CATERPILLAR BLUES (Paul Black '22)
TB Midseason-Late 32” (81cm)
No fragrance Breeding for a pure white with dark blue beard TBs has been the pursuit of many hybridizers and one that has yet to be accomplished. The link between beard saturation and petal color has been near impossible to break. The darker the beard, the bluer the petals. The whiter the petals, the lighter the beard becomes. ‘Caterpillar Blues’ is a very light reverse blue amoena with a darker blue beard. Disease resistant foliage and durable plants produce plenty of bloom stalks with 3 branches and 6-7 buds.
Sdlg. Y96A: Black V59C: (After the Rain x Black is Black) X U50A: (After the Rain x S110D: (N193A, Blue Trill sib x Blue Trill))

CROCODILE SMILE (Paul Black '22)
TB Late-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance If I could have only one of my plicatas to breed with, it would be this one. Its genetic diversity, including several instances of ‘Dolce’ plus SDBs, IBs, tet MTBs, BBs and TBs, has given rise to unique colors and patterns in addition to solid growth. White ground standards are washed pale mustard becoming darker toward edges then embellished with darker mustard fine veining overall and white edges. Yellow styles are held within strongly held standards. Expansive white ground falls are widely plicata banded dark olive gold with more olive random dotting and line down centers, over centers and haft. Unique olive gold beards complete this unusual creature. Three branches have 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. Y55A: Black U14A, Drag Race pod parent X Black W191A, Black Label pollen parent

GIRLS WANNA HAVE FUN (Paul Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance. Combinations of the plicata pattern with other patterns have created a seemingly never ending universe of new and unique patterns and colors. One of those is a butterfly type design where a luminata patch would be. There will be many variations of these to come. This one has mid pink standards with subtle darker rose lines and outer edge. Velvety dark purple-black falls have white darted chevon haft patches overlaid with near black lines sandwiched between purple sanded veins in a modified butterfly pattern. Coral beards enhance its uniqueness. Clumps are gloriously filled with an abundance of stalks having 3 branches and 8-9 buds.
Sdlg. Z88W: Dearest X Black U53X, Rise Like a Phoenix sib

STARRY STARRY NIGHT (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 36” (91cm)
Slight musky fragrance It is a night you’ll long remember. Classically formed, ruffled and lightly laced purple black flowers have standards with white sanded veins over their centers that show their plicata heritage. White fall hafts have closely spaced purple black lines and sanded veins transitioning to velvety purple black falls. Butterscotch beards turn to white climaxing in a white shooting star dart for a dramatic accent. It has a stunning presence even before opening. Bud reverses have chartreuse haft centers streaking into white center bands then white veins streaking into dark purple outer bands. It is an awesome look. Sturdy growth produces 4 well-spaced branches but only 7 buds. As if this wasn’t enough, it has been a mystery progenitor of many broken color plicatas. There is nothing in the parentage to suggest this trait. I’m still exploring its potential. In one cross, about a third of the seedlings looked like it, a third were standard plicata types and a third were broken color plicatas. There is much to be explored!
Sdlg. Y161A: Me and My Shadow X Black V159B, Pleasure’s All Mine sib

STREAK ATTACK (P. Black 22)
TB Early-Midseason 30” (76cm)
Blue-green and white variegated foliage in itself is relatively rare but then add purple base foliage and it becomes something quite exceptional. It is also one of the more stable variegated foliage types. Flower color is variable ranging from brownish plum to red violet with some flowers having large broken color segments of both. Flowers on some stalks are quite uniform for color while others are more varied. White hafts are veined and mottled auburn. Variegated stalks have 3 branches and 7-9 buds.
Sdlg. X95B: Variegated Wonder X Black N128A: (Cool Confidence x J22A: *variegated foliage sport* (Crazy for You x Distant Roads))

DETAIL ORIENTED (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Midseason-Late 13” (33cm)
Slight fragrance. Peach to orange standards and narrow band on light mauve pink falls. There is a violet plicata overlay around the beard & inside the narrow band. We are using this one heavily in breeding to intensify the unique contrasting band on the falls. Nicely ruffled, flashy and charming. Sdlg. TL304A: (Sib to Alaia pod parent x (Pirate Baby x Raspberry Crisp)) X Alaia

JEWEL HEIST (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Midseason 11” (28cm)
Musky fragrance. Yet again another introduction from the fabulous parent Alaia. These colors are in neon. Standards and styles have pink centers with light orange edges. Falls have a pink ground with violet dots at haft and below beard. Fall edges blend from pink to orange. Enormous bushy red-orange beards. Incredible! Sdlg. TK293E: Alaia X Sweet Devotion.

KISSING BOOTH (T. Johnson ’23)
Tet MTB Early-Midseason-Late 26” (66cm)
Slight fragrance. There was never any doubt whether this iris would get introduced or not. The color is rich pink with orange tones and orange beards, but what makes Kissing Booth shine is its bloom habits. The last two years it bloomed heavily for an entire month. Absolutely spectacular in full flower that lasts and lasts. Lots of buds and good form on nicely branched stems. Lots of sequential stalks contribute to its long bloom season. Sdlg. TL252XX: Start The Party X Hippy Chick.

