10 
Carl Purdy, Ukiah, California 
(TRUE MARIPOSA TULIPS— Continued) 
“Mariposa” is simply the Spansh word for butterfly, and is applied to these 
Tulips because the eyes and markings of the flowers are so much like those 
on a butterfly’s wings. It is a musical word given to a county and to a town in 
California, and we would hardly like to give it up for its English equivalent. 
Time of Flowering of Butterfly Tulips. In Calif., May to June. In the East, 
not more than two weeks later. 
Venustus Citrinus. A most satisfactory hardy species with deep rich yellow 
flowers with a black eye. Most excellent. 6 cts. each; 60 cts. per doz.; $4 
per 100. 
Venustus Citrinus Rare Hybrids offer a revelation in variety in shades of yel¬ 
low to buff, all pretti’y marked and no two alike. 7 cts. each; 70 cts. per dozen. 
Venustus El Dorado. The plants of this strain grow from 1 to 2 feet high 
and branch. The flowers are simply marvelous in their variety of colors and 
markings. Scarcely two are alike; in a mixed lot they may vary through white, 
lilac to purple and again through shades of pink to deep claret-red. No plant 
subjected to the hybridizer’s art shows wider or more beautiful variations. In 
any mixture whites, more or less eyed, predominate. There is no better invest¬ 
ment for the flower-lover than a quantity of these bulbs. They thrive best in a 
rather porous soil, either sandy or gritty, and will grow either in sun or light 
shade. Flowers are 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Mixed colors at 6 cts. each; 
60 cts. per doz.; $4 per 100. 
Venustus Oculatus, like Citrinus , but wonderfully varied in whites and creams, 
more or less tinted purple, and with very rich eyes. I have had the flowers 
4 inches across. The plant is a good grower, and the flowers are most satisfac¬ 
tory. 6 cts. each; 60 cts. per doz.; $4 per 100. 
Venustus oculatus “Vivid” is an exceptionally hardy strain with color extremely 
variable but all suffused with purple, the outside of the cup a deep purple while 
the inner cup is beautifully margined or suffused with rich shades from lilac to 
deep purple and the eye is surrounded with a creamy yellow halo. The all purple 
ones are most striking. In a dozen no two alike. 7 cts. each; 70 cts. per doz. 
Venustus Purpurascens resembles Vesta in habit. This is a superb strain 
with the fine growing qualities of Vesta , and with fine flowers lilac to purple, 
darker on the outside. 7 cts. each; 75 cts. per doz. 
Vesta likes full sun and will grow best in heavy soils. It is a species of my 
own, found on heavy clay soils, is the best grower of all Calochortus, and will 
succeed in almost any ordinary soil. It is a most superb thing, with great 3 to 
5-inch flowers, borne on long, separate branches; very numerous. The color is 
white, flushed with lilac or rosy purple, red at center, and purple on backs of 
petals. I think this the best of all Calochortus. Reports from European growers 
put it in the first rank. I have very large bulbs at 10 cts. each, or $1 per doz.; 
good bulbs at 7 cts. each, or 60 cts. per doz., and small bulbs to naturalize at 
$3 per 100. 
Vesta Rose Shades. A special mixed strain of this marvelous species in shades 
of pink to deep rose. 15 cts. each; $1.50 per doz. 
MARIPOSA TULIPS IN MIXTURE. A mixture of fine Mariposa Tulips for 
50 cts. per doz. and $3.50 per 100. 
MARIPOSA TULIP COLLECTONS. I put up a collection of four species, 
25 bulbs each, 100 in all, named, for $4, and will supply a half collection for 
$2.25. 
CALOCHORTUS. All sorts. Mixed. 40 cts. per doz.; $3 for 100. 
OTHER MARIPOSA TULIPS 
There are on the Pacific Coast of North America, from British Columbia to 
far down in Old Mexico, a wonderful series of other Mariposa Tulips. They 
must be seen in order to realize the superb variations. At this time I can offer 
only the following fine species. They flower from May to late June: 
Clavatus. The largest flowered and the stoutest stemmed of all Mariposa 
Tulips. The blooms, which are shaped like a bowl, are often over 4 inches 
across, of a deep yellow, and the lower half covered by stiff yellow hairs. 15 
cts. each; $1.50 per doz. 
