The Lena Lothrop 
| erica 18th Sisat @ Sin Bernarding, 
Inises and Daffodils : 
1946 IJnises 



Please note my new address. Because my irises were planted late in 
this location they have not bloomed normally but they are growing well 
and next year should be better than ever before. This soil is the best I have 
worked, in more than twenty years of gardening. 
I have stock, with which to fill orders, growing in Oregon and only 
good rhizomes will be sold. : 
Last year in my foreword I stressed reliability in irises; this year let 
us add quality in irises. 
It requires no more work, water or fertilizer to grow a good iris and 
it is cheapér in the long run for a good iris will give lasting satisfaction 
‘while a poor one will be thrown over the fence. 
Often I am asked to define a good iris. Not long ago I heard a lecture 
on flower arrangement. The speaker wrote on a blackboard “Elements of 
Art,”” and under this the words ‘‘Line,”’ “Form,” “Color,” ‘“‘Texture.” She 
then wrote “Principals of Art,’? followed by ‘‘Proportion,” “Balance,” 
“Symmetry,” etc. Immediately I thought ‘“‘She is naming the good points of 
an iris.” We who love irises will notice the line, form, color and texture 
of an iris flower and whether it has proportion. We will see if the stalk is 
in proportion to the flower, if it has balance in its branches, and if the 
whole flower is symmetrical. On my own I would add the word, substance. 
The lecturer thought texture embraced substance, but my understanding 
is that the grain of the flower indicates texture whether it be course or fine. 
Substance, to me, means thickness, or firmness of the petals. Substance 
keeps the flowers from collapsing—helps to protect them from the depre- 
dations of wind, sun and rain. Thickness of petals (substance) improves 
the color because layer upon layer of color particles could not help but 
deepen and intensify color. Fine texture produces a sheen like satin’ or 
the appearance of velvet. One of the most important things to remember 
is that color is not everything. 
Most irises have faults; the one that has few is a joy forever. 

“Tf thou of fortune be bereft 
And in thy store there be but left 
Two loaves, sell one and with the dole 
Buy daffodils to feed thy soul.” 
Daffodils 
T have discontinued selling daffodils 
except those which originated in the 
Reynolds garden. These are tops in qual- Before introducing any irises I want 
ity. There is no need for importing daf- 
fodils when such superior varieties are 
produced here at home—varieties that 
are tested and suitable for our climate 
and conditions. The time was when our 
finest irises came from England and 
France, but not now, and the tide has 
turned for daffodils. 
to test them carefully. Several were 
being grown with the expectation of 
passing them on to you this spring but 
the change in their living quarters was 
so upsetting to most of them that I am 
holding them for another year. Butter- 
fly Wings bloomed nicely for me here 
and I have been admiring it all season 
in Mr. White’s garden so I have no hesi- 
tation in offering it to you. 
