

THE IRIS NEWS 
A. B. Katkamier 
Macedon, N. Y. 
Dedicated To All Who Enjoy the Great Out of Doors Particularly Those who Love Beautiful Flowers 

What They Say 
“Every life has its final answer—the death of the body and the 
continuing of the spirit-soul throughout the wide expanse of God’s 
universe during all eternity. How well you have depicted these 
things in your essay “We Are Immortal.”—J. C. W., Va. 
“T, too, believe ‘We Are Immortal.’ Your thoughts on the true 
and the beautiful as presented in flowers and nature and folks are 
so easy to understand. You must have read many books. And your 
idea of the spirit-life through eternity is convincing.”—MRS. a 
ve 
“Your composition ‘We Are Immortal’ is very touching and com- 
forting. Each time I read it I get a new uplift.”—W. B. W., Ohio. 
“J read over and over your ‘Iris News’ and dream and dream. I 
like your article ‘We Are Immortal’ very much. I copied it and 
sent to several friends. Of course I told them where I found it.” 
—MRS. Z. E. MeM., Ga. 
“May I first tell you how beautiful your ‘We Are Immortal’ is. 
It is so true. I have framed it and it is on my living-room wall.” 
—MRS. G. H. K., N. Y. 
“JT have just received a copy of ‘Iris News’ from a friend. May 
I tell you how much I have enjoyed ‘We Are Immortal.’ The thoughts 
are very inspiring and very beautifully worded.”—MRS. J. B 
Colo. 
“Your ‘Iris News’ is truly an interesting publication. I have read 
your ‘We Are Immortal’ through several times. It contains a deep 
spiritual thought which I have not found in anything else I have 
read.”—L. B. H., Iowa. 
“Your editorial ‘We Are Immortal’ is remarkable in that it furn- 
ishes a complete program for the future life beyond the cemetery. 
I never have seen anything like it.”"—E. W. C., W. Va. 
“The one who thoughtfully reads the few hundred words in your 
‘We Are Immortal’ will be convinced that the spirit-life is for every 
human being no matter what the creed, color or station in life.”— 
R. O. H., Utah. 
“Was deeply impressed with your views of the afterlife as ex- 
pressed in the article ‘We Are Immortal.’ That article will doubtless 
prove a great source of consolation to many.”’—T. T. C., Calif. 
“Reading your ‘We Are Immortal’ I am prompted to congratulate 
you on your literary ability.”—W. E., Conn. 
“I wish it were possible that everyone could read your article 
‘We Are Immortal.’ The words helped to awaken in me the reality 
of spiritual life as well as the life here on earth. If read by all, the 
world would be a better place in which to live.’—W. W. W., Okla. 
“Your simple and beautiful lines in ‘We Are Immortal’ are better 
than all the pomp and fanfare of present day religions. Through 
your words each garden seems an unsullied cathedral.”—F. H. K. 
N. J. 
“Thank you for ‘The Iris News.’ It is like a friend you can talk 
with. I have read many times your article ‘We Are Immortal.”— 
MRS. R. P. L., So. Dak. 
“J enjoyed reading ‘We Are Immortal’ very much, for its words 
gave me great comfort and I'm going to pass it on to my friends 
to read.”—G. B., Minn. 
“Thanks for your ‘Iris News,’ and the article ‘We Are Immortal’ 
does make one realize there is a spirit-life beyond the grave.”— 
MRS. R. M. J., Md 
“Your ‘We Are Immortal’ is beautiful. 
” 
” 
It makes one feel better 
after reading it.”—MRS. J. E. B., Ala. 
“We Are Immortal’ is wonderful—such a relief to read some- 
thing like that for a change.”—MRS. P. O. M., Ills. 
“I sure enjoy ‘Iris News.’ ‘We Are Immortal’ is one of the most 
wonderful pieces I ever read. Again and again as I read it I always 
seem to find a new encouragement.’”’—D. C., Tenn. 
“Your ‘Iris News’ is inspiring reading. It must mean a great deal 
to more people than you can ever know. How did you come to write 
‘We Are Immortal?’ I know a number of people who would like 
to know.’’—MISS F. A. W., Mass. 
“Your ‘We Are Immortal’ is very good to read each day.””— 
Cc. D. C., Kans. 
“Since reading your lines ‘We Are Immortal’ I can see the beauty 
of God in all things.”—MRS. I. W., Mich. 
“IT do enjoy your ‘We Are Immortal.’ 
R. A. C., Ariz. 
“Stripped of the vast, complicated and confused features of the 
prevailing religions your ‘We Are Immortal’ is a digest of the 
essential thought regarding the true and the beautiful in this life 
and the spirit-life ahead for us all.”—J. T. V., Idaho. 
“Your ‘We Are Immortal’ is a wonderful group of words and I 
don’t think any one could write such who had not learned to see 
beauty in everything. Please have your picture in the next ‘Iris 
News.’ I would like to see one who can write such consoling and 
uplifting words.”—MRS. E. R., Ga. 
“Your program ‘We Are Immortal’ provides a working model, 
brief yet comprehensive, by which thoughtful people of all ages, 
countries and creeds can receive a clear and convincing understand- 
ing of the methods and actions of the spirit-life beyond the death 
of the body.’’—MRS. Z. B. A., N. Mex. 
“T enjoyed reading your ‘We Are Immortal’ very much for its 
words give me great comfort.’’—G. B., Minn. 
“Thank you for your beautiful words in ‘We Are Immortal.’ They 
are very inspiring and help me to see more good in my neighbors and 
to appreciate so much of beauty near by and far away.’—MRS. 
P. R. K., Minn, E 
“I have framed your beautiful ‘We Are Immortal.’ It surely is an 
inspiration to a mother with four sons in the service. Thank you 
so much.”—MRS. M. L., Okla. 
“JT want to thank you for the very beautiful words in ‘We Are 
Immortal.’ I find them very inspiring.’”—MRS. R. P. K., Minn. 
“T have framed your ‘We Are Immortal’ and it has a place over 
my desk. It is a great inspiration and consolation to me in my double 
sorrow. My beloved daughter, a pilot training flyers, 27 years old 
was killed in an air crash—a male official at the controls. Our only 
son a B-24 Bomber pilot was shot down over Vienna Oct. 7, 1944. 
Our family cut square in two—and a baby boy 5 months old never to 
see his father. I feel I never could have carried on without my 
flowers to work with and to love.’’—MRS. A. F. J., Wash. 
“IT had good luck with the Chrysanthemums I planted out last 
fall.’—MRS. H. J., Kans. 5 
- “Received the poppy roots in excellent condition. Planted them 
the same day. They are beginning to grow already and are looking 
fine. I am delighted with them. Thanks also for the gift, you are 
most generous.”—MRS. G. E. M., N. Hamp. 
“I can get the most out of Iris in lovely colors and sweet fra- 
grances for the little time and attention I can give my plants.”— 
MRS. J. W. N., New York. z - 
I read it often.’”—MRS. 

