"An Iris Lover’s Catalog” 
9 
Light Blue Toned Lavender 
Section lA 
To lovers of flowers, one of the most inspirational sights imagin¬ 
able, is the shimmering beauty of a drift of light blue Iris in the 
garden; with its airy celestial atmosphere it suggests heavenly beauty 
brought down to earth. The wonderful color range in this division 
of blues particularly presents a fascinating field for study and enjoy¬ 
ment. 
In this group of all the blue Iris are three registers of blue: light, 
medium, and dark. Section lA is that division which groups to¬ 
gether only the light blue. These are further divided according to 
minor differences which may prove of interest. 
Group 1—Bluer Selfs and Near Selfs 
Foremost among the light blue seifs is El Capitan, one of the 
finest light blues, of exquisite coloring. Large blooms on fine stems, 
deservedly one of the most popular light blues. Its counterpart in 
cornflower blue is Sensation, another extra fine Iris, a tone deeper with 
a remarkably heavy substance. Pacific, a tone darker, presents a novel 
unity of blue without a distracting factor—the beard being incon¬ 
spicuous. Sonv. De Loetitia Michaud is a queenly beauty, with a 
glistening golden heart and beard, against which is a foil of soft 
lavender blue. All of these belong to our grouping of the 100 Best 
Iris. We consider them really the finest of the light blues. 
Two recent additions to the light blues are: Buechley^s Giant, a 
large striking light blue on tall stems, a very fine Iris but not quite the 
equal of that peer of the blues, El Capitan. Paulette is the other 
arrival. It is a pleasant rich, even self blue; pure and very classical look¬ 
ing. If the 100 class had an auxilliary, Paulette would surely rank 
first. Personally I like it very much. Huguette, another of Mons. 
Millet’s is a tone darker, flowers are of the same type. For preciseness 
and a classical example of form we are especially fond of Princess 
Beatrice; its texture, tone, and form are all points of unusual merit. 
Gabriel and its counterpart E. H. Jenkins are two examples of finely 
branched stems, well balanced flowers, and pretty subjects—light 
blues with a slightly heavier cast on the falls. 
Closely following these we have many worthy claimants for 
notice. Since it is necessary to draw a line somewhere some varieties 
are bound to seem slighted. The pale lavenders with bright golden 
hearts make very delightful subjects. Mary Barnett is one of the 
finest; a striking combination of pale lavender with an intense orange 
beard. 
Gleam follows so closely that 1 think preference is merely a mat¬ 
ter of opinion. A bit deeper in tone, more rounded in form, and with 
me, not quite as large. Duke of York is another along these lines—a 
very satisfactory Iris. Blue Hill is a very close contestant to Sen¬ 
sation; not of the same form, but frilled, and one-half tone darker; 
recommended for localities where Sensation does not prove satisfactory. 
Here, where both can be grown, Sensation is undoubtedly superior. 
Paltec, a botanical curiosity, is a cross of Tectorum and Pallida. 
Light blue with a curious darker mottling, a ciest and beard. Western 
Skies is an airily carried, heavy substanced flower with finely branched 
stems and yellow beard. 
