Society for Louisiana Irises
The Society for Louisiana Irises (SLI) is a community dedicated to preserving, promoting, cultivating, and developing Louisiana irises, both the native species and hybrid cultivars. The Society was founded in 1941, only a few years after the introduction of these previously unknown but highly varied and beautiful irises into horticulture. Its early development was intricately linked with the discovery of the irises themselves, a fascinating and unique story.
2025 Convention ~ April 3rd - 5th
The SLI Convention returns to Lafayette, Louisiana, with a schedule that includes an afternoon of judge’s training, iris tours, and a dinner meeting with the General Membership. Events kick off on Thursday, April 3rd, with a selection of private and public gardens available for self-tour, plus AIS Judges training in the afternoon. Friday, April 4th, offers a full day of activities. A bus tour is scheduled and includes a visit to Palmetto Island State Park to see the I. nelsonii and the Abbeville Red, which is found native only across the Vermilion River in the Abbeville Swamp. Other stops include a visit to a private garden and Cypress Lake. The day concludes with a banquet and general membership meeting at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center. Speakers will be Mark Schexnayder, SLI President, and Bonnie Nichols, American Iris Society President. On Saturday, April 5th, SLI will have a booth with rhizome sales and a flower display at Festival des Fleurs de Louisiane.
Schedule of Events
(Preliminary Timeline - All Activities Subject to Change)
Thursday, April 3rd
9:00 am – 5:00 pm: Visit open gardens (private and public self-guided tours). Registrants will receive details by email (times/addresses for each location).
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: “Judging Louisiana Iris in the Garden” at the Betzer's garden. AIS trainers: Robert Treadway and Hooker Nichols. Training will be recorded by video. There is no transport for this event. Registrants will receive details by email.
Friday, April 4th
8:00 am – 3:30 pm: Tour of Irises: Bus pickup will occur at one hotel (TBD) and the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center. Stop 1: Palmetto Island State Park to see the I. nelsonii, the Abbeville Red, that is found native only across the Vermilion River in the Abbeville Swamp. Early lunch at 11 am provided on site. Stop 2: the Betzer’s garden. Stop 3: Cypress Lake at the ULL campus. Drop off at approximately 3:30 pm at the hotel and Center.
5:30pm – 9:00 pm: Banquet and General Membership Meeting: Ira Nelson Horticulture Center (2206 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503). Social: 5:30 pm. Dinner: 6 pm. Speakers: Mark Schexnayder, SLI President, and Bonnie Nichols, American Iris Society President. Silent auction of rhizomes and other must-have items will follow. Plenty of parking on site.
Saturday, April 5th
8:00 am – 4:00 pm: SLI will have a booth with rhizome sales and a flower display at Festival des Fleurs de Louisiane. To volunteer and/or provide rhizomes for sale, email the Society for Louisiana Irises. Volunteers often meet for dinner afterwards (TBD, self-pay).
Find more information and the registration form at the Society for Louisiana Irises.
The Society's general email is: societylouisianairises@gmail.com and can also be contacted by using the contact forms at https://louisianas.org/.