Forenord 
GREE IINGS FOR 1955 
“Where is Heaven? Is it not, 
Just a friendly garden plot, 
Walled with stone, and roofed with sun, 
Where the days pass one by one.” 
To me, this quotation is full of meaning for each garden 
needs a sheltered harbor where one may enjoy in peace its 
beauty, unbroken by telephones, tax problems, and other 
exasperating things, and fortunate is the gardener that has 
such a port of haven. 
March is the time of year that re-acts upon people in divers 
ways, but to most gardeners the fundamental feeling is 
simply Spring Fever, and with me the first manifestation of 
the vernal urge takes the form of hurrying to complete the 
catalogue, so that I may be ready for the gladsome season of 
sunny days with the real thrill that comes from watching 
growing plants and the anticipation of their wealth of sum- 
mer bloom. So once again, Welcome to Spring! 
Our most sincere thanks for the many, many letters of 
customers from America and Foreign Countries compliment- 
ing us on the clean well matured plants we send out, and their 
pleasure in receiving excellent varieties as extras, as well as 
their praise of our careful packing that allows plants to ar- 
rive in fresh condition. It is heart warming to hear that our 
co-operation in carefully filling orders is appreciated by our 
customers. 
Iris and Hemerocallis are truly great companion plants in 
any garden, and are almost a necessity for their wide range 
of color and beauty of form are unexcelled by other peren- 
nials. These need not be too expensive, but they should be 
chosen with care, always remembering that clarity of color, 
substance, and branching are strong attributes of their beau- 
ty and garden value. 
Our Foreword and Catalogue are devoted to keeping gar- 
den lovers abreast of new worth while plants, and that is the 
reason why we give detailed descriptions and authentic colors 
whenever possible. I have taken colors from the Wilson Horti- 
cultural Chart for it is the most accurate, and fresh flowers 
have been closely matched with it. Often garden visitors and 
customers write in saying ‘What delightful names you give 
your hemerocallis.”” And this is most gratifying for I believe 
names should be in a measure descriptive of the flower, so in 
naming my introductions I have endeavored to create a men- 
tal picture for you. 
This year we have the pleasure of adding four hybridizers 
to those for whom we introduce, and following our custom 
we are giving an outline of their interest in iris and hemero- 
callis, also their success in breeding. 
Mr. Harry Randall of England is well known both in his 
home country and America not only for the keen interest he 
has shown in the better iris, but for his success in breeding 
most excellent new varieties. Mr. Randall has visited the 
United States several times in the iris season, and this year 
expects to attend the National A.I.S. Meeting at Hamilton, 
Canada, where he will be the guest speaker. 
Last year in the Foreword I mentioned that I was growing 
several iris originated by Mr. Harry Randall of England with 
the idea if I approved of them as to their beauty, distinction 
and hardiness, I would have the privilege of introducing them 
in this country. I have tested these thoroughly, and it is a 
pleasure to sponsor their introduction. They are Derwent- 
water, a clear Spectrum Blue, that received the Bronze Medal 
from The British Iris Society in 1953, and was selected for 
trial at Wisley. Tarn Hows is a brilliant Cedar Wood Brown 
that is up for trial at Wisley. Seathwaite has a deeper tone 
of blue than its sister Derwentwater, and received the Eng- 
lish Dykes Medal in 1952. Seathwaite has been casually listed 
in one catalogue in 1954, but Mr. Randall does not consider 
this a valid introduction, so he has placed the formal Amer- 
ican Introduction of these three iris in my hands. All of their 
names are of lakes or places in the English lake district. 
Mr. D. Paul Wickersham of Urbana, Ohio is well known to 
many A.I.S. members throughout the country. He is an en- 
thusiastic and energetic man that does a great amount of 
traveling in connection with his business activities, but some- 
way he always manages to see the iris in many parts of the 
country. He is an ardent collector of the best iris, and as a 
natural consequence of his great interest he has been doing 
quite an amount of successful hybridizing as is demonstrated 
by the beautiful clear lavender-pink named Anne Wickersham 
that we are presenting this year. 
Mrs. Isabelle Bowen Henderson of Raleigh, North Carolina 
really needs no introduction for she is well known, both in 
the Iris and Hemerocallis world. A portrait painter of great 
ability, a writer of many worthy articles on iris and hemero- 
callis. She is a keen, critical judge, and her comments are 
most frank and amusing. This year I am sponsoring two 
varieties of her breeding. One a beautiful and distinctive iris 
of cream and white tones that has been christened Sailor Hat 
on account of its very flaring form, and crisp firm substance. 
This won the award of High Commendation in 1954 under the 
number 49-8. The other is Brahms, a stunning hemerocallis 
of deep velvety red-purple with large flaring flowers that are 
most sun resistant. 
Mrs. J. W. Sparkman of Scottsboro, Ala. has had a keen 
interest in hemerocallis for many years, and as a natural 
consequence has done a goodly amount of hybridizing. Some 
time ago she sent me a seedling asking to have it tested in 
my garden. I have been well pleased with this cheery dwarf, 
and am introducing it this year. Little Buddy is well named 
for it is a spritely, floriferous red that is especially good for 
front of the border or rock garden planting. 
The new Iris and Hemerocallis Introductions that I am pre- 
senting this year are great advancements in beauty and form 
and hybridizers are becoming more critical before sending me 
plants for exhibition as they well know my conservatism in 
sponsoring plants for introduction. Each year they give us 
new colors and forms, usually the newest ones appeal espe- 
cially to iris enthusiasts and Judges, and it is most gratifying 
that they have confidence in those that I select for intro- 
duction. 
For our most capable President, Mr. Harold Knowlton of 
Auburndale, Mass., we are introducing only one iris this year. 
It is Thorwald, a most colorful broad petaled orange and 
yellow ochre blend with flaring falls and great freedom of 
bloom. There are several promising seedlings under observa- 
tion, but after the almost overwhelming popularity of his 
1954 introductions, we do not have sufficient stock to dare list 
these others. 
Major Eff bred by Edward and Arthur Watkins is a hand- 
some blue violet iris or rich deep color. This is the second 
introduction from these brothers and it proves that they have 
the “know how” in producing fine iris. It received the award 
of High Commendation in 1953. Almost every iris fancier 
knows of the successful program of breeding that was carried 
on by the late Dr. Graves and Edward Watkins. This year 
we are introducing two delightful iris from these distin- 
guished hybridizers. They are Cloudless Sky, a large light 
blue, and Jan Hess, a most attractive blue bitone. 
Mr. Kenneth D. Smith of Staten Island, N. Y. is a devoted 
hybridst, and as we all know has produced many iris of great 
beauty. The two that I am introducing this year are fine 
examples of his handicraft. They are Elizabeth Noble that 
bears my maiden name, and is a delightful Amoena that I 
selected as my favorite, with the deep very velvety purple 
falls in pleasing contrast to the almost pure white standards. 
It won the award of High Commendation in 1954. Wheel of 
Fortune is a large brilliant Buttercup Yellow with very 
ruffled swirling form and has great charm and garden value. 
Mr. Smith has realized the intrinsic worth of hemerocallis for 
our gardens, and has been breeding them for several years 
and maintains the same high standard in his hemerocallis as 
