COLOGNE, MINNESOTA 3 
WINNING TOP HONORS at the 1953 Minnesota Gladiolus society show in the First 
National Bank building was 75-year-old Carl H. Sommer, Rush City banker, who 
swept all classes with his original “Bird of Paradise.” He is pictured here with 
his floral creation, which took 16 years to develop. 
Rind of Paradise 
(Sommer-Koerner) 1954 
THE ORCHID GLAD 
IS 25 YEARS AHEAD OF THE TIMES. There is nothing like it, If the term 
orchid can be used in connection with glads this new creation is certainly eligible. 
It is practically impossible to convey, to the reader, an adequate description of 
this astonishing variety. It must be seen to realize what Sommer and Koerner have 
accomplished. 
The 6 inch and larger bloom, which is formed like a Christmas Poinsettia, with 
all petals of about equal size, has extraordinary heavy substance and the petals are 
serrated and laciniated. A coral red spot in the heart of the bloom looks as if red 
wax had been dropped in. The overall color could be described as creamy apricot. 
Imagine what the makeup artist and arranger can do with a flower like this. 
Top Minneapolis and St. Paul florists proclaim it a “natural” for exotic corsages 
and arrangements. 
Fortunately for the breeder, Mr. Sommer says its pollen produces seed on other 
varieties, thus, BIRD OF PARADISE could be the key to an entirely new type, un- 
like anything we had in the past. The plants are 3-4 feet tall and each will produce 
around 10-12 of these orchid like bloom. This would be cheap at a $10.00 in- 
troductory price, considering it is an entirely new type and that the bulbs stock is 
small. Prices for 1954 and 1955 are: 
Any Size Bulbs $3.00; Bts. 50c, 10 for $3.00 
NO DISCOUNT 
