The Iris Walk in May 



A somewhat similar one from Ingleborough, that Mr. 

 Farrer led me up to see and advised me to collect, 

 is interesting in that it has the appearance of the rare 

 northern C. radicans, with sagittate leaves, but it does 

 no radio-ing as do the true species and var. sibirica 

 and the emperor of the whole family, C. polypetala. I 

 do so greatly regret that the introducer to Britain of 

 this last noble plant denies the lovely legend that was 

 invented about it, and declares that the Vatican gardener 

 willingly presented portions of it to Miss H anbury, and 

 of course once it had reached La Mortola everyone knows 

 how generously it would be distributed. It was such a 

 good lie that I still try to believe it. I dare not grow 

 this giant among the others, or it would soon be all giant 

 and no others, so it has a corner of the pond to itself. 

 The white species of Caltha, C. biflora, C. leptosepala, and 

 C. rotundifolia, are in a choice corner of the rock garden 

 as they are such neat growers, but alas ! very stingy in 

 giving me any of their Grass of Parnassus-like flowers. 

 Right about turn and back to the river bank, please, 

 and on our left we find the Iris borders again. It is too 

 early for their great show of bloom, but the race of 

 Intermediate Irises raised and distributed by Mr. Caparne 

 of Guernsey come out in late May. Those I like best 

 are Golden Fleece, a large-flowered free form like a soft 

 yellow florentina ; Edith, a starch blue with darker shadings, 

 and Ivorine, creamy white. All of these have very showy 

 orange-coloured beards. The beds are mostly edged with 

 dwarf Irises, which keep up a succession of flowers from 

 the beginning of April to the end of May. These dwarf 

 forms have been known as pumila varieties, but except 

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