This year’s overwhelming favorite, voted on 41% of the ballots returned, is the late Joe Mertzweiller’s ‘Cajun Sunrise’ (R 92). ‘Cajun Sunrise’ is the first Mertzweiller introduction to win the Charles W. Arny, Jr. Award, joining past winners ‘Ann Chowning,’ ‘Koorawatha,’ ‘Jeri,’ ‘Dural White Bufferfly,’ ‘Praline Festival, ’ ‘Acadian Miss,’ ‘Eastertide,’ and ‘Clara Goula.’ ‘Cajun Sunrise’ performs well in diverse climates and growing conditions, shows wonderful garden presence, and has distinctiveness that sets it apart from other red Louisianas.

We owe thanks to the SLI Board for encouraging and obtaining stronger member participation in the 2003 Symposium. Participation this year was 200% to 300% higher than participation in other recent years. Thanks to Joe Musacchia for his diligent work and leadership, spirited promotion, and timely and accurate compilation of the results. All SLI members gain because the best irises get recognized, and ‘Cajun Sunrise’ is a worthy winner. A total of 94 ballots were returned, displaying a representative geographical crosssection of SLI membership: 22 different states, including Hawaii, and 4 ballots from Australia.

Runnersup to ‘Cajun Sunrise’ include two irises that have also contended closely in recent symposia: Dorman Haymon’s ‘Rokki Rockwell,’ and Patrick O’Connor’s ‘Feliciana Hills.’

It is especially gratifying to see newer irises garnering votes on over 20% of the ballots and placing high! This is a credit to the hybridizers for creating exceptional cultivars and to SLI members for making effort to acquire, grow, view and appreciate the results of the hybridizer’s efforts. Heather Pryor’s ‘Garnet Storm Dancer’ (R 94) was voted on 26% of the ballots and finished tied for fourth. Dorman Haymon’s ‘Great White Hope ‘ (R 99) finished third, and his ‘Longue Vue’ (R 99) and his ‘Chuck Begnaud’ (R 99) both finished in the top 15. Kevin Vaughn’s ‘Red Velvet Elvis’ (R 96) was cited on 22% of the ballots. The late Richard Butler’s ‘My Friend Dick’ (R 98) got votes from 20% of the ballots returned. The late Mary Dunn’s ‘Hush Money’ (R 98) got votes from 21%.

The late Joe Mertweiller’s ‘Professor Neil’ (R 90) was selected on 25% of the ballots, finishing tied for sixth place. This is one of the finest showings ever by a tetraploid Louisiana iris in our Symposium/Popularity Poll. Writeins are encouraged and top writeins get included on future ballots. Ron Betzer’s uniquely colored ‘Honey Galore’ (R 99), with 7 writein votes, was the overwhelming writein favorite of the SLI membership this year. Finally, 31 different irises received at least two writein votes.