1940 
lyfnuiuaf i \AJeatlier 
Like California, Kansas has habitually unusual weather. A usual feature 
of this unusual weather is the late freeze. This year it was later and more 
severe than usual, bringing many anomalies. The phlox subulata that was to 
have bloomed with the daffodils is blooming with the lilacs—and the colors 
are wrong. The lilacs themselves squeaked narrowly into a glorious bloom. 
The Persians were too well developed and have been put out of the picture 
but the French hybrids have never been so lovely. Dependable intermediate 
iris, such as Zwanenberg, are blooming sparsely while the tenderer tall 
bearded—for instance Purissima or Souv. de Loetitia Michaud—are heavy 
with buds. The freeze was followed by several weeks of cool, rainy weather 
which has made the iris foliage rampant and makes certain stems taller than 
we have seen for many years. 
jtemS 
I rejoice in the prospect of so much bloom but the tall stems are not so 
welcome. We have too much wind here in Kansas. In spite of my many 
careful windbreaks I can foresee that many proud show stalks will bury their 
heads in the mud unless I am forehanded with the stakes. For our gardens 
Gudrun is a safer bet than Easter Mom; Baldwin more dependable than 
Sierra Blue. 
The short stem pogocyclus hybrids promise to be of special interest to us 
here if only we can obtain hardy varieties. This year I am growing a collec¬ 
tion of them which Mr. Clarence White generously sent to test for hardiness. 
They are all growing well and some of them will bloom. This is an interesting, 
an unusual group, and one which offers new fields for adventurous hybridizers. 
greetings and WJeUt 
come 
Besides the White hybrids I shall have a great number of new varieties 
of tall bearded iris to bloom for the first time this year. I am eager to see them 
and hope that many of you can see them, too. In spite of the later season the 
main bloom will occur, I believe, between May 20th and 25th. So au revoir 
until then. 
DOROTHY STONER 
DL A 
riS 
PHONE PLAINFIELD 1546 
5674 GOODMAN RD. 
MERRIAM, KANS. 
