IRIS 



Iris and S~\ NLY one picture of Irises in a book of garden pictures seems 

 Tulip v J a roisteke, as they are among the loveliest and most effec- 

 tive of flowers, grouped either by themselves or with other 

 plants. But in "Garden Colour" I tried to suggest a few of the uses 

 to which they may be put, and gave illustrations of /ra reticulata, 

 the early Purple Flag, Iris germanica, sibirica, and kcempferL 

 The various Irises, as they flower, give opportunities for suc- 

 cessive colour-groups. For early effect the varieties of Iris 

 pumila must not be forgotten. Between the early Flags and 

 Iris germanica open the white Iris florentina and the rich dark 

 purple Kochi and Purple King ; these are the best for grouping 

 with Darwin Tulips. The sketch shows them with clumps of 

 the Tulips Loveliness and Margaret in two shades of pink. 

 Many possible combinations of colour arise in one's mind ; with 

 the white Iris it becomes only a matter of individual fancy. 

 The violet cups of Moralts and the paler shades of Erguste 

 or Coridion look well near it, but with the purple Irises the 

 choice has to be more carefully made as there are certain pink- 

 mauve Tulips, such as Ascanio, which clash very much with this 

 tone, and even the best of the mauve and purple Tulips are apt 

 to be killed by the brighter tones of the purple Iris. I should 

 recommend for combining with these Irises such pale mauves as 

 Nora Ware, or the Rev. H. Eivbank, or whites just flushed with 

 mauve, such as Painted Lady, Kate Greenaivay^ La Candeur, 

 etc., which are helped in effect by a neighbouring strong colour. 

 If a greater diversity of colouring is needed, the exquisite sulphur 

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