WHITES 
White flowers are always delightful, and their importance in iris is manifold for they at once 
become useful as garden subjects and play, as well, a very important part in hybridizing for other 
colors (i.e., creams, blues). Hybridizers have been seeking a pure cold white without any other 
color in its makeup, and some of these have been achieved: Helen McKenzie and Priscilla being 
two of the most popular. Whites with warm, rich beards like The Capitol and Admiral Nimitz hold 
a special charm, while those with blue beards: And Thou and White Wedgewood have a deco- 
ration that might prove of great value in breeding blue iris with blue beards, purples with 
self colored beards, pinks with blue beards or other unheard of combinations. Purissima has long 
been a fine parent for good whites and now its child Snow Flurry is probably the most widely used 
variety for hybridizing (not alone for whites, but many colors) today, yet its children may very well 
be steps forward and of these we would recommend: New Snow (for whites and blues), Desert Song 
(for creams, whites and possibly pinks), and now Mr. Naylor’s Moonlight Serenade. Gloriole, Lady 
Boscawen, Cahokia, Easter Morn and Azure Skies are all good parents. National White and Spring 
Sunshine are proving fine parents for white, although the latter is not in itself a white. Spanish 
Peaks is a good parent for whites as well as blues. 
BLUES 
They get bluer and better all the time. In the light blues Azure Skies, Cahokia and Helen McGregor 
are proving fine parents. My own Sky Tint has given some superb seedlings as has Sky Song 
and Mirror Lake. We look forward to the seedlings of Azure Lake crossed with the ruffled Dark 
Tower by Prof. Mitchell. Blue Rhythm, with the right choice of parents will produce good seedlings, 
surely, as will Chivalry, Sea Lark, Blue Ensign and Pierre Menard. Great Lakes is known for the 
quality it has produced and may still be of value, although we think its children, and grandchildren, 
are good steps forward—many of them being much smoother and entirely free of texture veining. 
Tompkins has a goodly number of fine blues in Courtesy, Windsor, Consolation and the 1952 
introduction, Columbia. Mrs. Douglas Pattison, Elizabeth of England, Sun Lakes, Sky Ranger and 
Blue Blazes are all impressive. Surely Seafarer, Jane Phillips and other new varieties are going to 
prove their worth. We predict bright futures for Vandabeth and Gracious Lady in this color class. 
If the “hybrids” from Purrisima x Capitola can be induced to good seed production some fine blues 
may come through them for they have lovely form. I had a pleasant surprise in blue seedlings from 
a Hoogiana seedling bred by Mary Tharp of Idaho crossed with Sky Song—size, form and substance 
of the flower were all excellent—height being the only drawback on a first year plant. Sky Song x 
Cahokia produced the bluest pure T.B. to date for me, yet Blue Rhythm x Sky Song gave several 
fine blues. Pierre Menard has a strong tendency to throw its own coloring and form, while its sister 
Cahokia produces the better medium and light blues when bred to New Snow, Helen McGregor, etc. 
YELLOWS 
Perhaps the most important color in the garden for accent. Surely the focal points in any planting 
are the yellows. We cannot have too many of them, and there is room for new and better kinds. 
We have recently added depth of color through the use of Naranja, Ola Kala, Rocket, Goldbeater 
and a host of W. R. Dykes’ derivaties. Moontide and Orange Gem from McKee are producing rich 
seedlings. Zantha and Golden Eagle for size, Gold Ruffles for the ruffling, form and substance it 
gives its offspring. Golden Ruffles is-a bit difficult as a parent, but has lovely flowers. Gold 
Sovereign and Lodestone will prove fine parents. Fabulous Kate for size and a little different form 
could be a good parent in this color as well as for blends and pinks. We liked Prospector, the 
ruffled Ruth, and the large flaring light yellow Sunray. Some of the older yellows like Golden Spike, 
Berkeley Gold, Treasure Island, Admiration, Damascus or Orangeman will be splendid breeders. 
BLENDS 
There are many good blends, and they, perhaps, prove the most interesting for close-up study 
and appreciation. Who among iris lovers does not love to study the subtle blendings found in 
Grand Canyon, Three Oaks, Bronzed Copper, Utah Special, and Lady Albright? Campfire Glow 
produces its quality and rich coloring so strongly in its children the hybridizer will have a difficult 
time selecting the one or two outstanding among them. It will give quality and richness to other 
colors, including reds, coppers and purples—giving them, as well, perhaps, that electric ‘‘blue 
flash’’ on the falls. And Bronze Brocade you'll like! Utah Sunset has the smoothest haft of any 
blend we know. 
TANS AND BROWNS 
These are often considered, with the blends, and most of them are derived from or through their 
bloodlines. The Sasses, Mrs. Whiting, Dr. Kleinsorge and DeForest have been especially successful 
in this class, and a blending of the best from all these hybridizers is producing some great iris. 
Prairie Sunset, Matula and Midwest Gem have been important trom the Sasses, while Dr. Kleinsorge’s 
great contribution, Tobacco Road (descended from Jean Cayeux, through Far West) is now back of 
almost every fine new tan or brown. Mrs. Whiting’s things show great richness of color due to 
Matula blood, primarily. Her Lodestone (while a yellow) will produce striking browns, reds and 
blends. Wills’ Russet Wings and Carpenter's Rilla Gabbert should be useful here. We fell hard for 
DeForest’s Golden Plover. Thotmes III is, indeed, a glorified Tobacco Road and we like Chamois, 
Amazon Tan, Golden Russet, Honeyflow, Pretty Quadroon, Cordovan and the brighter Good News. 
33 
