"An Iris Lover's Catalog’’ 
17 
Dark Blue Toned Iris 
Section 2C (Cont.) 
One of the finest Iris, vastly improved over its sire, Dominion, is 
Blue Velvet. Its clear lustrous blue standards contrast effectively with 
deeper polished velvety falls. The stem gives a well placed stalk. 
Valor has rounded, half flare falls which give it a very distinct shape; 
substance and form are fine; it is a blue-violet with blackish violet 
falls and a light margin on the falls. Royal Beauty: this bicolor is of 
the Dominion type with fine-sized blooms on well placed stems, not as 
deep as others but for stalk and garden habit it is the nearest approach 
to the ideal. Sir Michael is a most bewitching and novel Iris. Its 
unique combination of colors are most difficult to describe—clear 
azure blue stands with warm, bright brown-violet falls. The velvety 
brown reflex being lit up by an aura around the bright orange beard 
which creates a blending of colors one cannot forget. 
Winnieshiek, a pleasing rich blue and purple violet bicolor has 
slightly frilled standards and a large bloom. With its fine stems it is 
a very fine Iris. Colossus is a huge Iris—a rich, smooth-surfaced pur¬ 
ple violet with white beard; its massive size makes it most striking. 
India has a very much branched stalk, clear blue stands and deep blue 
purple falls with warm haft of brown. Mt. Royal, a large purple bi¬ 
color, is noted for its fragrance. A very rampant grower is M. A. 
Porter, a deep blue-purple of heavy substance; size above the average. 
Mabel Taft: another large type, not as dark nor as striking in color; 
size seeming to be its only feature. 
The famous Dominion with its deep rich lustrous velvety falls 
and blue standards still remains paramount for the velvety gloss of its 
falls. The stem is not ideal and it is a diffident grower. One of its 
offsprings, Swazi, is of deepest blue—rich and velvety—with a heavy 
gold beard and better branching. Zulu, very late blooming, a deep very 
blue-purple—has fine carrying quality. Its season adds to its value. 
Van Cleve, of similar color to the preceding, probably deeper, is also 
very late blooming. Prairie King is a fine type of Dominion bicolor 
with good branching, clear color and excellent plant habits^-a very 
worthy Iris. Mine. Serouge: this deep indigo bicolor is one of most 
marked contrasts. Its bloom is very late. 
Group 3—Violet and Blue Purples Blended 
A newcomer and a magnificent Iris is Tenaya, in general effect a 
solid, rich deep plum purple. The falls are a rich brown and the 
standards a deep violet indigo. Blooms have fine carriage and size, 
hafts solidly colored, the beard a subdued orange, branching moderate, 
and plant habit good. It is a vast improvement over Modoc and Ger¬ 
maine Perthuis and is one of Prof. Essig’s finest new Iris. 
Modoc, a most richly colored deep auricula purple with a warm 
brown undertone. Germaine Perthuis: an intense velvety violet-purple 
self with a warm undertone on the falls. Andante: another of our 
rich set—a velvety raisin purple. Klamath: an Iris of good form and 
substance, its stands are violet-purple with faint bronze tints; falls, 
deep prune color and heavier than standards and with a definite margin¬ 
ing. Lent A. Williamson: an early, strong-growing lavender-purple 
of rounded form. Majestic: a profusely blooming light lavender and 
violet-purple bicolor of Dominion origin. Tenebrae, a rich deep brown 
and deep purple, gives an effect of Rembrandt coloring. Prospero, a 
later blooming Lent A. Williamson, is clear blue, tall, and has stiffer 
stems. 
