known for unusual camellias, azaleas, and deciduous magnolias, she now concentrated 
on our native iris. I1n the few short years between that time and her death, she 
had hundreds of colors and forms growing by her pools and ponds, and in garden beds. 
She always said she was too interested in saving the fast-vanishing wildings to 
take much interest in hybridizing, However, during her last illness, she gave the 
MacMillans of Abbeville a quantity of seeds. Mr, MacMillan says that some of his 
finest iris came from these, among them the famous Bayou Sunset. Having visited 
Briarwood many times, and seen how the iris flourished here in my bogs, Mrs. 
Debaillon willed me the cream of her collection. To help insure their perpetuation, 
I gave one of cach variety to Southwestern Louisiana Institute at lafayette, and 
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. 
W. B, MacMillan kept telling Mrs, Debaillon of some big red and yellow iris 
in a bog near Abbeville, and begged her to come see, She went, and there they were 
~ the wonderful Abbeville iris. She wrote me, "There are hundreds of huge reds, 
and the yellows! Not just a clump or two, but great clones of them,dozens and de- 
zens." She sent me one plant of each of the best - except one red which she called 
"Amazing", There was only one plant. It was later named Homahoula, Choctaw for 
"Beloved Red", Mr, and Mrs, MacMillan have been collecting ever since, and now 
have a garden of beauties, The Steen bog contains some of the finest varieties, 
and Mrs, Steen has been most generous in permitting collecting in all but one part 
she wants preserved. 
Soon after Mery Debaillon's death, Mr. MacMillan began agitating the idea of 
organizing a state iris society, to be named in her- honor. By this time the Horti- 
cultural Deaprtment of SLI had acquired a livewire by the name of Ira 5. Nelson and 
Mr, MacMillan enlisted his interest. Then there was a small dynamo at 4afayette, 
by name Katherine Cornay (Mrs. Ray). To these three, all praise should be given 
for organizing and promoting the society. It meets only once a year — but what a 
meeting! A beautiful iris show — Louisiana natives, only - and a feature lecture 
by some well known irisarian. 
All the friends of Mary Debaillon, and iris lovers in Louisiana and adjoin- 
ing states, have contributed much to the success of the society, There is also a 
test garden maintained at SLI, where growers send their best to be put on display. 
Mr, Joel Fletcher, the school president, has been most generous and enthusiastic 
in cooperating with the society, and offering facilities of SLI, Recently, the 
state society voted to join the American Iris Society, but to retain its individual- 
ity, still, The name has been chansed to The Society for Louisiana Irises, and a 
Mary S. Debaillen Award has been established, given to the iris voted the best of 
the years 
Recently a Test Garden has been established at. Louisiana State University, 
and many fine iris are thriving in the rich beds provided for them. Much of the 
credit for this addition must go to Claude W. Davis, ,President of the Society for 
Louisiana lrises, and to Joe G, Richard, long a native iris enthusiast. 
Through the years, there have been a number of collectors, k, A. MclIlhenny 
brought many fine iris to his Jungle Gardnes, of which his Jungle Garden Pink is 
probably the most popular, Dr, George Arceneaux of Houma became interested in the 
earlier years, and, being a trained geneticist, has made some interesting crosses, 
Also, he has written some valuable articles on the subject. Percy Viosca, Jr., of 
New Orleans, being a herpetologist, visited the very places to find Louisiana iris, 
and has named several charming forms, He, too, has written most informative arti- 
cles on these iris, Dr. Clair Brown, of the Botany Department of L.5.U. has con- 
tributed to the sum of our knowledge on the subject. 
When my sister-in-law, Ruth Dormon, acquired a country place, she went in 
for Louisiana iris on a big scale. She did not take time to hybridize, but some of 
her open secdlings were lovely, Mellow Gleam being the most popular. Through her 
effurts, plants were distributed over a good part of the United States, and a few 
were sent to Canada, 
While others were collecting, Lillian Trichel was always dusting pollen from 
one flower on another, and otherwise interfering with the bumblebees. But her 
efforts have paid off, for her seedling, Caddo, received the Mary S, Debaillon 
