HENRY SHAW HORTICULTURAL AWARD

Horticulture Sweepstakes - Late Show

By Jim Morris

The Greater St. Louis Iris Society (GSLIS) established the Henry Shaw Horticultural Award in 1987 to be awarded to the person (s) winning the Horticulture Sweepstakes for the most blue ribbons at our Late Show. GSLIS had initiated Late Shows in 1984 with silver medals having been won by Sheldon Butt 1984, Marie Dienstbach 1985, and Roy Bohrer in 1986.

It was felt by the membership of the time that an award was needed to be commensurate with awards given at our Early and Mid-Season Shows. The membership voted to name the Late Show award after the founder of Missouri Botanical Garden, the location of our various shows.

A native of Sheffield, England, Henry Shaw (1800-1889) came to St. Louis in 1819, just 16 years after Lewis and Clark set off on their historic journey of discovery through the land of the Louisiana Purchase. Once Lewis and Clark opened the territory, St. Louis became the "Gateway to the West." Shaw saw the opportunity of outfitting the trappers and settlers and made his fortune in hardware. He retired at an early age and created his botanical garden on his country estate in what was then the outskirts of St. Louis. As a child he had admired Kew Gardens in England and set out to create a garden as its equal. In 1859 he donated his 79-acre country estate for "all time for the public benefit." It became known as Missouri Botanical Garden and is the oldest botanical garden in the United States. Later he donated an additional 277 acres which became Tower Grove Park to the south and east of MOBOT.

The former Executive Secretary of the American Iris Society, Cliff Benson, introduced 'Henry Shaw' in 1959. It is a pure white self with a snowy white beard and a green throat. It won an Honorable Mention from AIS in 1959 and an Award of Merit in 1961. It also was the first winner of the Clara B. Rees Cup for white irises.

Often our Late Show is dominated by Japanese Irises. The Japanese Garden at MOBOT was built in 1977 and is known as SEIWA-EN, a garden of pure, clear harmony and peace. Two lanterns from the Japanese Imperial Garden of the 1904 World's Fair are located here. Both are yukimi doro, or snow-viewing lanterns. The Henry Shaw Award is a traveling silver trophy on a walnut base.

Winners of the Horticultural Sweepstakes award at our Late Show since its beginning in 1987 follow:

1987 & 1988.............Don Delmez
1989-1993................Sheldon Butt
1994 & 1995.............Don Delmez
1996 & 1997.............Orville & Lu Dickhaut
1998.........................Don Delmez
1999 & 2000.............Orville & Lu Dickhaut
2001.........................Phyllis Burton
2002.........................Orville & Lu Dickhaut
2003.........................Ernie & Ann Henson
2004.........................Don Delmez
2005.........................No Show
2006.........................Don Delmez
2007-2013................No Show

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