The “Karen Joy Cofield” iris is a striking Tall Bearded variety with stems reaching 36 inches. Its pale yellow standards are touched with green at the base, complemented by softly veined lemon falls blushed with greenish hues that create a delicate harmony. Bright yellow beards offer a vibrant accent, while a faint sweet fragrance completes the bloom. The ruffled, full flowers are highly floriferous when grown in a clump. Flowering mid-season, this iris embodies resilience and grace—qualities that mirror the woman it commemorates.

Tim Taylor, congratulations. I am so proud of you, my love; my heart is full.

Co-owner and Partner, Maria Rosa

2025 will forever be remembered at Riversdale Irises as the year co-owner and hybridiser Tim Taylor—Timothy John Taylor—registered his first twelve Tall Bearded iris introductions. Among these, three met the eligibility criteria and were entered into the Dykes Medal Test Gardens across Australia. In December, Riversdale Irises received notification that Tim had been awarded the prestigious Australian Dykes Medal for his introduction “Karen Joy Cofield.” The Dykes Test Garden Coordinator delivered both the news and his congratulations. The first to offer congratulations and ongoing support were Graeme Grosvenor and John Taylor, who have been the sole Australian recipients of this award for most of the past thirty years. The Dykes Medal is the highest honour an iris can receive, awarded by the British Iris Society to the best iris hybridised in Australia. Only the finest irises qualify for consideration, and only the most exceptional are awarded the Dykes Medal. Notably, 2025 was the first growing year for this iris, which was planted in the test gardens in late March 2025.

At Riversdale Irises, we feel humbled by this recognition. Tim Taylor himself is not driven by being first, but rather by striving for perfection. We wish to thank Thomas Johnson from Mid-America Garden for his encouragement, friendship, and the annual opportunity to visit Mid-America Garden in the USA to hybridise with the newest material available. We are forever grateful. As Thomas has often remarked, “Tim has a good eye.” The cross for “Karen Joy Cofield” was made at Mid-America Garden in 2018–19, with the seed sent and grown in Australia. Our gratitude also extends to Barry Blyth from Tempo Two in Australia, who encouraged Tim many years ago and invited us to stay at the Blyth B&B so Tim could collect pollen. It was during one of these visits that we met Thomas Johnson and Keith Keppel. Barry Blyth’s advice—to not rush in registering a seedling, but to ensure it is memorable and worthy of inclusion in gardens and on the show bench—has resonated with Tim and continues to guide him during each bloom season. Thanks are also due to President of TISA Sarah Donehue, Australian Dykes Medal Test Garden Coordinator Michael Barnes, and Mark Lazzaro—fellow hybridiser, judge, and friend—for their encouragement and support. We are deeply grateful for the contributions and support from all involved. 

Who was Karen Joy Cofield? Karen was an irises enthusiast, a mother, and a wife, taken by cancer in 2017. In 2016, during bloom season, Max Cofield brought Karen to Riversdale Irises. That year, encouragement from the universe and a conversation with Max prompted us to invest in our iris future. Sadly, it was the last time we saw Karen, but her legacy lives on as Cofield Wines in Rutherglen, Victoria, hosts The Pink Pedal Party each year, with proceeds supporting the Albury Wodonga Cancer Research Centre. Since Karen’s passing, discussions with Max Cofield about naming an iris in her honour have continued. In 2019, a malicious act destroyed 80% of our irises, both on our property and on a leased block, but resilience, love, strength, and a hefty mortgage enabled us to rebuild. We are grateful for the support of family, friends, and supporters, both locally and abroad. We proudly present “Karen Joy Cofield”—Timothy John Taylor, 2025, Australian flowering, mid-season, 36 inches tall—as a living tribute ensuring Karen’s name flourishes in gardens across Australia and, eventually, the world.