170 MY GARDEN 



shade. They are easily raised from seed, the young 

 plants usually blooming the second or third year. 



The next most important group of these beardless 

 moisture lovers is the slender 7. sibirica and its varieties 

 symmetrical plants with lightly made fairy blossoms 

 poised delicately above the narrow, reflexing foliage. 

 Particularly pure and lovely is the white sort, I. sibirica 

 var. alba; and there are good blue, lavender, and purple 

 forms. These Siberians are most effective planted in 

 rather large groups, as a single plant is not strong enough 

 to create any great effect, and as the frail character of 

 their beauty suffers in comparison with their more robust 

 German cousins they are best kept out of each other's 

 company. 



A close relative of sibirica is 7. orientalis, which is not 

 to be confounded with that orientalis whose more 

 familiar name is 7. ochroleuca. Two varieties of the 

 Siberian orientalis, Blue King and Snow Queen, are 

 among the most conspicuous and valuable of garden 

 Irises. The one bears intense blue-purple blossoms 

 with reddish spathes and the other pure white in such 

 profusion as to almost hide the foliage. The ripened 

 seed pods are so numerous that they give the plant a 

 very untidy appearance after flowering, so it is best to 

 cut them off. All the Siberians are easily raised from 

 seed, and the plants when once established should 

 be left alone to perfect their beauty. They do as well 

 in the rich borders of the garden as in the moist 