SWEET BABY JANE (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 11” (28cm)
Musky fragrance. Brilliant gold standards with maroon infusions in the centers. Falls have a canary yellow ground with a near solid wide deep wine plicata band and random dots and stripes below the orange beards. Sdlg. TL299B: Lava Burst sib.

YOU'VE GOT THIS (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 11” (28cm)
Sweet fragrance. Lavender blue with a large black cherry fall spot combined with large white beards. Quite a dramatic showoff and a favorite since its maiden bloom. Sdlg. TL319B: (TI295A x (Thump x Lab) x (Oh Canada x Parade Lap)) X Prego.

AMETHYST ANGEL (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Late 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Light lavender standards with pink centers. Falls are a rich purple reminiscent of the purple seen more often in siberian iris. The beards are large and a unique blending of colors that comes off as kind of a frosted root beer. The flowers are very wide, large and ruffled. Tall well branched stems add to the look. A beautiful color combination that is hard to capture in a photo. Sdlg. TI11ZZ: Beauty Contest X All About Me.

BAD HABITS (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Light sweet fragrance. Rich royal purple standards over purple to near black falls. Beards are a burnt orange with yellow hair tips. Quite a beautiful iris in our continuing quest for a nice ruffled and laced yellow bearded black or purple bitone. Very pretty! Sdlg. TM94B: Own The Night X Heat Of The Moment

DEVOTED TO YOU (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm)
Light sweet fragrance. Intense true medium to deep pink standards. Falls have a light pink center with a medium pink band. Beards are pink and orange with a short lavender tip. Beautifully ruffled and lightly laced flowers are held on nice show stems. Very rich and gorgeous! Sdlg. TK65A: Slice Of Heaven X sib to Simply Fabulous.

EVENING FESTIVAL (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Light gold standards are infused deeper gold and violet up the midrib. Falls are a wide and ruffled deep plush burgundy to near black. Nicely branched show stems with good buds make it a show bench contender. The double beard in the photo is an anomaly and does not happen as a regular occurrence. Unfortunately with the horrible weather we had this past spring it is the only photo I was able to get. Sdlg. TK81ZZ: Can’t Stop Loving You sib.

FINAL ANSWER (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Late 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Medium flesh pink standards have lavender violet centers. Falls are a rich lavender violet with flesh pink touched hafts. Beards are tangerine, tipped lavender. Final Answer has been an absolute favorite since its maiden bloom. Gorgeous wide, ruffled, and heavily laced form, on Impeccably branched and budded show stems, ensures a long bloom season. This is an iris for the more northerly gardens with its lateness it is sure to avoid any damage from late freezes. It is an amazingly fertile parent, setting pods easily. An absolute must have! Sdlg. TJ119YY: Catch My Breath X Dancing Days.

FLYING FREE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Standards are an off white with medium violet veins and shades of lemon blending throughout the petal. The lemon is more concentrated in the center and the edge. Falls are a rich lavender violet deepening at the hafts and lightening at the petal edge. Put all this together with fantastic wide bubble ruffles and you have a very showy creation indeed. Sdlg. TK27B: Dream About You X Espionage.

IN ABUNDANCE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm)
Light sweet fragrance. Pink Standards with a faint violet stitched edge. Falls are cream with a medium red violet dotted edge. Inside the edge on either side of the beard is a brushed light salmon. With super strong growth and heavy bloom IN Abundance will put the early season into high gear. Sdlg. TL45B: All Stitched Up sib.

LET ME BE THERE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweetly scented. Let Me Be There is a WOW iris that cannot be overlooked! Standards are deep lemon yellow. Falls are white with a diffused lilac border. Hafts are touched lemon. The form and ruffles are indescribable, simple gorgeous. We have used Let Me Be There heavily in our breeding program and have been glad we did. An absolute must iris! Sdlg. TL151B: Dressed To The Nines X Gala Event.

LOVE AND LIGHT (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 37” (94cm)
Sweetly scented. Light to medium pink standards. Falls are cream with a pink blended overlay and with a medium lilac band. Large flowers with wide overlapping form and pleated ruffles put on a dazzling display. Absolutely impressive in clump! Nice stems and branching as well. Sdlg. TM166A: parentage unknown, illegible tag.

REFINED ELEGANCE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. The first thing that comes to mind about Refined Elegance is form! It was stunning in the fields this past spring. Lemon yellow standards are shot lilac up the midrib. Falls are a rosy lilac being deeper at the haft and lighter at the edge. A heavy wash of lemon on either side of the beard helps to accentuate the ruffles. This is a beautiful iris in a different sort of color pattern than we have seen. Sdlg. TK131WW: Head Of the Class sib.