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Gorgeous Oriental Poppy 
I like Oriental Poppies—even the “old fashioned red.” A clump 
of any of them will make the other flowers in the garden “stand 
out” in a way to be talked about. They bloom freely and do well 
in any sunny spot in the garden. An established clump will bear 
a dozen or more fiowers, of gigantic size and gorgeous coloring, 
varying from crushed raspberry to old rose, from deep red to 
orange, from mulberry to white and from salmon to pink. 
The Oriental Poppies bloom with the Irises in happy association, 
forming a striking and lovely garden picture. 
Fairy—Refined pure pink flowers, dainty and lovely........... $.15 
Glowing Embers—Rich red, crinkled petals. Distinct foliage... .15 
Lord Lambourne—Deeply fringed petals, scarlet with black....  .15 
May Sadler—Immense flowers of buff pink. One of the best. . 15 
Mrs. Ballego—Large, salmon-pink with black spots at base..... «15 
Mrs. Perry—Bright strawberry-pink. Blooms early............ 15 
Olympia—Only double poppy, red petals, no blotch. Early..... 15 
Orientale—Scarlet. The “old fashioned” variety. Vigorous.... .15 
Perfection—Dark pink petals. Late blooming ................ 15 
Perry’s White—White petals with slight touch of pink at base..  .15 


