Mrs. Kathleen Meserve is the 
creative hybridizer and originator of 
the unique species of Holly, Ilex x 
meserveae—the new Blue Hollies. 
In 1946, this city born woman and 
her family moved to a Long Island, 
New York estate. She immediately 
became enamored of country life 
and the beauty of nature and grow- 
ing things. An intense person witha 
keen interest and great imagination, 
Mrs. Meserve became aware that 
her surroundings had a special beau- 
ty in the native American Holly 
which grew in abundance. The natu- 
ral outgrowth of her interest was to 
try her hand at hybridizing. 
Mrs. Meserve’s goal was to create 
a holly that would have all the 
luxuriant qualities of the English 
Holly and none of its shortcomings. 
It took years to produce the Blue Hollies. Truly an American success story ofa 
self-taught woman who has made her mark in the world of horticulture. 
Copyright 1976, The Conard-Pyle Co Printed in U.S.A. 
