Another flower which is not well known to many gardeners is the 
Oriental poppy. More and more important are the newer hybrids which have 
come through careful selective breeding. They are remarkable for their 
perfect color and form, giving delightful accents to the garden. 
There have been so many creations in the floral world that it has been 
necessary for me to use great care in selecting the newer ones which I have 
added to my catalogue, for it is my intention not to recommend any but 
those that I think most worthy of your consideraion. 
This season, I am introducing several irises, hemerocallis and Oriental 
poppies for other breeders, and I have used even greater discrimination in 
selecting these than I have in choosing new varieties which have been intro¬ 
duced through other gardens, for I feel that it is my responsibility to spon¬ 
sor only those with splendid qualities and great distinction of color. In the 
selection of my own seedlings for introduction this year, I have used great 
care, and only at the insistance of competent judges have I added them to 
this list of introductions. It is with a sense of pleasure and satisfaction 
that I submit these lists of outstanding varieties. 
Miss Grace Sturtevant, the dean of iris hybridizers, has discontinued 
her catalogue and commercial garden, and has entrusted to mei the intro¬ 
duction of her new irises for 1937. She will continue to have her exhibition 
garden, but the above change will give her more time to devote to hybrid¬ 
izing, and this gives promise of some new and beautiful irises. 
As in previous years, I have the exclusive introduction of the irises 
bred by Mr. T. A. Washington, and the new varieties are a great testimony 
to the skill of this hybridizer, who has always insisted that an iris must be 
tested thoroughly as to color, substance, and form before being introduced. 
It is his famous iris, Mary Geddes that won the Dykes Medal for 1936, the 
highest award that can be given an iris. Mary Geddes has had more honors 
showered upon it than any other iris, for it was given Honorable Mention 
by the American Iris Society in 1930, Award of Merit by the American Iris 
Society in 1933, Award of Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society of 
England in 1933 and the Dykes Medal in 1936. 
I wonder how many readers of this Foreword realize the value of these 
awards in selecting irises for their gardens. In most catalogues you will 
find the initials following the description of the irises which have been given 
any of these awards, and it insures that such irisea are very worthy of a 
place in any garden. I do not intend to infer that irises not having such 
commendation are not good irises, simply if you are not familiar with them, 
such a recommendation should give you confidence in making your selections. 
The Washington Hybrids ofj the Southern States Irises have attracted 
so much attention that again we are prompted to tell you of their great 
beauty and charm. Not only are they highly successful in America, but 
from England come reports of the great enthusiasm with which they have 
been received. In our northern gardens and in England the Louisiana and 
Florida species do not grow and bloom well, but the Washington hybrids of 
these species increase rapidly and flower so profusely that all seeing them 
in bloom, recognize their great garden value as well as their charming love¬ 
liness for flower arrangement. They adapt themselves to almost any place 
in the garden, but are especially effective planted near pools and in half 
shady places. The most beautiful and rare in the whole iris family. 
Others for whom I am introducing new seedlings this year are, Mrs. 
Edward C. Stahlman, Mrs. Marjorie S. Jennings, Mrs. Arthur Scott, and 
Mr. Paul H. Cook. 
All garden minded men and women look upon their gardens as a quiet 
haven, and find a continuous source of inspiration and pleasure as they 
realize that within their garden may be found real adventure, more exhil¬ 
arating than any modern romance. 
ELIZABETH NOBLE NESMITH 
April 10, 1937. 
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