NEW INTRODUCTIONS FOR 1951 
APRICOT SUPREME (Tompkins ‘51)—See Tangerine Bearded Pinks, page 18. 
DECEMBER ROYALTY (Austin ‘51) **x* See photograph, page 12. $15.00 
A large, bold flower, in brilliant royal purple, darkening to intense wine- 
black in the upper half of the velvety falls. Noteworthy for its smooth, 
satiny hafts, unmarred by the veining so common to most varieties. Also 
outstanding for its wonderful poise, substance and finish. In fact every 
time this blooms, | continue to marvel at the richness of its coloring. After 
putting on a bountiful display in the spring, it starts again in late Novem- 
ber or early December, and if the weather permits, keeps blooming till 
Christmas. For seyeral years now a huge bouquet of December Royalty has 
vied with our Christmas tree for attention. Stalks are tall, heavily branched, 
often starting to branch at the ground, or within a few inches. There are 
usually 5 or 6 branches plus terminal flowers—sometimes 15 to 20 flowers 
per stalk. Thus it is ideally constituted to cut in the bud stage before the 
frosts get too severe, and take inside for impressive and almost unbeliev- 
able winter bouquets. Unexcelled as a parent for breeding for either spring 
or fall bloom. Sets seed well, even with Onco pollen. Also, | find it transmits 
its admirable traits to the offspring. Now released so you can try it. E—34’’. 
74 Personal Message 
Again a war-weary world turns uneasily in its unsuccessful efforts at 
peaceful slumber. Again tensions mount, and the war-time urgency of every- 
thing is upon us. So again the need is paramount for an escape from it all— 
for a peaceful and absorbing pursuit to which to turn our minds for a short 
time each day. So, naturally, we all take up again with renewed interest the 
growing of new and interesting IRIS varieties, and even new types hereto- 
fore unfamiliar to us. 
And under current stresses few of us will be able to resist at least pre- 
liminary trials at hybridizing to CREATE some new ones of our own. I know 
from personal experience that there is nothing else quite so absorbing and 
quite so certain to relieve us of our daily anxieties. And once you become 
interested in this form of relaxation, you will wonder why you did not take 
it up long before. It will supply you with a hobby with a goal, and that is 
what makes it interesting! For suggestions on choosing your hybridizing 
goals, see pages 21 and 22 of my Manual. So, if I have but kindled the spark 
of your imagination, you are already on your way to a personal rejuvenation 
in all its aspects. Bon voyage! 
Wg New UMustrations 
Almost all of the 28 illustrations to be found herein are from my own 
exclusive photographs, taken right here in our gardens. So when you order 
you get exactly what you see. As you know, most catalogs use stock pictures 
rather than to photograph their own product. Thus I am doing my best to 
give you a personalized nursery service. 
Lloyd bustin 
Iris Exposition at Hannover, Germany 
The Rainbow Gardens was chosen by the American Iris Society to send to 
Germany for their Iris Exposition, a representative collection of the finer 
American Iris varieties. Geddes Douglas tells me that he and Jesse E. Wills 
consider these Iris as an expression of international friendship and goodwill. 
Among the many choice varieties | sent were these outstanding American 
creations: Cherie, Ruffled Bouquet, Blue Valley, Chamois, Easter Gold, Rocket, 
Sousun, Amandine, Sierra Primrose, Cloud Castle and Mission Madonna. The 
shipment also included a number of our exotic ARIL IRIS: ONCOS, Susiana and 
Atropurpurea, REGELIAS Stolonifera and Korolkowi, and ONCOGELIAS Camilla, 
Artemis and Teucros. The shipment went to Dr. E. Biesalski, President of the 
German Iris Society. 
He asked me to ex- 
tend to American 
lrisarians a cordial 
invitation to attend 
their Exposition at 
Hannover beginning 
on April 21, 1951 
and continuing to 
October 31. 
<a 
One of our 
rhizomes of 
Sierra Primrose 
after potting in 
Germany for 
Exposition. 
COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION 
To make this catalog ever more valuable to my esteemed customers, [ 
have this year added a great deal of useful information pertaining to each 
of the many separate types of Iris. In most cases | have grouped this under 
the five following headings, so you can find just what you want at a glance. 
USES: Valuable hints on effective use of each of the 20 types of Iris. 
BLOOMING TIMES: Data to aid you in planning continuity of bloom in your garden. 
ORIGIN or NATIVE HABITAT: Everyone is eager to know where each type of Iris origin- 
ated, or how if came to be created by man. 
CULTURE AND HARDINESS (In brief): Chiefly for those who are unable to secure my com- 
prehensive RAINBOW IRIS MANUAL this year, | have added to my catalog concise 
cultural suggestions for the various types of Iris. In the past | have sent these brief 
instructions with your orders, or order acknowledgments. But | believe it will be more 
helpful to have them in the catalog so you will have a general idea of cultural require- 
ment when you are planning your garden and making out your order. See MANUAL 
for details. 
