MAKE "THE CITY BEAUTIFUL" 27 



Her scent a saturation of one tone, 

 Like her plain symmetry, leaves naught to fancy 

 Whereas this Iris she out vie th man's 

 Excellent artistry; elaboration 

 Confounded with simplicity, till none 

 Can tell which sprang of which. Could I but find 

 A scented Iris, I should be content: 

 Yet men would call me proud: Iris is pride." 

 Bridges: Demeter. 



In variety of colors the Iris is hardly equalled and is not sur- 

 passed by any other hardy plant, and it rivals even the orchids. 

 The colors range through shades of blue, bronze, claret, crimson, 

 lavender, mauve, maroon, pink, purple, red, rose, yellow, violet 

 and white. Some of the varieties are of solid color, the stand- 

 ards and falls being of the same or a different color; some are 

 margined or bordered, and many are more or less mottled, pen- 

 ciled or veined or netted in a variety of colors. The beard is 

 generally yellow, from primrose to orange, but sometimes it is 

 wholly or in part white, and in at least one variety Blue Boy- 

 it is blue. 



There is no flower that during the last few years has been 

 improved more than the Iris. One who has seen only the early 

 forms can have no conception of the marvels of today. If the 

 poets of the past who sang of the Iris as they knew it, could 

 witness the present glories of the hybridizer's art, they surely 

 again would attune their lyres and sing in even nobler strains. 

 And what would Thoreau think if he could witness the gorgeous- 

 ness of the Iris of our day? Of the purple Flag of the meadows, 

 that now seems dull by comparison, he said 



"Too showy and gaudy, like some women's bonnets." 



Blooming German Irises as a general rule bloom but once in 

 a season, except under especially favorable circumstances as in 

 California. A few varieties begin to bloom a little before the 

 middle of May, and the others from a few days to several weeks 

 later. In ordinary seasons they can be relied upon to furnish 

 an abundance of flowers on Decoration Day when flowers are 

 so much wanted and good flowers for outdoor decoration are 

 usually scarce. 



