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SYLVIA MURRAY 
ee THE EXQUISITE PALE BLUES 
=< e A Little More Blue Than White 
s EARLY 
LEN McGREGOR (Graves '46) * * * AM’48, Dykes ‘49, S 
_ the general theory was that he had arranged the downpour just to prove that Helen 
R. J. Randall, President of the Iris Society of England, 
McGregor was indestructible”. 
makes this comment in the 1948 Yearbook: “It possesses nearly 
every virtue that an Iris should have. And for the breeders 
we quote H. S. Fothergill in England: “Given worthy pollen 
every one of its children seem to be first-class’. EM—32” (Puris- 
sima x Cloud Castle). 
(Norton ‘44) HM’46, AM’49, S . $2.25 
A glamorous and deserving new contender for attention is the 
classically formed Sylvia Murray in palest blue. Visitors admire 
the smooth finish, precise styling and particularly the graceful 
poise of the flowers. Richly perfumed. As a stunning garden com- 
bination, I suggest Pink Lace or SQ 72 planted in front of the taller 
Sylvia Murray. EM—38”. 
GLORIOLE (Gage ‘33) HM’33, AM’35, S 50c73 for’ $1-25 
Queen of the older pale pastel blues—like an immense blue-white 
ice crystal, sparkling in the sun. Very heavy substance. E—42”. 
MIDSEASON 
CLOUD CASTLE (Graves ‘44) * * * HM’44, AM’49, S $3.00 
A new Iris that has quickly taken the public's fancy and is now in 
great demand. Visualize an exquisite pale wisteria-blue, beautifully 
ruffled, and possessing that indefinable charm that causes visitors 
to return again and again. Flowers exceptionally large, with 
splendid broad falls, widely flaring. Standards roundly domed with 
a quaint fluting at the edge. One of the very best blues for the 
new hybridizer, as it sets seed and has fertile pollen. The pollen- 
parent of such top-notchers as Helen McGregor and Lady Bosca- 
wen. M—36”. 
ue 
AZURE SKIES (Pattison '43) * * $1.25; 3 for $2.50; 10 for $7.50 
HM’43, AM’45, S. In my estimation by far the loveliest pale blue 
available at such a moderate price. It is a delightful, very light 
lavender blue with beautiful ruffling and remarkable perfection of 
form. Has a crisp, strong substance and lasts for several days. 
Yields good pollen and is among our very best seed setters, thus 
offering a real opportunity to hybridizers. Fragrant. ML—35”". 
IRIS IN SKY-BLUE TONES 
Real Blues, But Light as the Sky Itself 
EARLY 
The clear sky-blue reflections of the south seas. It is as if the 
warmth of southern waters activates this new Iris with the first 
breath of spring, for it is often the very first Tall Bearded Iris to 
bloom. Very tall, yet low branched. Coloring and flaring form 
remind one of Prof. Essig’s earlier Shining Waters, but this is 
taller, a great deal earlier. Haft of falls with strong yellow 
reticulations, and a deep yellow beard, giving a striking “blue and 
gold” effect. As it comes out so early, we recommend mulching in 
very cold regions. Has set seed for me when pollinated with 
Chivalry. 
Mrs. Phares reports from Austin, Texas, that South Seas started 
blooming for her on February 9, and gave her 5 weeks of continuous 
bloom, with 8 to 10 blooms on each stalk. VE—52”. 
MIDSEASON 
BANDMASTER (D. Hall '44) HM’44, S $2.00; 3 for $5.00 
An immense, powder blue self, descended from the famous Great 
Lakes, and slightly deeper in color. Very close to a “true blue”, 
with a color that holds up unusually well. Exceptionally vigorous, 
with huge leaves and tall sturdy stalks that are prolific in the 
production of flowers. M—39”. 
GREAT LAKES (Cousins '38) Dykes ‘42, S 75c; 3 for $2; 10 for $6 
A hardy Canadian origination that has been among the first 10 
in the Symposium every year to date. A fragrant medium blue 
with great flaring falls—like the Great Lakes themselves. It is the 
pollen-parent of two of the finest Iris in existence today, Blue 
Valley and Chivalry; and the seed-parent of the delightful Sylvia 
Murray. Outstanding performer in every section of country. M—48". 
ehold the 1949 winner of Irisdom’s highest award, the famous Dykes Medal. Now 
the most talked of Iris in the country. Introduced in 1946: the very next year it was 
4th from the top of the Symposium of the 100 best Iris. Thus it surpassed even the 
sensational Chivalry, which attained this same rank two years after its introduction. 
_ Never in all history has an Iris risen so high in so short a time. 
“Have you ever seen the blue sky on a clear, bright morning with left-over 
starlight twinkling on the dewdrops? That is Helen McGregor, by far the most 
e€ seen in many years. It is a large flower with a wide haft and 
very much ruffled. Its color is clear blue of a light hue but with no lavender in it”. 
