MUSINGS—IRIS REVIEW 
Though the blooming season of 1948 was later than 
normal, due to a late spring, it certainly was an enjoyable 
one. The remarkable achievements the plant breeders 
have given us in this flower are certainly something to 
marvel over. And probably the two most striking features 
of the Modern Iris are their size and the almost unbe- 
lievable and wonderful range of colors. Literally they 
have to be seen to be truly appreciated. The large size 
of the modern Iris is not due to any secret of fertilization. 
It is an improvement gained by the diligence of the Iris 
hybridizers so that we now enjoy blooms 6 inches and 
more on finely branched stems measuring anywhere from 
2% feet to 4 feet in height. 
Very often we have been asked to name our favorite 
variety or our favorite color. Such a limited selection 
would make us extremely unhappy as we would think of 
all the other fine kinds that such an arbitrary selection 
would omit. We do list in the first part of the catalog 
what we consider a choice list of one hundred Iris that 
have achieved their mark. This list does not include 
relatively untried new novelties some of which undoubt- 
edly will prove their merit after sufficient test. Since we 
cannot limit ourselves to the one best we would like to 
review and comment on some of the Iris varieties in the 
various colors that appeal’to us more than others. 
In the whites we have 3 splendid new whites in the 
triumvirate of Spanish Peaks, New Snow and Lady Bosca- 
wen. Winter Carnival for its crisp flare and overall fine 
performance is certainly good. Matterhorn for a pure white 
always stops one. Snow Carnival and Snow Flurry are very 
interesting with their casual ruffle. ‘The reliable Gudrun, 
White Goddess and Snowking are worthy standards. Per- 
sonally we like plicatas and a selection should certainly 
include Blue Shimmer and Aldura. A word should be 
said for Wasatch and Los Angeles. A more pink marked 
selection would include Patrice and the snappy, new 
Confetti. Vivid Minnie Colquitt certainly is most attrac- 
tive. The brilliance and dash of Magic Carpet and the 
delicacy of Suzette along with the dramatic Firecracker 
give us floral subjects of merit and high distinction. Very 
few flowers achieve the dramatic contrast of white and a 
rich color contrast as do the Amoenas. A list of several 
would include well known Wabash and the interesting 
variant Mt. McKinley, the reddish Extravaganza and the 
new sensational yellow and white, Pinnacle. 
In the light blues we have some superb varieties as Helen 
McGregor, Great Lakes, cool colored Distance, pleasing 
Azure Skies and sparkling Gloriole. Bandmaster along 
with Blue Zenith and the older Anitra, certainly give a 
handsome ensemblage. And what a wonderful shade blue 
is in the garden. The richer medium blues as fluffy Dykes 
Medalist Chivalry, harmonious and symmetrical Blue 
Frills are all held in high esteem—colored blue as October’s 
bright blue weather. The very dark, near black Ivis are a 
handsome set. Black Forest is the blackest Iris extant. 
Another fine rich claret-black is Sable. Amigo and taller, 
larger Lothario are two splendid bicolors. Others that we 
would single out particularly would include Nightfall for 
floriferousness, Vatican Purple for its form and _ finish, 
Wm. A. Setchell for gargantuan size and the very reliable 
pair of older kinds. Winneshiek and Mrs. J. L. Gibson. 
There are very few Ivis a true lilac shade. Lilac Lane and 
older Violet Symphony certainly are most individual. 
One of the mest phenomenal developments in Iris has 
been the evolvement of an entire new family of pinks 
known as the seashell and flamingo family. Pink Cameo 
is one of the best. It and the new Cherie and the striking 
Spindrift will surprise and astound you with their pink- 
ness. Not to be outdone the orchid pinks give us several 
exceptional kinds as Dreamcastle and Harriet Thoreau 
from Paul Cook and the Hall varieties Chantilly, Remem- 
Page 38 
brance and Lullaby. Long known and dearly loved are 
Melanie, China Maid, Morocco Rose and Frieda Mohr. 
They need few of our words to add to their praise. 
Somehow each year we seem to consciously look for 
another good one in the Rose class. Perhaps because we 
have such fine subjects as Mulberry Rose, wonderful col- 
ored Inspiration, and unusual Fantasy, new ones are not 
so fast in coming. The subtleness and harmony of blend- 
ings as given us in Iris like Red Amber, Three Oaks, Light- 
house or Alpine Glow are enchanting. Perhaps the most 
important color to use in your garden after the liberal 
use of yellows and whites are the rich purples and we 
revel in the beauty of such fabulous kinds as Elmohr, shiny 
Purple Moor, sleek Lord Dongan and smooth colored Mas- 
ter Charles. 
Reds are certainly an extremely popular class and the 
amount of variation within the class certainly suits the 
most cosmopolite taste. The reds that have considerable 
orange and burnished shades in their makeup ‘are very 
interesting. Copper Rose and Wakarusa are two fine ex- 
amples and the redder Action Front certainly stands out. 
Radiant is another good one. There is a fine variation in 
the brown russet class. Louvois is a good example while 
the newer Solid Mahogany is a really rich mahogany red, 
very fine. Few reds are quite as deep. Christabel remains 
one of the finest. Red Gleam a bit more chestnut and 
Garden Magic are also fine subjects. Perhaps the most 
popular class is the crimson varieties and to name one out- 
standing one seems impossible. It is really necessary to 
enumerate all of them. Display and Red Valor are gor- 
geous. Ranger and Garden Flame are interesting varia- 
tions and fine. Garden Glory is rich and always reliable. 
The Red Douglas carries itself proud. Several new reds 
await further comparison before comment. The varie- 
gatas have been likened to red bicolors. In garden effect 
this is true. They are brilliant pieces of color combina- 
tions. City of Lincoln long has held forth as tops. Newer 
developments include Gypsy, very smooth, Red Torch for 
vividness of contrast and The Oriole, about the greatest 
contrast we have in the bicolor family, near orange and 
blackish purple. 
One of the glories of the Iris is the unusual manner in 
which several colors are combined in one flower in a 
manner only the Iris can boast of. This coupled with a 
gleaming iridescence of gold gives us a whole series of 
positively delectable floral beauties. Some of the kinds 
that have made a particularly fine impression are smooth 
Chamois, original colored Lady Mohr, Golden Russet and 
Cascade Splendor, smooth colored Lamplight, a picture of 
harmony indeed. The copper cast of Arab Chief is most 
striking and other good ones of this unusual color include 
burnished Brown Thrasher, sturdy Stardom, splendid Bryce 
Canyon and its partner, Casa Morena, just a trifle darker. 
Autumn Splendor certainly is a deserving new kind. And 
our aproach to orange is championed by Rocket, cer- 
tainly an unusual Iris. 
We revel in the magnificent selection and variety of yel- 
lows we now can obtain and use in the garden. The cool 
lemon-yellows as Misty Gold, Elsa Sass and Moonlight 
Madonna, and Mattie Gates certainly are wonderful. The 
splendid light yellows as Treasure Island, Golden Eagle 
are just the foil we need for the other colors. The same 
is true continuing into the darker shades with such Iris 
as Golden Majesty, Ming Yellow or even the richer gold 
series exemplified by Spun Gold, Berkeley Gold and the 
rich Ola Kala and Zantha, Completing our cycle of color 
we come to the creams. Two Iris we think no garden 
should be without are Snoqualmie and Golden Treasure. 
The new creams Desert Song and Amandine are proving 
invaluable. With more and more people raising seedlings 
and making improvements in the Iris it seems no exag- 
geration to say that the depth of our imagination coupled 
with our perseverence is our only boundary. 
