AN IRIS GARDEN 



is supposed to be to plant them in good bog earth. Yet 

 in the water garden many of them thrive in absolute 

 marsh land, even with their roots sunk deeply in 

 water. 



Again, these irises will do well in dry ground so 

 long as they are supplied with abundant and frequent 

 drinks of water. In a border where the soil is not 

 particularly rich, I have made them grow and blossom 

 in sufficient luxury to astonish those unacquainted 

 with their results when given a better situation and 

 more copious moisture. This, nevertheless, was an 

 experiment. Ordinarily they will not do themselves 

 justice in dry places. 



Of these Japanese irises, there are both single and 

 double varieties, and so many forms and colors of each 

 that to choose among them is often a matter of embar- 

 rassment. To make an unfortunate selection, however, 

 is hardly in the realm of the possible, since they seem 

 to have most skilfully banished hideousness and all 

 its attributes. 



Although the iris holds in undisputed sway the 

 government of the East Hampton garden, there occur 

 in the shimmering water above which the dikes are 

 raised, many beautiful pond-lilies. They wait at the 

 feet of the irises and add to their fascinations with 

 a wealth of sweet scents and chaste loveliness; for 

 frequently in gardens one thing builds up another: 

 inspiration follows inspiration quickly. Had this garden 

 never been specialized for irises, an appropriate place 

 for these water-lilies might not have been found. 



At many country places near the sea, besides the one 



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