SACKVILLE-WEST, Victoria Mary [Vita] (1892-1962). Writer and gardener.
Good horticulural letter ('V. Sackville-West') to Mrs Cardwell, 2 pages 8vo in brown ink, Sissinghurst Castle, 13 March 1953. Discussing Iris Stylosa [unguicularis] with reference to an article that she had written, and offering to exchange a root of the white stylosa for Mrs Cardwell's dark one.

'...I think the dark one you have got, is probably the variety called speciosa.
Iris histrioides on the other hand belongs to the reticulata section. You can get it from R. Wallace ...
'I wonder if you cut down the foliage of your stylosas after they have finished flowering? It is said to be a good thing to do, then the sun gets right into the roots and they get the summer baking which nearly all irises love. ...'

With an informal photograph of Vita in gardening clothes with dog in the grounds of Sissinghurst.
[No: 26029]