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There is an irresistible allure in the first pulsation of spring, in the an¬ 
ticipation of the flowering of new plants and the welcoming of old-time 
favorites. This is a bond of sympathy and understanding that is shared by 
all garden-minded men and women. 
In most gardeners we note a deeply rooted wish for more flowers that 
will give a longer season of bloom, and the great interest of the present day 
is in the direction of acquiring more plants that will carry out this desire. 
Each year in my catalogue it is my intention to present a list of plants 
which might well be termed the foundation of a summer flower garden, 
and to do this in such a manner that even the inexperienced gardeners may 
work out their own schemes of planting with very satisfactory results. 
Frequently I have been asked by prospective customers concerning the 
size of plants which I send out, and in consequence, I am adding this quota¬ 
tion. One day last season a Federal plant inspector was here when we were 
shipping plants, and his comments were as follows: “If I were you I should 
certainly mention in your catalogue the size and splendid root growth of the 
plants which you send out, for in all my tours of inspection never have I 
seen such well-developed plants, such clean stock, and such strong root 
growth, as well as careful packing.” 
Ever since I blazed the trail by offering a large selection of Hemerocallis 
it has been extremely gratifying to note the intensive interest which has been 
displayed in this adventure- In the newer Hemerocallis or Daylilies we 
have a wealth of choice, for they come in varying shades—palest yellow, 
brilliant gold, orange, coppery pink, salmony pink, soft old rose and deep 
rose-reds, yet all unite in one perfect harmony of color, giving continuous 
bloom from May to September. These lily-like flowers, whose large and 
lovely clusters vary greatly in size, height and time of bloom, are borne well 
above the fresh green foliage. When once planted they need very little at¬ 
tention and are well worthy of a place of importance in any garden. 
The more recent Oriental poppies are the last word in refinement of 
color, with their deep open goblets of white, flesh, lavender, salmon-pink, 
cherry-pink, silken old rose and ruby-red, and are singularly telling placed 
in groups or used in bold relief. They have an individuality of their own 
which is a most important factor in their use in garden pictures. 
Of the modern delphiniums I prefer the Lyondel Hybrids and the Hood- 
acre Whites. They have extremely large flowers with a glorious range of 
color and are carried on strong, well branched stalks. In their first bloom¬ 
ing they combine perfectly with Oriental poppies, in their second flowering, 
when grouped with the hemerocallis, they create a garden detail of splen¬ 
did color contrast. Another excellent arrangement is that of delphiniums 
and peonies, for the attractive foliage of the latter will conceal the unsight¬ 
liness of the delphiniums during their period of summer rest. 
Of all loved flowers, none is more worthy of recognition than the iris, 
for in them we find almost complete range of color and they give us bloom 
from early spring until late autumn. Each year the Tall Bearded are more 
lovely and varied in size and hue, but it is to Dwarfs, Intermediates and 
Fall Blooming irises that we owe the long extension of season. 
In the Beardless section we have the Siberians, the Japanese and the 
beautiful and little known Spurias, but the most glorious of all these irises 
are the Washington Hybrids of the Southern States species. Never shall I 
forget my first sight of them growing in great profusion, for they surpassed 
anything that I had hitherto seen, and instantly I succumbed to their ex¬ 
quisite beauty. Imagine a planting alight with white, pink, mauve, blue, 
copper, and velvety red, their color tones infinitely varied, but always har- 
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