In July of 1935, George Black, also known as George Thomas Ennis-Black, was photographed inspecting several tall Japanese iris in the garden of his home, which also served as his nursery. In 1927, Mr. Black bought a small parcel of prairie just a few hundred feet from Park Lodge School in the Park Lodge district of Lakewood near Gravelly Lake. The land turned out to be an ancient creek bed and the soil was a rich dark sandy loam to a depth of 3-4 feet, without the regular rocks and pebbles. By 1935, Mr. Black was growing plants of all kinds, including over 100 varieties of iris from all over the world, at his nursery. According to his family, Mr. Black was born in Wilmington, Delaware on November 29, 1891 and passed away at the VA Hospital in Spokane on August 20, 1960. (T. Times 7/11/1935, pg. 3, plus correspondence from family member)
Black, George; Flowers; Horticulture--1930-1940;