Caparne-Welch Medal

History by Clarence Mahan ..............................................................related links; Awards; Photo-gallery of 50 favorite dwarfs; 2015 Caparne-Welch Medal Candidates.

This medal is restricted to miniature dwarf bearded (MDB) irises. It is named in honor of William John Caparne (1855-1940) and Walter Welch (1887-1980).

William John Caparne was born in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, in 1855, and his name was spelled "Caparn" until he added a final "e" in his later years. Both of his parents were artists and shared a love of gardening and flowers. He taught art at a local school and in his own studio, and he sold bulbs and seeds of difficult to obtain garden plants. After his wife died in 1894, he left his teaching position and in 1896, he moved to the isle of Guernsey. Living in a small cottage, he converted an old tramcar into an artist's studio. Here he lived, painted, and grew and hybridized irises and other flowering plants until he became totally blind in 1938. He died on Guernsey in 1940.

Caparne's life was much influenced by his friend Sir Michael Foster. Foster was an admirer of Caparne's paintings and asked Caparne to paint irises. Caparne developed an interest in breeding irises, and by crossing dwarf species with taller cultivars created a new "race" of intermediate irises. He also worked extensively breeding various dwarf iris species and was the first iris hybridizer to concentrate on smaller irises. Most of the dwarf iris cultivars grown in gardens in the first quarter of the 20th century were products of Caparne's hybridizing efforts. The art world saw a renewed interest in Caparne's paintings in the 1990s, and his works gained increased admiration and value. If you are interested in knowing more about William John Caparne, it is suggested you obtain two books by Robin A. Fenner: A Genius Undeclared (Tavistock, 1994) and Guernsey My Heaven on Earth (Tavistock, 1998). These two books reproduce a number of Caparne's iris paintings, and Guernsey My Heaven on Earth lists and describes many of the irises bred by Caparne. ,

The founder of the Dwarf Iris Society, Walter E. Welch, was born in Missouri in 1887. A musician and artist, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and was a talented interior decorator. After moving to Middlebury, Indiana, he worked for the U.S. Post Office Department. There he met Paul Cook and began hybridizing irises. He shared Cook's enthusiasm for dwarf irises, and set out to develop new forms for the garden. Welch introduced his first dwarf iris cultivars in 1950. One of these, 'Primus,' won the American Iris Society's Caparne Award, which was the top award restricted to dwarf irises at that time. Seven more of his dwarf introductions won this award: 'April Morn' (1954), 'Blazon' (1955), 'Sparkling Eyes' (1956), 'Veri Gay' (1958), 'Cherry Spot' (1960), 'Fashion Lady' (1964), and 'Atomic Blue' (1965).

Walter Welch organized the Dwarf Iris Club in 1950, and published the first dwarf iris Portfolio that same year. The Dwarf Iris Club later became the Dwarf Iris Society. Welch edited the Portfolio for 12 years. He founded the dwarf iris robin program and at one time was serving as director for eighteen robins. Even after he had relinquished his editor position for the Portfolio, he continued to contribute many learned articles. He organized the dwarf iris slide program. Walter Welch was tireless in his efforts to promote dwarf irises and to encourage younger hybridizers.

List of Caparne-Welch Medal winners - Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) Irises:

'Black Olive' 2023 - Paul Black	'Rivulet' 2022 - Keith Keppel	'Elf Esteem' 2021 - Paul Black	'Fairy Firefly' 2021 - Terry Aitken \
'Beetlejuice' 2019 - Paul Black	'Kayla's Song' 2018 - Donald Spoon	'Cute As A Button' 2017 - Paul Black	'Gecko Echo' 2016 - Brad Kasperek
'Keeno' 2015 - Thomas Johnson	'Icon' 2014 – Keith Keppel	'Trimmed Velvet' 2013 - Donald Spoon	'Dollop Of Cream' 2012 - Paul Black
'Fission Chips' 2011 - Keith Keppel	'Chemistry' 2010 - Paul Black	'Tiny Titan' 2009 - J. T. Aitken	'Yak Attack' 2008 - Brad Kasperek
'Wise' 2007 - Thomas Johnson	'African Wine' 2006 - Brad Kasperek	'Little Drummer Boy' 2005 - Dorothy & Anthony Willott	'Dinky Circus' 2004 - Paul Black
'Squiggles' 2003 - Lynda Miller	'Scruples' 2002 - Lynda Miller	'Hey There' 2001 - Carol Lankow	'Bugsy' 2000 - Ben Hager
'Tooth Fairy’ 1999 - Bennett Jones	'Snuggles' 1998 - Lynda Miller	'Grapelet' 1997 - Terry Aitken	'Cinnamon Apples' 1996 - By Paul Black
'Spot Of Tea' 1995 - Paul Black	‘Funny Face' 1994 - Mildred Brizendine	'Sparky' 1993 - Terry Aitken	'Chubby Cherub' 1992 - Terry Aitken
'Puppet Baby' 1991 - C. Boswell	'Pussytoes' 1990 - Anthony & Dorothy Willott	'Alpine Lake' 1989 - Anthony & Dorothy Willott	'Ditto' 1988 - Ben Hager
'Gizmo' 1987 - Ben Hager	'Garnet Elf' 1986 - Melba Hamblen	'Zipper’ 1985 - David Sindt	'Lemon Puff' 1984 - Bonnie Dunbar

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List of Caparne Award winners - Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) Irises:
(No Award in 1983. Awards of Merit for MDBs established in 1983, with initiation of the upgraded Caparne Medal scheduled for 1984.)

1982- 'Garnet Elf' - M. Hamblen	1981 - 'Penny Candy' - M. Hamblen	1980 - 'Nuggets' - D. Sindt
1979 - 'Libation' - B. Hager	1978 - 'Orchid Flair' - L. Mahood	1977 - 'Tom Thumb' - M. Hamblen
1976 - 'Curio' - B. Hager	1975 - 'Lemon Puff' - Dunbar	1974 - 'Three Cherries' - B. Hager
1973 - 'Buttercup Charm' - A. Brown	1972 - 'Sun Sparkle' - D. Sindt	1971 - 'Blue Beret' - E. Roberts
1970 - 'Bumble Wings' - E. Smith	1969 - 'Irish Doll' - A. Brown	1968 - 'Sky Caper' - Warburton
1967 - 'Knick-Knack' - Greenlee	1966 - 'Promise' - P. Cook	1965 - 'Atomic Blue' - W. Welch
1964 - 'Fashion Lady' - W. Welch	1963- 'Bee Wings' - A. Brown	1962 - 'Black Baby' - H. Sass
1961 - 'Angel Eyes' - B. Jones	1960 - 'Cherry Spot' - W. Welch	1959 - 'Blue Frost' - H. Doriot
1958 - 'Veri-Gay' - W. Welch	1957 - 'Path Of Gold' - E. Hodson	1956 - 'Sparkling Eyes' - W. Welch
1955 - 'Blazon' - W. Welch	1954 - 'April Morn' - W. Welch	1953 - 'Beauty Spot' - W. Marx
1952 - 'Atroviolacea' - A. Todaro	1951 - 'Primus' - W. Welch	1950 - 'Sound Money' - J. Sass

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-- Main.RPries - 2009-12-24