1 
FAIRMOUNT GARDENS 
foreword 
T his year I have decided to change the shape of the cata¬ 
logue, and also the name, from Fairmount Iris Gardens to 
Fairmount Gardens. I am doing the latter because, since 
issuing the first catalogue which dealt chiefly with Irises, I have 
become greatly interested in the development of Hemerocallis, and 
Oriental Poppies, and with the extensive lists of these other peren¬ 
nials which we offer at the present time it no longer seems 
desirable to give special prominence to the irises in the name of 
the garden. 
We shall have just as many of the better irises as in previous 
years, in fact more of them, but only varieties that I have found 
hardy and reliable in the garden, and thus worthy of being listed 
in my catalogue as plants of special merit. Each year I travel 
many hundred miles to see new irises, and I find it “money in my 
pocket” to see before I purchase many of the new introductions. 
Some irises that are lovely in color and form do not have qualities 
that will withstand the elements, and although they may have ex¬ 
quisite coloring, I have not added them to my collection for I feel 
that such discrimination in choosing new varieties adds to the confi¬ 
dence my customers have in selecting irises for their gardens. 
So often I am asked for a list of the different types of iris 
which will give the best succession of bloom, therefore I feel it will 
be helpful to give a list of them according to their flowering 
season. First are the Dwarf Bearded irises, colorful and sprightly, 
and especially suited to edging borders and rock garden planting. 
Next the Early Intermediate Bearded which bring a mass of color 
in May and give a prophecy of the beauty we may expect in June 
from the Tall Bearded Irises. No flowers of this genus give a 
wider range of color, and are more pleasing than the Tall Bearded, 
and none so completely fill the garden with an atmosphere of 
crisp cool loveliness. 
Blooming at the same time as the Tall Bearded are the Siber¬ 
ians with their tall graceful stems filled with airy butterfly-like 
flowers in white and varving shades of blue. They are especially 
effective when planted with the newer Oriental poppies. 
Qosely following are the Washington hvbrids of the Southern 
States irises. These are in clear tones of lavender, pink, blue, 
red, and rosy purple, the darker ones with a rich velvety lustre. 
They are very distinctive and have a beauty quite their own. They 
are especially adapted to planting around pools or half shady 
places, and are the loveliest and most effective of all for flower 
arrangement. 
Next come the Spurias, a not well known race, but with their 
decorative sword-like foliage and delicate blending of color in the 
flowers, they are a joy to anv iris lover. The Japanese are the last 
of the summer pageant of irises, and fortunate is the gardener who 
uses manv of these for thev will give a tidal w’ave of color for 
several weeks in late June and July. 
The Fall Blooming irises flower in September. If planted^ in 
a sheltered spot, and given plentv of fertilization and water during 
the summer months thev will be bright with bloom and full of 
interest until taken by the frost. 
T must not forget to mention the fascinating crested irises 
or Evansias. A planting in a half shady nook, of cristata Pearl 
White, blue and white Tectorum, the hybrid Oliver Twist, and 
Gracilipes, with maiden hair ferns as a background will give a 
picture of freshness and beautv that will be long remembered. 
To the average gardener, it is surprising to find so many types 
of iris and I think it is a mistake to use only the tall bearded in 
our gardens, for the addition of these others will add beauty and 
interest as well as lengthen the iris season. 
Recently, there have been many valuable additions to the 
irises, both Bearded, and Beardless types, and great advancement 
has been made in the clarity of color, but to my mind the greatest 
improvements have been in the form, substance, and hardiness of 
growth. It is no longer necesarv to have varieties that need codd¬ 
ling and special treatment in order to get perfection of bloom. 
Now to sav a few words about the Introductions, and newer 
irises added this year to my catalogue. It would take too long 
for me to tell you of them all, so I shall make brief mention only of 
those that seem to me to be especially distinctive and outstanding. 
