Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-22

, general way, of the peony, and the lilac,
and other plants and bushes.
The leaves remain after the flow
ers go.
But somehow there is a difference.
The iris plant, we insist, is peculiarly
beautiful without its flowers, possess
! ing a keen sort of charm which few
other plants possess.
The broadness of the leaves, their
deep green coloring and their peculiar
habit Of growth. shooting out and up
ward, combined with their medium
height and lack of fioppiness-these are
| the qualities which enable the iris plant,
as plant and not as flower, to add
so much effectiveness to a garden.
There are certain places where moth
ing can quite take the place of the
| iris, irrespective of its flowers. Even If
it never Powered, it would still be ire
placeable, in certain positions.
What is so good as iris around sun
dial?
The average sundial pedestal is about
30 inches high, Planted at the base,
iris grows some feet, leaving plenty
OF pedestal showing.
Nothing combines better with a bird
bath than iris. In cases of this sort,
however, the shortest growing varieties
should be used, for the bird baths are
| growing stubbier and stubbier year after
year. Iris should be used, in the case
OF dials and baths, to beautify, not hide
* x
Thsre are many positions in the aver
| age home garden where iris may be used
iii the same way that so-called specimen
plants are used.
| A clump of them looks particularly
well in a corner, or along any border.
In the latter position the leaves will
| grow outward, and give another dimen-
sion to fundamental garden structure
which often has but one, length. Even
II border has certain amount of
breadth, the outcropping Of clump of
iris here and there will break up the
monotony.
| Often there are small narrow strips of
ground alongside houses and driveways
which might be filled with iris almost
oetter than with any other flower. Some
thing about the stiffness of the leaves
goes particularly well with the straight
ness Of such planting lines.
| Iris are cheap enough nowadays, so
that no gardener should tolerate those
which do not DO well. If the leaves take
on a sickly, yellow tint, it is the best to
cut such leaves off down to the ground.
Preferably such plants should be taken
| up, and divided, and careful inspection
made for diseased stock below ground,
and for evidences of the iris borer.
x X 4
Ill iris plants may just as we'll be
thrown away. 1t will be cheaper in the
long run, for they may infect healthy
! specimens.
There is a great deal Of talk about
| Iris troubles, but happily the average
homeowner may grow them for life
time without having any trouble with
them at ALL
The iris is one of the few plants
| which may be moved at any time, even
when in bloom. without harm. Digging
them up, dividing the tubers, and set
ting them in other positions, will not
/ hurt them at all.
Too deep planting is to be guarded
| against. Some of the tubers may be ex-
posed, even this is better than covering
1t up too completely.
The iris, with the rose, the gladiolus.
the peony, and few others, possesses
the power of invoking unusual enthu-
siasm among its human friends.
The iris grows on you, as well as for
| you.