Such is Geddes Douglas’ characterization of this most outstanding new creation. 
Helen McGregor has been written about so much during the last few years that 
__ we have brought together in our files no less than 25 different comments. The one 
word that we find recurring time and again through these appraisals is “beautiful”, 
and this, I think, accounts, more than anything else, for its rapid rise to fame. John 
‘ _ Dolman, Jr., gives us this insight into the variety’s character: “We found Dr. Graves’ 
a garden (at Concord, New Hampshire) soaked but sparkling in fresh sunshine, and 
$5.00; 3 for $10.00 
$8.00 

CHIVALRY—Bright Blue 
LATE 
TISHOMINGO (W. Caldwell ‘42) HM’42, AM’44 
Remarkable firm stubstance and weather 
$1.00 
Thus? it 
is coveted by the flower lover and breeder alike, for it is a large, 
lovable Wisteria-blue self of very flaring form. Its crisp character 
is accentuated by frosty flush that envelops the flower. ML—42”. 
resistance. 
LAKE GEORGE (K. Smith ‘45) * * HM’45, S $3.50 
A rich blue, a little deeper than Great Lakes but still best classed 
with the light blues. The choice of those who like the modern form, 
with nearly horizontal falls, of heavy substance that holds up well 
in sun or wind. The sterling qualities of Lake George may also be 
judged from the fact that, new though it is, already it is a parent 
of three of the strongest contenders for top honors among all blues 
—Blue Valley, Keene Valley, and Transatlantic. ML—39". 
THE BRIGHT AND DEEP BLUES 
Try These for Purity and Depth of Color 
MIDSEASON 
BLUE VALLEY (K. Smith '47) * * * HM’47, AM‘’49 $10; 3 for $20 
The new blue everyone is talking about as the nearest approach 
to true, bright spectrum blue of any Iris; ever created. N. Leslie 
Cave, speaking of this variety in the garden of the President of the 
Iris Society of England, states: “Blue Valley was entrancing. 
Nothing in Mr. Randall's garden could approach it for blueness.” 
Beautifully ruffled, large in size, and possessing a vivacious 
sparkle that gives it unusual character. Falls of exceptional sub- 
stance, flaring out almost horizontally. A single rhizome has been 
known to produce as many as seven flower stalks in a single 
season. One of the most coveted of all Iris at the present time. 
Enticingly fragrant. M—36”, 
CHIVALRY (J. Wills ‘44) * * AM’46, Dykes Medal ‘47, S $7.50 
A glorious clear bright blue so outstanding that to see it is to want 
it. While its color is its greatest attraction, is delightful ruffled form 
and exceptionally fine branching add much to the effect it creates. 
A wonderful performer in every way. Clifford W. Benson, of 
Missouri, writes in the July ‘48 Iris Bulletin: “This Dykes Medal 
winner will eventually be grown by every Iris lover throughout the 
world.” Be the first in your neighborhood, and give your friends a 
treat. Already its pollen has yielded, overseas in England, the 
appropriately named “Transatlantic”. This may well be the most 
sought after Iris in America. M—36". Photo above. 
CALIFORNIA BLUE (Essig ‘29) 50c; 3 for $1.25 
An exceptional value, outstanding on several scores: (1) Most 
fragrant blue Iris I have found; (2) Blooms for 3 to 4 weeks; (3) 
Remarkably tall, vigorous. Large rich blue flowers. E to ML—58”. 
LATE 
BLUE RHYTHM (Whiting '45) * * * AM’47,S $4.00; 3 for $8.00 
Runner-up for Dykes Medal ‘49. A wonderful silvery cornflower- 
blue that has gained tremendously in popularity as it has become 
better known among the real Iris fans. Abundantly generous in 
its branching—in fact, it is the best-branched blue that we list, and 
hence an ideal subject for ambitious hybridizers since real good 
branching is a character greatly needed to properly display the 
flowers. Has pollen and sets seed. A vigorous grower and rapid 
increaser, which you can see means loads of these delectable 
blooms in a hurry. In very great demand ever since last August 
when it was first learned that Blue Rhythm was runner-up for the 
1949 Dykes Medal. Better get your order in now. ML—38". 
BRUNHILDE’S BABY (J. Martin ‘46) $2.50 
From the popular Brunhilde has come this new introduction with 
much more flaring falls and of much larger size, but nearly the 
same color—an intense blue-violet with an interesting blue beard. 
Will sometimes give you winter bloom in mild climates, but should 
be mulched in cold areas. Delicately scented. ML—36". 

This year we offer Centennial Premiums, celebrating the 100th anniversary of California's admission to the Union. 
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