LOVELY LIVVY (T. Johnson ’23)
TB early-midseason 35” (89cm)
Lightly scented. LOVELY LIVVY (T. Johnson ’23) TB early-midseason 35” (89cm) Lightly scented. This gorgeous iris is named to honor the late great Olivia Newton-John. Olivia was not only a very talented celebrity but she was a gorgeous human being. Although I never met her, I certainly followed her career and life. Always a kind, warm and loving person, she never acted the celebrity, taking time to acknowledge all who came upon her. She courageously fought breast cancer in an out of remission for 20 years. Never one to complain she always looked on the positive side of things. The latter part of her life was dedicated to finding a cure for Cancer. She founded the Oliva Newton-John Cancer And Wellness Centre In Melbourne, Australia, the country she called home. Here she tirelessly raised money to support cancer research using plant-based treatments. Lovely Livvy was the pet name the media used throughout Olivia’s life to describe her. The iris we have chosen to honor her kind of named itself. Firstly, it is pink, the color of breast cancer awareness. On top of that, I made the cross in the garden of Barry and Lesley Blyth (using two of Barry’s seedlings), who live only miles from where Olivia grew up. Lovely Livvy is an extraordinary and unique creation in a color combination that has not yet been seen in iris until now. White standards are flushed pink. Falls are a deeper rose pink with a gorgeous ruffled white band. Olivia with her kind and generous heart inspired me to do my part, so I donated a portion of the proceeds of each plant sold in its introductory year (2023) to her Cancer research centre in Australia. Sdlg. TJ335B: X267-12 (U232-1: (S290-3: Raise the Curtain x Another Woman) x (S69-1: (02-185c: Restless Heart x Queen’s Circle) x (02-191B: Tour De France x Rippling River))) x Bashful Love. X Walk Right Back pod parent.

ONE IN A MILLION (T. Johnson ’23)
TB flat Midseason 35” (89cm)
No fragrance. To the best of our knowledge this is the first TB flat plicata to be introduced, thus the name. No standards and 6 falls. The style arms are etched on the crests with the same pattern as is on the edge of the falls. The falls are white then bordered and stitched red violet. Sometimes but not always each fall will have a center belly stripe of violet that appears as a narrow straight line extending from the beard to the petal edge. Sdlg. TL172ZZ: Parentage is unknown lost tag.

POSITIVE THINKING (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm)
Light sweet fragrance. It is hard not to think positive when viewing this happy, cheerful iris. Standards are a brilliant canary yellow. Falls are creamy white with a canary yellow haft and band. There is also a touch of lilac on the shoulders and blushed below the beard. An interesting and beautiful application of color. Nicely ruffled, well-branched show stems are the norm. Sdlg. TL235C: Colour Bazaar X Catwalk Queen.

SHIVERS (T. Johnson ’23) TB Midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance. Wow, just wow is what I say each time I see this one in flower. Nearest attempt yet to a black amoena that we have seen. Icy blue white standards have a gilt gold edge and the visible style crests are also etched in gold. Falls are about a dark a black purple as there is. Beards are a burnt orange. Shivers is also blessed with beautiful form, ruffles, stems and good bud count. Absolutely spectacular. Check out additional pictures including clump shots of it on the website. Sdlg. TJ303ZZ: By Starlight sib.

PERKY LASS (L. Miller ’23)
TB Midseason-late 32” (81cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. As I work toward pink ground plicatas interesting combos are happening. The standards of Perky Lass are light pinkish salmon, lightly washed light violet. Falls are pinkish-salmon bordered with heavy maroon dotting, heaviest beside striking dark tangerine beards. 7 to 8 buds are held on show stalks. Sdlg. 5817C: 9813A, Lost cross X Powder Keg.

