80910

March 8, 2025 11 am. Speaker: Bonnie Nichols: Dwarf Space-age Novelty Irises (1 hr. judges training.)

April 12, 2025 12 noon. Speaker: Chad Harris: Japanese Iris Culture & Historic Iris (1 hr. judges training.)

May 10, 2025 12 Noon. Speaker: Sally Gray: EIS show preparation

July 12, 2025 12 Noon. Speaker: Steve Speights: AIS convention report, and EIS Iris digging & Sale preparation

Iris judge training

Training sessions to become certified as an AIS Iris judge are held several times a year usually in conjunction with membership meetings and/or work sessions

March 8, 2025 at Luncheon meeting: Dwarf Space-age Novelty Irises

April 12, 2025 at Luncheon meeting: Japanese Iris & Historic Iris

May 15, 2025, 5:30pm, Loomis Iris Garden: Median Iris

May 29, 2025, 5:30pm, Loomis Iris Garden: Tall Bearded Iris

Loomis Iris Garden weeding and maintenance work sessions

Members meet to weed and maintain the garden, weather permitting.

Loomis Iris Garden, East Library, 5550 North Union Boulevard, Colorado, CO 80918

Saturday March 22, 2025: 10 am – noon

Saturday April 5, 2025: 10am – noon

Wednesday April 16, 2025: 10am – noon

Saturday April 26, 2025: 10 am – noon

Wednesday May 7, 2025: 9am – 11am

Saturday May 17, 2025: 9am – 11am

Wednesday May 28, 2025: 9am – 11am

Wednesday June 11, 2025: 9am – 11am

Saturday June 21, 2025: 9am – 11am

Wednesday July 2, 2025: 9am – 11am

Wednsday July 9, 2025: 9am – 11am

Saturday July 19, 2025: 9am – 11am

Saturday August 2, 2025: 9am – 11am: Iris replanting

Wednesday August 13, 2025: 9am – 11am

Saturday August 23, 2025: 9am – 11am

Wednesday September 3, 2025: 9am – 11am

Wednesday September 17, 2025: 10am – noon

Saturday September 27, 2025: 10am – noon

Wednesday October 11, 2025: 10am – noon

Saturday October 25, 2025: 10am – noon

Loomis Iris Garden rhizome digging and cleaning

Members dig and clean Iris for the EIS sale.

Loomis Iris Garden, East Library, 5550 North Union Boulevard, Colorado, CO 80918

July 21, 8:00 AM Monday (lunch provided)

July 22, 8:00 AM Tuesday (lunch provided) ​

EIS Annual Iris Sale

July 25, 2025, 9 am – 5 pm, July 26, 2025, 9 am – 3 pm

Spencer’s Lawn & Garden, 1430 S. Tejon St., Colorado springs, CO, 80905

 

Replanting the Loomis Iris beds

Members prepare the iris beds and replant.

Loomis Iris Garden, East Library, 5550 North Union Boulevard, Colorado, CO 80918

Tilling the beds: Date and time to be announced

Saturday August 2, 2025: 9am – 11am: Iris replanting

Annual Awards luncheon

September 13, 2025, 12 noon.

Pikes Peak Towers, 1912 Eastlake Blvd. Co Springs, CO 80910

Luncheon Banquet, Awards and Silent Auction

$10.00 EIS members $20.00 Guests & Non-EIS members. Pay by Sept. 10.

Annual Holiday luncheon

December 6, 2025, 12 noon.

Location: Pikes Peak Towers, 1912 Eastlake Blvd. Co Springs, CO 80910

Catered Holiday Banquet

Free to EIS members

Membership information

Membership is open to anyone interested in Iris.  Members are welcome to participate in all activities and receive regular newsletters, E-mail updates, annual year book and various other benefits.  Membership costs per year

  • Individual:  $6 email newsletter / $11 paper newsletter
  • Couple: $10 email newsletter / $15 paper newsletter
  • Family: $12 email newsletter / $17 paper newsletter
  • Youth (under 18): $2 email newsletter / $7 paper newsletter

Request an application for membership

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Elmohr Iris Society board of directors and other officers 

EIS business is governed by an elected board of officers, including:

  • President
  • Vice-president/Program Director
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary

The officers may appoint directors and chairpeople for various EIS activities including:

  • Director of Show
  • Director of Sale
  • Director of Garden
  • Newsletter/Communications
  • Membership and Year book
  • Sunshine
  • Door Prizes and Awards
  • Youth Program

Links to other Iris organizations, EIS local sponsors and Colorado Iris Growers & Hybridizers