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TELL’S IRIS GARDENS 
_ (Tell Muhlestein) 
691 East 8th North ' PROVO, UTAH 
DEAR IRIS FRIENDS: 
With this little booklet you will find the hopes and aspirations of thousands of iris lovers the 
world over. The hundreds of lovely named iris herein listed will also reveal, in part, the fulfillment 
of many hybridizers' dreams, and surely the advance and improvements accomplished are almost 
phenomenal. 
Not occasionally do we hear adverse criticism of our hybridizers and often voices rise in protest 
against too many introductions’. These things do not worry me. It is true a goodly number of the 
new things introduced each year should not find "a place in the sun” for they are not distinct or 
superior. But who are we to say they may not, some day, prove their worth as great progenitors? 
I believe I have purchased and grown as many new sorts each year as almost any other grower on 
the face of this earth, yet not all the named ihings purchased find a listing in this catalog. Some 
varieties have not lived up to the “‘ballyhoo” the introducer, or hybridizer, gave them, and I do not 
feel justified in selling just to ‘make them pay for themselves’. But what would an iris season be 
w-.thout the anticipation of some new acquisitions? We love the “old friends’’ and these we like to 
keep, but we also like to meet the new and thrill to the beauty they offer to enrich gardens and our 
souls. Those who complain the “loudest” of too many introductions, and “poor’ introductions, are 
often the first to ‘brag’’ about the new things they have acquired. Part of the pleasure is this antici- 
pation—with, very often, a rising of the blood pressure (or a complete let-down) when some of these 
creations bloom. But they have served their purpose: the introducer has “learned a lesson”, and the 
hybridizer’s ‘child’ has seen the ‘'footlights’’ and a greater urge to produce better is immediately 
resolved. There may be too mony introductions, but only the fancier, and collector, will want to have 
them all, ond only the really great will live through the years to find a heavy demand from iris lovers 
the world over. 
We are pleased to increase our color-plates again this year. We hope, too, to improve our little 
catalog through the years and trust it will bring pleasure and helpful information to all lovers of iris 
Since our great love is hybridizing we cannot apologize for the ‘‘check-list’’ appearance of these 
pages, so we hope there will be a degree of forbearance by those who do not hybridize. 
We are especially pleased with this year’s introductions and we are sure they will have wide 
appeal to iris lovers the world over. These are quite distinct and meritorious or we would not offer 
them. It pleases us to offer Mr. M. D. Naylor's second introduction, Moonlight Serenade. We like it 
for its serene beauty and know it will prove a boon to iris hybridizers for many lovely colors. Mr. 
William Miles of Canada has received wide acclaim for Vice Regal, Elizabeth of England, Vanda, and 
other fine varieties released, and we know his new iris, Vandbeth, will bring further glory to his name. 
It is an iris with a tremendous personality and QUALITY. We offer Mrs. S. D. Kerr's first introduc- 
tion, Echo Valley, and find it unusual because of its breeding, its color and its twice blooming habit. 
But fanciers are going to like it just because of its lovely flowers for they are produced in abundance 
and it is a striking garden subject. Mr. Taylor is well known for a goodly number of fine iris: Golden 
Ruffles, Gentle Florence, Pink Matron and White Ruffles. We selected Gracious Lady as outstanding 
among the several guests he sent for trial, and while there are many blues it carries a superb quality 
and smoothness seldom achieved in one flower. It should be a great parent. Mrs. Ray Jensen of 
Logan, Utah, sent a lone rhizome of her first William Mohr seedling and when it bloomed I knew she 
had achieved what no other hybridizer had accomplished to date (so far as 1 know), a plicata from 
Wm. Mohr, and the flower is quite charming in itself. It sets seed and we look forward to its progeny. 
Mrs. Crosby's second introduction, ‘Concord Velvet’’, lives up to the high standards she has set for 
the selection of seedlings to be named. Aside from its rich coloring and size we know it will be popular 
as a garden subject, and a variety much sought for hybridizing rich “blacks’’ and purples. 
Again I wish to thonk each of you who ordered plants and seeds. It is our sincere desire to please 
and serve iris lovers everywhere. Best wishes. 
Sincerely, 
TELL MUHLESTEIN. 
(Cover Design by Marvin G. Olson, Normandy, Mo.) 
OUR CATALOG 
Due to the cost of printing a catalog of this type we are making a charge of 25c to those who 
have not sent an order within the last three years. The charge for the catalog is deductible from 
your first order. 