OH SO DIFFERENT (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 30” (76cm)
No fragrance It takes center stage with one of the most dramatically unique flowers. Standards and falls are both a study in color and pattern. Light buffy tan blended standards are widely banded with fine dark plum filigree. Old gold style crests striped dark brown emerge from between them. White falls are a puzzle of purple black veins and sanding overall becoming darker and more closely spaced toward edges. White stitching on reverses adds more distinction. Mid marigold beards help focus the eye. Of course, this has been a favorite since it first bloomed. Three branches have 8-9 buds. Easy and fast growth. Sdlg. AA73L, How Bizarre! Sib

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS (Paul Black 23)
TB Late-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Sparkling pristine white flowers have standards decorated with wide vibrant mid violet plicata bands and sparse sanded veins over their centers. Amount of center markings varies considerably from sparse to overall. Contrasting dark plum style crests peak out over white falls with narrow mid purple plic bands. Dark wine sanded darts cover the hafts then give way to closely spaced light yellow veins. Light marigold to white beards are the perfect complement. Clumps provide a light and bright spot in your garden. Two branches and spur have 5 buds. Sdlg. Z64E: All too Exciting X Black W143F, Wild Streak sib

HYBRIDIZERS TAKE NOTE
FUTURISTIC (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 12” (30cm)
Slight sweet fragrance As far as I know, this is the first variegated foliage SDB to be introduced. I’ve bloomed others but none good enough to introduce. ‘Futuristic’ had an interesting beginning. Bloom the first year was a mix of gray-white flowers, grayed pink flowers and some broken colored of gray and pink. Since then, most have transitioned to light gray with a light tan haft veined darker slate tan and narrowly bordered slate violet. There are very subtle light tan broken color segments. Mid old gold beards give a little life to these more somber colors. ‘Futuristic’ is fertile and can produce variegated foliage and broken color flowers but progress is slow. Sdlg. Y262A: Black V277B: (Black S283B: (Black O335B, Burlesque Cutie pod parent x Worry Wart) x Eye of the Tiger) X Black V324A, Egghead sib

SPILT MILK (Paul Black 23)
AB OGB- Midseason-Late 28” (71cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Interestingly, this cross had about 1/3 broken colored seedlings. I don’t know where it comes from. Ecru standards have light old gold centers turning to lines and then heavier stitched borders. Random rosy wine splashes further decorate them. Crests of dark gold styles are striped red-brown. White falls are heavily washed and mottled dark brown. Random streaks and flecks of white make it a bit whimsical. Multi-layered dark brown and old gold beards terminate in small black aril signals. Two well-spaced branches have 5 buds. Sdlg. BB186B: Smokin’ Hot X Let’s Play Dress Up

GENTLE SIGH (Paul Black 23) MTB (tet) Midseason-Late 24” (61cm) slight sweet fragrance Through its softer colors and diminutive size, ‘Gentle Sigh’ conveys the feeling of peaceful serenity in your garden. Standards of white flowers have wide mid amethyst plicata bands and dotted centers. Falls have mid amethyst plicata stitched bands. White beards have interesting auburn tips over a light amethyst layer. Show stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 10-11 buds. A lovely refinement in tetraploid MTBs. Sdlg. AA276C: To the Contrary X Deep in the Heart

ETERNAL HOPE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Clean and crisp medium yellow standards. Falls are a very interesting blend of violet and yellow. The hafts are touched more solid yellow and there is a more concentrated yellow-tan blend forming a band. The center of the fall is flushed violet. Very nice form and ruffling, carried on nicely branched stems. Beautiful and bright! Sdlg. TL34A: Barbara Rider X ((Tango Express sibling x Danger Money) x Hooked On A Feeling)

REST OF THE STORY (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Slight fragrance. Deep lavender blue standards are touched pink at the top. Falls are a clean lavender white with a precise pink band and haft. A nice start towards a pink and blue reverse bicolor. Lovely form, good stems, and strong growth make this a garden favorite. Sdlg TL89YY: Highly Classified X Easy On The Eyes

