Forenard 
GREETINGS FOR 1953 
Once again, Welcome to Spring! Outside the sun is shining 
and snowdrops are beginning to show their green finger tips, 
a sure herald of stirring growth under the dull brown earth. 
This will be a busy year in New England for during the 
week of June 4th we are to be hosts to the American Iris So- 
ciety. We are making great plans for this meeting, so join 
us in the wish for good growth, good bloom, and above all 
good weather. 
Our garden is a modest one, no acres of field grown plants 
extending in long rows, rather it is a personal garden such 
as you might have around your own home. We are fortunate 
in being surrounded by trees with comfortable shady spots 
where one may relax and view the garden. We use grass paths 
between the beds as a pleasing foil for the iris and hemero- 
callis, while our box and hemlock hedges add to the general 
appearance of an old time garden. 
The garden has many iris on exhibition, both old and new, 
and is full to overflowing with seedlings from all parts of 
the country that I am testing as to beauty, improvement over 
previous introductions, and hardiness in our northern gardens. 
So come and see us at the time of the National American 
Iris Society Meeting. 
This year we are presenting several iris and hemerocallis 
of great beauty from prominent hybridizers. These have met 
the severe requirements I demand before introduction and are 
varieties that I am proud to sponsor. 
Sometimes, I wonder how our new A.I.S. President, Mr. 
Harold W. Knowlton of Auburndale, Mass. finds time to cross 
iris for each year he travels many miles to see the new iris 
in all parts of the country. However he does as is definitely 
shown by the fine quality of the two iris we are introducing 
this year. Buttonhole is a crisp clean yellow border iris that 
was awarded High Commendation in 1952. Gay Spring as 
the name implies is a gay, glowing yellow that won the award 
of High Commendation in 1951. 
For the well-known and most successful hybridizer, Mr. 
Jesse E. Willis, of Nashville, Tenn. we are introducing four 
iris. For many years before we had heard of the iris Pinnacle, 
Mr. Willis was carrying on selective breeding for yellow 
Amoenas or yellow bicolors, and this has culminated in our in- 
troduction of Silver Flame and Soft Answer, two very dis- 
tinctive yellow Amoenas of great beauty. Blue Serene is a 
very clear light blue with smooth firm texture that won the 
award of High Commendation in 1952. Also we are presenting 
Devoir, a bright rose red blend of great garden value, sturdy 
growth, and long season of bloom. 
From the skillful hand of Mr. Earl W. Weidner of Read- 
ing, Pa. of Purissamohr fame, we are presenting two out- 
standing Onco-hybrids, they are Sikhmohr, a rosy red of firm 
substance and important color value, and Eastermohr, a beau- 
tiful blue of clear tone and firm substance. These two iris 
again demonstrate the constructive work in breeding of this 
hybridizer. Both of these iris are dependable bloomers and 
hardy in New England. 
Each year I have become more and more appreciative of the 
high quality of the seedlings originated by Mr. H. F. Hall of 
Moorestown, N. J. so much so that I am bringing out four of 
his iris that are “tops” in beauty, color, and hardiness. Pa- 
trician is a pure firm textured white with great individuality 
in form and arrangement of color that was given the award 
of High Commendation in 1952. Last year Coronation Red was 
one of the most admired red iris in the garden, and easily 
won the award of High Commendation in 1952. Radiant Red 
and Sunset Glow are a little later flowering, thus they were 
not seen by as many judges, but they are equally good and 
handsome reds, and all are so meritorious that I feel I am 
justified in introducing all three this year. 
Edward Watkins of Concord, N. H. needs no introduction 
for his ability to produce fine iris is known throughout the 
world. I am very proud and pleased to introduce Legionnaire, 
a tall ruffled light blue with very crisp firm texture and the 
most marvelous branching that I have seen in an iris. The 
award of High Commendation in 1952 is a fitting tribute to 
this lovely iris. 
Many New England iris judges will remember this very 
dark and handsome iris when it first bloomed as a seedling 
the year following the passing of the late Mrs. Walter E. 
Tobie of Portland, Me. I was so impressed with its high qual- 
ity that I brought it from the Tobie garden to Lowell for 
further testing, and it has proved so worthy that I feel hon- 
ored to introduce this iris under the name of Shanunga 
Purple. 
Dr. G. Percy Brown of Westport, Mass. a well-known 
breeder of Fall Blooming Iris has become interested in hy- 
bridizing the tall bearded, and Tinted Porcelain that I am in- 
troducing this year is well named for it is a large deep 
pastel lilac self with a porcelain-like texture and adds a new 
and delightful color tone to the garden. 
Mrs. Lillian Hall Trichel of Shreveport, La. has bred many 
fine Louisiana Iris, but none more handsome and colorful than 
Nakatosh that I am presenting this year. In 1952 at the 
Louisiana Iris Society show it was entered in the Bicolor 
Group where it won the first award for being the best in this 
class. 
One of our most versatile hybridizers of iris and hemero- 
eallis is Mr. Geddes Douglas of Nashville, Tenn. In the iris 
he has had marvelous success in breeding fine Amoenas, and 
many late flowering varieties that are so welcome in pro- 
longing the season of bearded iris bloom. Cherry Falls, a by- 
product of his Amoena crosses is a brilliant red and yellow 
variegata. Sue Revell has a charm all its own with its multi- 
tude of flax blue flowers of unusual form. Treasure Chest is 
a very vigorous clear yellow, tall and with a long season of 
bloom. Late Snow as the name suggests is a very late flow- 
ering white of beautiful form, and exceptionally fine branch- 
ing. All of these introductions are late bloomers. In the 
hemerocallis I am presenting Red Marvel, a stunning rich red 
that always attracts attention in the garden, and has been 
highly praised by all Daylily enthusiasts. 
This year I am introducing three iris of my own, two 
Bearded and one Beardless. Dawn Pink comes from a long 
line of breeding for pinks with tangerine beards. It is a clean 
firm textured flower that has been described by many garden 
visitors as the pinkest iris in the garden, and received the 
award of High Commendation in 1952. White Cockade is dis- 
tinetly different from other whites in its full rounded form 
and early blooming habit, and was voted the High Commend- 
ation award in 1948. My last introduction is a Southern Beard- 
less Iris hybrid named Silk and Satin. The name seems most 
descriptive for it is a satiny finished silky flower of Cobalt 
Blue that has a frosty sheen, and firm substance. 
Our Hemerocallis Introductions follow the Iris Introduc- 
tions, and have been selected with great care from many num- 
bered seedlings. Many of them will be remembered by The 
Hemerocallis Society members that attended the National 
Meeting in July 1952. On some varieties the stock is limited, 
but I have had so many letters asking for the newer ones, 
that I have decided to introduce several of them. 
The Hemerocallis Society has developed a system of Awards 
in addition to the Official Popularity Poll. So in the catalog 
these awards are noted following the description of those re- 
