IRIS SHOW A COLORFUL CONTEST

Sunlight streamed through the skylights and came to rest on the 145 entries at the annual SEMO Iris Society's flower show.

Irises of the purest white, vibrant yellow, light and dark purple, pinks and a host of hybrids could be found on display.

Nikki Tanksley, a senior at Notre Dame, has had an interest in irises since she was about eight. "My birthday is May 6 and that is the peak blooming period," said Tanksley. "My grandmother and mother had irises and I looked forward to seeing them every year."

Helen Lowes' Great Gatsby iris received Best of Show honors. The Best Youth Specimen was titled Miss Jessica and was presented by Jessica Braeuner.

Brauener's mother Joy was this year's show chairman. "Keep their feet dry," is the secret to raising irises said Joy Brauener. Only planting them in about one inch of dirt was Brauener's other advice.

Anyone interested in raising irises is invited to join the SEMO Iris Society which has been active in the Cape Girardeau for more than 30 years. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. the first Friday of each month Sept. through April at the Johnson Faculty Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State Unitersity.

The society will also host an iris auction the first Sunday in August at South Cape County Park.