HONOR STUDENT (Paul Black 26)
SDB Midseason-late 12” (30.5cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
Of course this student gets top marks. Rampant growth ensures a clump filled with perfectly formed blooms. The color of the light violet-blue standards is repeated in a wire rim around the mid to dark violet-blue shaded falls. Large light lavender beards with frosted white tips are showcased in a nest of white haft darts. Sdlg. EE132A: La La Palooza sibling

LA LA PALOOZA (Paul Black 26)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Its medley of color will certainly make you take notice. The light grayed violet infused mid brass color of the standards is repeated in a narrow band around the wide falls. Irregularly edged large dark red-brown spots streak into the band. Jolly fat two-toned beards begin with mid gold throats and end in light violet. Sdlg. EE132B: Black BB218A: long and involved X Wow Gee Whiz

PINK EXPLOSION (Paul Black 26)
MTB Midseason-late 22” (56cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Refined flowers are pink. Mid pink standards encase a bit darker styles. Light pink falls have darker hafts and margins. Glowing tangerine beards finish it all. Two to three branches produce 7-9 buds. An exciting parent for all median classes. Sdlg. EE108A: Sassy Senorita X Dream Of Dreams

PURPLE PLEASURE (Paul Black 26)
BB Midseason-late 26” (66cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
An abundance of ruffles and frills on a classically formed flower ramp up its visual pleasure. The clean mid violet color of the standards is repeated in a wide band around the velvety dark purple falls, which also have dark plum hafts. Light grayed tan to pale blue beards are an interesting touch. Lovely show stalks have 3 branches and 9-10 buds. Note the blue and pink parentage. Sdlg. DD22C: Adrift At Sea X Black BB86E: (Bubbly Beauty x For Lovers Only)

RUNNING LATE (Paul Black 26)
SDB Late-very late 15” (38cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
I keep working on pushing SDB bloom further and further into TB season. Running Late hits that mark by blooming with midseason TBs. Tightly formed flowers have pale pinkish white standards, contrasting with strongly flared dark purple falls, blending paler to edges. Hazy white darts surround unique burnt orange to violet beards. Rampant growth creates clumps filled with bloom. Sdlg. DD140I: Y191A, Perfectly Composed sibling X Black Y278B: (Black V316F, Circus Act sibling x Don't Fix It)

SORCERER’S SPELL (Paul Black 26)
IB Early-midseason 22” (56cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
Beware of the dark side lurking here. Mid red-purple standards blend lighter toward their edge. Open standards reveal showy rose and gold styles. Velvety dark purple falls shade to near black margins. The light tangerine over white beard rests in a white luminata plicata patch. There are sometimes random white streaks and splashes. Use it to create IB and BB broken color flowers. Three branches carry 8-9 buds. Sdlg. EE86A: Nickel’s Worth X Lumistreak

SUN (Paul Black 26)
MTB Early-midseason 25” (63.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
The name says it all – Sun has little orbs of sunny yellow, with a blush of pink up the standards. Mid marigold beards add a bit of zing. Show stalks have 3 branches and 9-11 buds. You don’t need to be close to see its impact. Sdlg. EE95A: AA161A, Yowza sibling X Black CC165A: (Fairy King x Y203I, Deep In The Heart sibling)

TOMBOY BLUE (Paul Black 26)
MDB Early-midseason 7” (18cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
This cute sibling to ‘Blue Songbird’ is just as appealing, but in a more subtle way. Standards of tightly constructed flowers are palest blue. Clear mid blue falls blend paler to their edge. Light blue beards are frosted white. Makes a serenely beautiful clump. Perfect as an edging, or in a rock garden. Sdlg. EE127D: Slightly Confused X By The Sea

TWINKLING EYES (Paul Black 26)
SDB Midseason-late 11” (28cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
This sibling of ‘Dark Eyed Lass’ is similar, but adds warming light gold hafts and indigo shadings around the big near-black spots on widely banded white falls. White standards dance above its dramatically colored falls. Big fluffy yellow to white bi-color beards are a joyful accent. Sdlg. DD163B: BB248B, Touch Of Turquoise sibling X Zaa Zaa Zing

ZOOMBA MOOMBA (Paul Black 26)
AB (OGB-) Early-midseason 22” (56cm) No fragrance.
Globular light lilac standards are etched with mulberry streaks around their outer ⅓, and open toward their base to expose contrasting mid cantaloupe styles. A large red-black signal spot blends into a wide iridescent claret band. Closer inspection reveals darkest purple beards topped darkest brown. Very neat. Easy and strong growth. Sdlg. EE153B: Smokin’ Hot X Debonair Bear