SHIPPING AND PLANTING TIMES: This information is given under each type of Iris to 
help you know when to expect delivery of the different parts of your order. However, 
please do not make the mistake of waiting until these dates to place your order, because 
by that time most of the stock may be reserved for my many other customers in various 
parts of the world. | suggest that you order TODAY and avoid disappointment. | want 
to be able to fill your order in full, but to be sure to do so, | must have it EARLY. 
Thank you. 
ADDITIONAL VARIETIES AVAILABLE SOON: An exciting glimpse into the future! 
FEATURED IN 1951 
| have for you this year the world’s foremost assembled offerings of Iris 
species and varieties in five of today’s most sought classes of Iris in which | 
am specializing: 
1. THE ARIL IRIS—Four pages of photos, descriptions, culture, etc. (Pages 
4 to 7.) 
2. ONCOBREDS—The Onco-Bearded Hybrids, Mohrs, etc.—33 new varieties, 
perm any different hybridizers, added to my offerings this year. (Pages 
8 and 9.) 
3. REGELIA-BEARDED HYBRIDS—World’s only assembled offerings in this 
unique category. (Page 13.) 
4. AUTUMN BLOOMERS—No less than 42 offerings in this seldom seen but 
rapidly evolving and very popular class. (Pages 12 and 15.) 
5. TANGERINE-BEARDED PINKS—The famous seashell and flamingo pinks. As 
far as | am aware, this catalog contains the world’s only comprehensive 
assembled offerings in this new line that has skyrocketed in popularity— 
a most complete list of 28 varieties from 13 hybridizers. (Page 18.) 
| have also greatly enlarged my offerings in DWARFS and in the newer and 
finer award-winning TALL BEARDED varieties. 
Thus, when you think of IRIS, think first of the Rainbow Gardens as having 
the most kinds, the finest varieties and the best stock. However, ‘The proof 
of the pudding is in the eating.” So turn the pages and judge for yourself 
what | have to offer. If you are satisfied up to this point, a trial order will 
soon furnish you with a positive demonstration of how rapidly your garden 
can be transformed with selections from these pages. 
NEW TALL BEARDED FOR ’51 
Alert Iris fans are always eager to learn what the new year has brought 
forth in the way of significant advances in Tall Bearded Iris. | list below 
some of the most remarkable of the new creations the fanciers are talking 
about, and that | am offering this year for the first time: Pink Formal (page 
18), Sunset Blaze (p. 21), Twilight Sky (p. 19), Pinnacle (p. 24), Pretty Quad- 
roon (p. 22), Black Forest (p. 27), Fall Days p. 21), Apricot Supreme (p. 18), 
Argus Pheasant (p. 22), Pagan Princess (p. 19), New Horizon (p. 19), Pink 
Bountiful (p. 17), Strathmore (p. 18), Confetti (p. 19), Rodeo (p. 23), Pink Sen- 
sation (p. 19), Radiation (p. 19), Spring Sunshine (p. 24), Grecian Robe (p. 25). 
If you add some of these to your garden it will soon become a mecca for Iris 
lovers. 
DATA, TO HELP YOU PLAN 
To help you learn about the varieties and to plan your garden, | give the 
following information in my variety descriptions: originator, year of intro- 
duction, stars to show my recommendations, award and symposium winners, 
descriptions and evaluations, fragrance if pronounced, season of bloom and, 
lastly, height in inches. 
*—One of my new listing of Iris varieties for 1951. 
%&kk—My nominations for the most outstanding varieties and values for 
1951. Some are exciting new creations; others are exceptionally fine 
standard varieties that | feel give you exceptional value considering 
their present low price. 
*k*k*—One of the elite few to which I am this year giving my highest rec- 
ommendation. 
Dykes—Dykes Memorial Medal. (High- 
est Award, yearly to the one best | recommend particularly varieties 
Iris.) 
A recently honored by these Awards of 
A neta of Merit. (Next to American Iris Society. Varieties re- 
_ceiving highest awards during last 5 
years have descriptions starting with 
names of awards in bold type. See 
page 17. 
Dykes RU and AM-RU—Runners-up. 
HM—Honorable Mention. 
HC—High Commendation. 
CC—Certificate of Commendation. 
Sym.—Latest Symposium (1950). 
SEASON ABBREVIATIONS, from earliest to latest spring; EE, VE, E, EM, M, ML, 
L, and VL. To avoid the customary short Tall Bearded season, be sure to 
choose early, midseason and late varieties in each of the colors of greatest 
interest to you. Since the majority of varieties bloom at midseason, or 
nearly, you will need to give special thought to provide your garden with a 
good assortment of both the early bloomers and the late ones. 
Remember: “Every garden was once a dream.” 