In the yellows there is a wide range in color and beauty of 
form. Virgin is most lovely and ethereal with its large standards 
of white suffused with cream, the falls have a distinct lemon yellow 
band edging the white ground. China Clipper, a beautiful rich 
yellow with plicata markings of burnished gold, a splendid iris 
and a new break in yellows. Champagne Glow is a large glisten¬ 
ing cool yellow of great height and excellent branching, the flowers 
remind one of sparkling champagne. Golden Chimes, a freely 
flowering bright yellow of medium height and firm lacquered finish. 
Witching Hour is a luminous yellow with a slight pinkish tinge, 
and the most marvelous branching that I have ever seen in an 
iris stalk. Padishah, a profusely blooming medium yellow with 
strong wiry stems and great garden value. Marvelous is a very 
large domed flower of intense yellow with red Venetians at the 
haft, a brilliant iris that is well named. Jelloway, a clear deep 
yellow with exceptionally smooth form and finish. 
The white irises have reached great perfection of form and 
hardiness, and those that I have added this year are the following. 
White Butterfly, a perfectly formed flower of pure white charm¬ 
ingly ruffled at the edge. Nobility, a tall large white with a glow¬ 
ing yellow beard and heart. Snow King, a very well branched 
white that is well described by the name. 
There are not as many additions in the pinks as we would like 
to see, but these are the ones that I think especially good. Aubanel, 
a radiant flower of shrimp pink with yellow in the throat; one of 
the most outstanding irises of last season. Ballet Girl, a pale 
pink of rounded form and great delicacy of color. Apple Blossom 
is a soft clear pink of deeper tone than Ballet Girl and well des¬ 
cribed by the name. Morocco Rose, a glowing deep orchid pink 
with excellent form and substance, which attracted a great deal of 
attention in a midwestern garden last season. 
There have been manv additions to the blue irises, and the 
newer ones show more claritv of color, and range from palest 
blue to deep velvety blues with very little trace of purple in them. 
Missouri, the Dykes Medal winner in 1937 is a smoothly finished 
flower of medium blue and well deserves the honor which it re¬ 
ceived. Early Mass, a tall well branched light blue with standards 
slightly deeper than the falls. Exclusive, a rounded flower of soft 
periwinkle blue with a silvery frosted effect which is very pleasing. 
Blue Peter, an intense deep blue of almost sapphire blue tones 
which sparkles in the sunlight. Mme. Maurice Lassailly, the flax- 
blue standards and dark velvety blue-purple falls form a decided 
contrast that is most effective. Aline is not a very large flower 
but one of the bluest and most pleasing in this group. Narain, 
a real blue of fine form and silken finish. The Black Douglas, a 
large very dark blue-purple and is one of the best of these deep 
toned irises. 
The red irises show great variation in color, ranging from the 
purple reds to those with a strong influence of copper and brown. 
Ella Winchester is a rich garnet red with very velvety falls, a 
brilliant iris in the garden. Copper Crystal, a tawny warm sepia 
undertone, heavilv overlaid with deep brownish red, very velvety 
falls of heavy substance. One of the most popular irises in mv 
garden last season. Burning Bronze, a deep dusky red of sturdy 
errowth and excellent form. Sheba, a brilliant rosy red with a 
blending of color in the throat that adds greatly to its charm. 
Saracen is a lar.ge impressive iris of rich velvety mahogany red 
which received much praise last season. Voltigeur, a foreign va¬ 
riety of deep red and bronze. 
Purple irises are exceptionally good for color accents in the 
garden, and Dymia, a deep purple self with a dark blue_ beard is 
most effective ior such a purpose. Prof. S. B. Mitchell is a huge 
rose-purple self with extreme velvety substance on the falls, and 
Directeur Pinelle, a very dark maroon, made more brilliant bv the 
bright yellow beard are both excellent to use for such a snot. 
Mohrson, the new seedling from the famous hybrid Wm. Mohr 
is a handsome deep black purple with a glistening surface that 
