Evening star., 1938-06-11

ana especially 70 one who makes II
principal points of worthiness both in
bloom and plant, the spring season
truly Is one of pleasure and content
ment. 1t is very hard, indeed, to def
nitely maintain a permanent prefer
ence for any particular garden orna-
mental
To start the procession I. reticulata
which Is dubious. and which Is some
times called the netted iris because
the covering of the bulb resembles
peculiar network pattern, gives US
bloom very early in the season, often
pushing its violetlike flowers up
through the snow the latter part Of
February or early in March. This
species should be kept away from an
acid soil and slight treatment of
lime seems to help.
Then, when there is a dearth Of
bloom in the garden, We are deeply
entranced and wax enthusiastic over
the pure yellow, orange and white
flowers of the narcissus. Through
forcing by the florists they make their
appearance much earlier than the
homegrown variety, consequently they
have long season Grown at home,
they should not be treated in formal
way, but should be planted in small
groups. One effective treatment is to
place them among the earliest peren-
mails.
Following closely come the tulips.
with their solid and deep colors, and.
these, unlike the rlarcissus, are very
effective when grown in large beds,
utilizing different color for each bed.
The dwarf irises have by this time
ceased to bloom. so we look forward
with great anticipation to the blooming.
of the tall bearded irises, and in this,
field begins, in my opinion, the diff
Guilty of picking your favorite flower. ;.
The almost regal loveliness of this
type of iris seems to Danish all that
has gone before. A score of years or
even decade ago the very few vari-
cites of the bearded group certainly,
would not make the impression which
Is made today upon the flower FAM.
Serious thought and work during tha
past few years by several prominent
breeders have today given us an
amazing number of varieties of such
outstanding quality and magnifcence
that 1t would seem the peak was
| reached
Then, in combination with the iris
comes the peonies. To the writer's
mind they are given the preference of
all flowers. Many, of course, do not
agree, and in the final analysis this
Is as it should be- This difference in
opinion and preference is the verv
essence of flower growing What q
strange garden we would have If all
agreed that one particular flower en1-
bodied all that was desired. Still. de-
spite the fact the chief complaint made
against the peony is the short duration
of the blooming season, I still hold out
for its top-ranking position.
And then when all the whiting peony
blooms have been cut and only here
and there few blooms of some late
variety of the bearded iris giving color
to the garden, the Japanese iris start
opening, giving to the spring garden
its final outburst of magnificent color
and form.
With its crepelike blooms, which
have been known to be a foot across
from one petal tip to another and COM
blnlng color range including all man :
ner of blues, deep red -purples, pure
whites, whites with a great variety of
mottlings, many of the darker hues
speckled and veined with bright yellow
and many sef-colored. the flower en-
thusiast stops and ponders. debating
with himself il this is not the favorite
after all
Quite unlike its predecessors of the
iris family the texture of the Japanese
iris is very heavy. giving 10 the hand
a feeling of touching or caressing a
piece of velvet, which the bloom strtk-
ingly resembles. The stalks are verv
tall and. while somewhat thin, are very
strong, resembling in stoutness a light
bamboo cane. ,,
Unlike the germanicus iris the bloom
is inclined to be fiat. There are three
types Of bloom-the single, consisting
of three petals; the double, which has
six main petals. and the treble, some-
what rare, having nine distinct petals,
unfortunately, the popularity of the
Japanese iris is retarded somewhat by
its failure to thrive in Just any loca-
ton. For thrifty growth it demands q
very moist location with plenty of
sunshine, and this is natural because
1t Is a native of the rice fields of Japan.
The plants require an acid soil and
should be covered about inches. They
require heavy fertilization, probably
the best being several drenchings of
liquid COW manure. Peat moss Is very
good as a mulch or ground cover and
when worked into the ground is very
beneficial
The nomenclature of the Japanese
iris is in great confusion. There are
very few named varieties considering
the great number on the market. Easily
grown from seed, the average gardener
produces his own to replenish his stock
and seems satisfied with the result.
The named varieties, of course, are the
outstanding ones garnered from thou
sands Of seedlings and are far superior
to the ordinary seeding.
A half dozen or so Of the better
named varieties include Aspasie, a
single (three-petaD, pure blue self:
Cherry Blossom, double (six petals, a
white, flushed violet; Gold Bound.
double. pure white; Shadow, single,
reddish purple; Mahogany, treble
(nine-petaD, black violet: Pyramid,
another nine-petal one, deep purple;
Isabelle. a single, lilac in color.
Cut just as the bud Is unfolding and
taken in the house the bloom will last
for several days. They are especially
effective when arranged With coreopsis.
III ENJOY YOUR
a lAAEAl AZ nj.