INNOCENT AGE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm) Slight fragrance.
Very light lemon-yellow standards are contrasted by the large deep lemon style crests that peek out from within. Falls are white with a nice rosy violet band. Beards are a pleasing lemon, with white at the end. The nicely ruffled flowers are almost laced. A very pretty iris for the lover of the softer tones. Sdlg. TO240E: Let Me Be There X Just Between Us

INTENSIFIER (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Slight fragrance.
I literally took a step back when this bloomed for the first time. What makes Intensifier so dramatic is the clarity and separation of the color. The standards are pure pristine white. Falls are a plush deep violet to near black, with a light lavender band thinly etched in violet. Beards are orange with red tips. Really dramatic in the fields. Sdlg. TN125A: Headline News X Smashing Sensation

KICK START (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 39” (99cm) Slight fragrance.
Kick Start is very early; it starts the iris bloom season. Amber to orange standards are held perfectly over amber yellow falls, lighter in the center, with a wide deep rose band. Beards are brilliant tangerine to near red. If you want a stunning floral display with lots of bloom and buds, this iris is for you. Smashing! Sdlg. TO184B: Date Night sibling

ON THE PROWL (Thomas Johnson ’26)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) Sweet fragrance.
White ground petals have a lavender lilac plicata dotted band and a belly stripe. Hafts are touched with deep red wine rays. Large, fuzzy beards are yellow-orange. This little iris really stands out in a crowd. Sdlg. TN281A: Penny For Your Thoughts sibling X Talking Back

ATHENA (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Late 31” (78.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
The Greek goddess of war and wisdom is represented by the dramatic contrast in this bicolor. Caramel standards are infused light burgundy red violet; caramel styles are accented red-violet. Falls are deep smoky red, with a flash of violet below the dark burnt tangerine beards. Seven to nine buds on nicely branched stems. Sdlg. 6418: Fruit Slices X 8714: (1912C: (Rustle Of Spring x Trial By Fire) x 8410: (Original Cast x Standing Alone))

BOSS MAN (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Early-midseason 32” (81.5cm) Light musky fragrance.
He likes to throw his weight around with those huge blossoms on extra strong stalks. Extremely ruffled, the standards are dusky buff pink, infused purple at the midribs, with a purple wire rim. Styles are dark buff pink, striped purple. Falls are purple to black. Beards are purple, tipped coral to buff at the tip. Strong stems carry 8-10 buds. Sdlg. 619E: Ninja Warrior X Haunted Heart

FOR EMMA (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Midseason-late 29” (73.5cm) No fragrance.
Named for our dearly departed friend Emma Cook, since the pattern of this iris was named after her. Standards are snow white; styles are tinted ice blue white, with yellow at the base of the standards. The snow white falls are banded medium purple, with a lighter watermark between the purple and the white. Beards are bright full yellow. Seven buds on strong stems. Sdlg. 4119K: 6415D: (She’s A Bimbo x Private Eye) X Edge Of Heaven

SANDY CLAWS (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Midseason-late 30” (76cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Yes, it is consistent, and it’s been a favorite with visitors!! Standards are full lemon yellow, and styles are yellow. Falls are lemon yellow, with a cream center, and an old gold border. Yellow hafts are brushed brown-purple. Orange-yellow beards extend into huge pom-pom appendages of yellow, brushed brown-purple. Nice stems carry 7-10 buds. EC ’24 and ’25. Sdlg. 2120A: 4817C: (7614C: (3410A: (12099B: (Winning Ticket x Rock-N-Roll) x Act Surprised) x 7611A: (Picture Book x 209BR, lost cross)) x 3112F: (Steeples x Airtime)) X Cabbage Patch

SKY WHISPERS (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Early-midseason 32” (81.5cm) Slight musky fragrance.
The pattern of Sky Whispers has intrigued me from the first moment I saw it. Standards are light blue-violet, veined darker, with a dark chartreuse edge. Style arms are light blue-violet, tipped dark chartreuse. Falls are full plum-purple, veined light plum purple, with dotted shoulders. Pale blue beards are heavily tipped old gold. Eight buds are held on good stems. Sdlg. 6618A: 7115A: (Lotto Winner x Tuscan Summer) X Gilded Chocolate

RIZZ (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Early-midseason 34” (86.5cm) No fragrance.
Rizz is slang for style, charm, or attractiveness. This one can grab your attention in the garden with its full orange self, with only a very small lighter spot at the tip of the tangerine beards. Stalks are well-branched, with 8-10 buds. Sdlg. 5220: 5816G: (lost record x lost record) X Candy Corn Treats