Purity—The finest of all pink poppies. No markings.......... ad 
Wurtembergia—Bright, silky red petals. Largest blooms...... 15 
Oriental Poppy Plants maiied from Aug. Ist Only 
Hardy Phlox 
Africa—A- very).attractive. scarlet sii. « oc\ oie severe tere Slayers ve en $.18 
Bridesmaid—White with pink eye.............2....--...0005. -18 
Border Queen—A good grower with large, pure pink flowers.... .18 
Daily Sketch—Salmon-pink with carmine eye.................. 18 
Europa—One of the white varieties with a crimson eye ....... 18 
Leo Schlogeter—Large trusses, scarlet, dark crimson eye...... 18 
Mrs. Jenkins—A fine, early pure white ....... .......... 18 
Painted Lady—Silver-pink shaded salmon. Cherry red eye 18 
Rheinlander—A very beautiful salmon pink ............ 8 
Starlight—Violet red, shading to lilac, white center .... 18 
Thor—Salmon-pink shaded scarlet, analine red eye .......... 18 
Von Hochberg—One of the very best of the real dark reds...... «18 
Widar—Light violet, pink tinge, white center.................. 18 
Funkia or Plantation Lily 
Subcordata Grandiflora—Pure white. Lily shaped, very fragrant. 
AuguBt ie cet : ae om LS eee Lee tava tanta ot 
Lancifolia — Long, narrow green leaves, lilac-blue fiowers. 
AUGUST ener etre Fee eee sec atal eivinde soeeesIat  oapae TNS onelcbe pp > -20 
Variegata—Variegated foliage, blue flowers... ......... 25 
name called. We have ten varieties with double flowers at 18 cents 
each. Assorted colors. 
Bleeding-Heart—Grandmother’s favorite flower and no modern 
“Bleeding Heart” 
(Dicenira $ pectabilis) 
n I was a boy there grew in my grandmother’s 
cote garden two plants of the old-fashioned Bleeding 
Heart. One of these plants grew in bright sunshine and 
bloomed ten days earlier than the other plant which was 
growing in partial shade. The plant in the sun produced 
more flowers than the plant in the shade. But the foliage 
that grew in the shade was more luxuriant and grace- 
ful and thus compensated for any lessening of the 
number of flowers produced. 
On January 5, 1946 I placed four plants of these old- 
fashioned Bleeding Hearts in a five inch flower pot. 
Within three days all the buds had appeared above the 
surface and all but one proved to be flower buds. This 
is being written the 2ist day of January, 1946 and a 
number of the flower buds are already showing a pink- 
ish color, and the heart-shape of the flower is beginning 
to develop. The flowers are produced on the under side 
of wiry stems which starts near the center of the plant 
and: curves up and over, like a rainbow. 
Usually six to ten of the pink to rose-red heart- 
shaped flowers hang pendant from the curved stems. 
Individual blooms are about three fourths of an inch 
wide. 
The leaf stalks start in early spring and bear greenish 
leaves, formed and spaced very much like those of the 
Aquelegia. A Bleeding Heart plant will continue in 
bloom from four to six weeks. Soon after blooming the 
leaves and stems die down. 
The old-time garden rarely was without this con- 
spicuous and lovely plant with its marvellous flowers. It 
may be that your garden can be made beautifully dif- 
ferent from other gardens with a few plants of Bleeding 
Heart (Dicentra Spectabilis) the old-fashioned kind. 
One plant, twenty-five cents; five plants, one dollar. 
The Bleeding Heart plants bought of you last spring bloomed 
beautifully for over a month. Your Iris plants also were very satis- 
flower excels it in beauty 

factory.—C. O. A., Mont. 
We Are Immortal 
(Copyright 1945 A. B. Katkamier) 
The most profound thought that can enter the mind is the idea of a 
spirit-life beyond the grave, continuous in eternity. 
The charm of the beautiful things of life and nature are a preface to the 
sublime features of the eventful beyond. May we all look more and more 
for the beautiful, ever-present in humanity and in the smallest particle of 
substance to the largest object in our marvelous universe. 
Through the procession of the seasons, in the spirit-soul, following our 
separate inclination, we will be with the gorgeous iris, the appealing rose, 
the nodding poppy, the stately chrysanthemum. We will be with the multi- 
tude of other flowers, in their fascinating fragrances and colors and with 
each seed with its urge to reproduce, that succeeding plants may grow and 
bloom. In autumn, when the maturing leaves take on their lovely tints, there 
we will be with each Nature-painted leaf. 
We will be with the curve of the rainbow with its hues of promise, with 
the rose-toned sky of the morning and with the resplendent sunset with its 
deep purples, its reds, its gold and its cerulean blue. 
We will be with the balmy breeze, the refreshing water, the invigorating 
air, the impressive mountain, the pleasant valley, the picturesque landscape, 
the universal grass, all forms of life, the boundless sea, the fruitful soil, the 
tasteful, nourishing foods, the brilliant evolving light of the sun, the quiet 
light of the moon and with the countless stars sparkling in endless space— 
there we will be to appreciate and wonder. 
We will be with the cheerful song of birds, with hearty laughter and 
with the musical harmony of all melodious sounds. 
We will be with the art of the mind and the artistry of the hand, with 
the glad greeting of friends, the responsive touch of personality, the pro- 
vocative flash of eyes, the ecstatic kiss of lovers, the smiles of children, the 
bouyancy of youth, the comforting caress of mothers and with the under- 
standing fellowship of fathers. ; 
_We will be in the happiness of conversation, the inspiration of encour- 
aging words, the performance of neighborly deeds—wherever there is will- 
ing help, steadfast loyalty, confiding faith, thoughtful kindness and the 
thrill of joy. 
Being awakened to the grandeur of Nature, the good in people and the 
reality of Diety, is Heaven onearth. _ 
God is a Spirit and His spirit vibrant-impulses radiate from His spirit- 
soul and permeate to the uttermost parts of everywhere and find a pulsating 
response in everything. The vibrant-impulses of our spirit-soul—our con- 
sciousness—infiltrate and attune to God’s vibrant-impulses and we are par- 
_ takers of His Divine presence. Where God’s spirit-soul is, our individual, 
ever-living spirit-soul will be also. ; : 
And thus, in passing from our earth-life, we explore, each in our differ- 
ing, quickened comprehension, the unknown mystical future, continuing 
and advancing our soul spirit-life, sharing with all mankind, the splendors 
; and satisfactions of eternal bliss and peace. This is Heaven of the spirit. 
For the Life of Yesterday goes on Today and throughout all Time. _ 
___ Let us meditate on these things each morning and each evening. 
a ee ee A,B, Katkamier, Macedon, N. Y. 
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