TAKE MY HAND (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Light fragrance. Icy white standards are flushed and veined pink in the center. Falls are orange with an overall wash of salmon-rose and slightly deeper veins. Nicely formed and branched stems move us another step forward in this color pattern. Sdlg. TL219ZZ, Power And Prestige sibling: (Barbara Rider x Arrivederci) X Shockaholic

YUPPIE (Black ’24)
SDB Midseason 13” (33cm)
Musky fragrance. Like the 80’s yuppies, the standards are a bit laid back and colors more muted but with an interesting blending of color. Sdlg. BB226N: Hey Look At Me X Sweet Pink

SPECIAL AGENT MAN (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Another ‘Crocodile Smile’ child. It has an interesting combination of cool colored standards and warm falls. Falls show a slightly different expression of the plicata pattern. Also notice the interesting dotted plicata pattern on the back of the falls, characteristic of many ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. Near solid gray plum standards sit atop butter yellow ground falls with a nearly solid overlay of dark plum and marigold beards. Sdlg. BB108A: Black Y56B: (Hot Off The Press x All Too Exciting) X Crocodile Smile

CHANGE OF HABIT (P. Black '25)
MTB (tet) Midseason-late 23” (58.5cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
It is easy to make a habit of this well-formed light silvery blue-violet and dark purple bitone with neat two-tone beards. Show stalks have three branches plus two spurs and 10-11 buds. Makes a lovely clump. Another very interesting parentage.
Sdlg. DD97D: Z160D: (W218A, Flirtin' Skirts sib x X145A: (U68C: (Date With Destiny x unknown) x T171A, Time For Magic pollen parent)) X Deep In The Heart

BUTTERFLY EYE (P. Black '25)
TB Early-midseason 33” (84cm) Pronounced spicy fragrance.
Butterfly Eye is an example of the recently emerging cascade patterns where the fall centers have various contrasting colors, from veins to solid cascades. Light slate violet standards blend to a wide pale violet-white band. Wide pale violet-blue falls help emphasize the cascade patterning. Large dark indigo blue hafts transition to widely spaced dark indigo veins and mottling. Fat beards are an interesting tobacco brown. Strong growth produces show stalks.
Sdlg. DD56A: AA8A: (Foreign Agent x Bedroom Romance) X Y18A: (Multnomah Falls x Bubbly Beauty)

RAZZLE DAZZLE ME (P. Black '25)
TB Late-very late 31” (78.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Can one possibly get more color on an iris? Probably, but this one makes a good run at it. Mid gold standards and styles top wide falls having mid red-purple centers with light grape finely sanded veins. Warm white hafts on each side of beards are heavily sanded and lined dark brown blended to dark black-brown edges. Moderate brassy khaki bands decorate the edges. Its pod parent Hotsy Totsy is an interesting parent for me. Two branches plus spur carry 7 buds.
Sdlg. BB17O: Hotsy Totsy X Bright Within

LATE TO THE PARTY (P. Black '25)
TB Late-very late 35” (89cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
For those in colder climates and areas subject to late frosts and freezes, a plicata being Late To The Party is a good thing. White standards have wide mid-dark purple plicata banding and sparse dotting over the center. The white of the standards accents the dark purple style arms. White falls have dark plum plicata hafts and narrow light plum plicata bands. The large mid marigold beards are an interesting accent. Overall, a very clean and exciting flower. The ground color and plicata markings are somewhat variable. Two branches plus spur carry 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. BB100C: Black Y53A, Sun Peeking Out sib X Black Z64A, Random Acts Of Kindness sib

BROWN NOSE (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
It is all about the big ochre beard with the cute stubby slate brown horn. As for the rest of the flower, standards are light khaki tan and falls are a mid-dark charcoal red-violet blend becoming lighter to a narrow tan band. Darker veining over falls provides more interest. Three well-spaced branches plus spur produce 9-10 buds.
Sdlg. BB120N: Y93B, New Fallen Snow sib X Z11A: (Seasons In The Sun x V118A, Only The Shadow Knows sib)