Overland Par\, Kansas 
“Fie, fie, indeed! How wanton and perverse! 
Grow only flowers?—as well write only verse!’’ 
Opus Seven 
by Silvia Townsend Warner. 
Postscript 193 5 
There is a saying that a woman’s postscripts are the most important part 
of her writings. Certainly I feel that my one chance to talk to you all is a 
valuable privilege. And now the needs of make-up have shoved it to the end. 
Contests 
Last year’s contest brought a lot of work just when I didn’t have the time 
to do it and I swore off contests. But everyone else seemed to want one so I 
tried to think up one. A poem of Yetz Gillespie’s (one of the old faithfuls on 
the customer list—not that Miss Gillespie is old!) gave me a notion to have a 
poetry contest. Among the Kansas City customers I know that Mr. Nowlin and 
she write good verse. There must be many more of you and I should like to 
meet you. 
Therefore I shall offer $25.00 in iris to the customer sending in an orig¬ 
inal poem on iris most suitable for a frontispiece for next year's catalog. (And I 
hope you appreciate, as much as I do, Miss Millay’s kindness in allowing me to 
use her “Observe How Miyanoshita” in that position this year.) The final 
judge will be Genevieve Taggard, of Bennington, Vt. I shall write you if you 
are the winner, but otherwise please remember how busy I am and wait until 
next year for the announcement and the poem. Also please enclose postage if 
you want your manuscript returned. 
Since some of us are mute Miltons, here is another contest. For the photo¬ 
graph of irises, varieties named if possible, most suitable for use in the 1936 
catalog, I offer $25 worth of irises as a first prize, $10 worth as a second 
and $5 worth as a third. William J. Reese, of Merriam, Kans., will be the final 
judge for the photographs. Please enclose postage if you want your photographs 
returned. Send all entries to me. 
The zero hour on both contests is August 1st. No entries accepted after 
that date. 
Proof by Adversity 
It seems incredible that newly set plants should remain without water for 
a month during which the ground temperature daily hovered about 150 degrees, 
and not only survive but grow and bloom the next year. Yet I have only to 
look at the forest of buds outside my window to know that truth is indeed 
strange and that irises have again proved themselves to be the perennial most 
adapted to our own peculiar climate. 
Again My Best Wishes 
Blooming time is here, and again I hope that as many of you, as can, come 
to see my garden. I wish that I could see yours. But I know that you are happy 
in your gardens and here are my best wishes for continued happiness. 
Not in the Dust Storm Area. Spring rains have been normal. 
The Iris Garden 
c£>o 
DOROTHY STONER 
Overland Park, Kansas 
Phone Overland 57F12 
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