Selpfumtims 
OF THE 
Lyondel Gardens 
WARNING! 
It has come to my attention that a number of growers are advertising 
what is alleged to be Lyondel Hybrids. I wish to caution the buying public to 
make enquiries before purchasing such seeds or seedlings. If the seeds are 
not originally placed in packets at the Lyondel Gardens, they are not Lyon¬ 
dels; if the plants which are being offered for sale were not grown at the 
Lyondel Gardens, they are not Lyondels. It is true that one may purchase 
seeds from me, produce seedlings from such’ seeds and offer for sale, yet the 
customer has no assurance that these are genuine Lyondels. Please remem¬ 
ber: no one can offord to buy seeds or seedlings from me and then proceed to 
undersell me. Whenever such a thing occurs, you may be certain that some¬ 
one is perpetrating a falsehood. If a seed is not produced at the Lyondel Gar¬ 
dens by means of cross pollenization, it is not Lyondel; if seedlings do not 
come from such seeds, they are not Lyondels. When someone obtains a good 
plant from the Lyondel seeds, then collects his own seed from such a plant 
and offers it to the public as Lyondel, he is guilty of falsehood. 
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 
AN OPEN LETTER TO MY CUSTOMERS 
My Friends: 
Ten years ago my first delphinium bloomed for me. That was the be¬ 
ginning of the Lyondel Gardens. Since then many thousands of delphiniums 
have come and gone. Seeds from all over the world have been tested and 
their best qualities have been incorporated into the Lyondels. Newer offer¬ 
ings by the best breeders have been and will continue to be tested for quali¬ 
ties which may be lacking in my own strain. I appreciate the fact that any 
introduction of “new blood” into an established line of delphiniums is likely 
to give rise to unexpected changes. While some of these may be desirable, 
others may undoubtedly prove derogative. Because I have shared with you 
not only my tested and proven lines but the purely experimental sorts as well, 
chances are that you have obtained some seedlings which did not come up to 
the Lyondel standard. On the other hand, you have undoubtedly obtained 
some outstanding things which would not have appeared had it not been for 
this introduction of “new blood.” 
I realize that hybrid seeds are not reliable performers and sometimes, 
due to certain genetic combinations, they may not germinate well. For this 
reason I test all crosses which I place on the market in order to learn of their 
performance history. If a given line of crosses proves of poor germinating 
ability, it is not placed on the market; or if it germinates well but fails to 
produce flowers that will come up to Lyondel standards. I proceed to make 
amends. I have replaced seeds without waiting for your report. To many of 
you this has come as a pleasant surprise. I want you, my friends, to take it for 
granted because your loss is my loss, and your gain is my gain.. I shall continue 
to do business on the principle that your satisfaction is much more valuable to 
me than your money. 
If the Lyondel Hybrids are to continue to improve with each passing 
year, they must have not only your support, your praise, and your free 
advertising, but also your frank criticism. Certain defects may not show 
2 
