BACKGROUND NOISE (Paul Black '22)
TB Late-Very Late 34” (86cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Two of this year’s introductions are from this cross that produced many delightful seedlings. ‘Me and My Shadow’ has proven to be a solid parent for quality later blooming hardy plicatas. Light blending to dark butterscotch standards have fine darker caramel veining. Styles are darker butterscotch with styles veined brown. Crisp white falls are decorated with wide dark burgundy plicata bands while near black irregular lines descend part way down their centers. Three well-spaced branches carry 7-8 buds. A vigorous and hardy plicata.
Sdlg. Z100I: Me and My Shadow X First Pick

BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY (Paul Black '22)
TB Early-Midseason 29” (74cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Reveille sounds as the brilliant sun rises just like the vivid yellow-gold standards of this showy flower. Pristine white falls have dark amber bands with red-violet halos inside them. Big bright yellow beards echo the standards color. Three branches and 8-9 buds ensure a lengthy bloom. Showy clumps and shorter stature provide a bright spot toward the front of your landscape.
Sdlg. X89E, Paisley Print sib

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

ESSENCE OF BEAUTY (Paul Black '22)
TB Early-Midseason 33” (84cm)
No fragrance. Ooh la la, all those undulating ruffles and vivid apricot, orange and pink blending decorated with even darker bold orange beards. All this lusciousness is carried on strong stalks having 3 branches and 8-9 buds. For those breeding broken color sorts, this one has B/Cs on both sides of the parentage.
Sdlg. X113B: Big Break X Black U22B: ((Magical Glow x Impulsive) x Black R170C, Simply Coral sib)

EXPANDING UNIVERSE (Paul Black '22)
TB Midseason-Late 35” (89cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. This cross is another that yielded many quality seedlings from which choices had to be made as to what goes and what stays. Big broad and heavily ruffled flowers are presented on strong show stalks. Standards have wide purple black plicata bands and only centers show their white ground. Styles are near black. Super wide falls are warm white shaded buff over hafts. Dark purple plicata bands encircle the falls and unusual waxy black chevrons surround rich dark black-brown beards. Strong show stalks have 3 branches and spur to show of 10-12 buds. A must have.
Sdlg. Z74H: Goat Rodeo sib

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

LATER ALLIGATOR (Paul Black '22)
TB Early-Midseason 34” (86cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance. Be careful this intriguing character doesn’t sneak up on you. Swirling mid to light slate blue standards are flushed darker gray violet up midribs. Ruffled mustard yellow falls have paler centers and are veined darker gold. Show stalks with 3 branches and spur have 8-10 buds which is characteristic of both parents. Robust growth ensures this gator will be back year after year.
Sdlg. Y46A: Black U10, Luxuriant sib X Black W130A: (Black T19B, Lost World sib x Secret Agenda

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

APPLE OF MY EYE (Paul Black 23)
TB Late-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Oh YES, I really like this one. Be sure to take in the lovely, nuanced colors. Tight classically formed flowers have waxen substance and sheen. Lightly laced red brown standards blend to wide dark mulberry bands, a very interesting color transition. Narrow crinkle laced black cherry falls are touched with white dotting. The white chevron around the multi-layered beard is heavily mottled mid black cherry. Three layered beards are white to dark purple and tipped old gold. Strong, disease resistant foliage. Show branched stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 9- 10 buds. Sdlg. AA268A: Ruby Tracery X Black Y54A, Drag Race sib

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

ENDORA (T. Johnson ’23)
IB Early-Midseason 26” (66cm)
Slight fragrance. Creamy white standards are heavily overlaid with light plum in the centers with a flesh pink band. White ground falls have a wide dramatic purple to near black band and center stripe. Vivid tangerine beards complete this dramatic look. Super strong grower that is a very prolific bloomer. Show stems! Sdlg. TM187A: Tasty Treat X Law And Order.

HASHTAG (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 12” (30.5cm)
Slight fragrance. Very light yellow-orange standards. Falls have a white ground that is completely lined with deep maroon red lines and veins. The hafts are touched yellow. Beards are white with tangerine hair tips. Very striking and the first lined SDB in this color that we know of. The parents of this one are the two iris named after our two little dogs. Sdlg. TM175A: Alaia X Tula.

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.

LOOK AT YOU (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 11” (28cm)
Sweet fragrance. Brilliant rust red with a deeper fall spot with a brilliant yellow beard. Three buds on this dazzling little beauty. Sdlg. TL295A: Prego X Roaring Fire.

MIGHT EXPLODE (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 12” (30.5cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Large ruffled and round flowers that are red with a deeper fall spot. Humungous yellow-orange beards are quite startling! Three buds and strong growth. We love this one! Sdlg. TL295E: Sib to Look At You.

RIDDLER (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 12” (30.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Wow! This is a favorite that I look forward to blooming each year. Such a strange but pretty and intriguing combination of colors. Check out the additional photos of it to see the variations as it ages. Super grower and prolific bloomer. Recommended!! Sdlg. TM184B: Drifter X Brevity.

WITCH WAY (T. Johnson ’23)
IB Early-midseason 26” (66cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Reddish brown standards blended with some yellow at the edges. Falls are lemon yellow with a deep maroon red haft and wide band. Gorgeous form, with nice stalks and heavy bloom. There are several sisters from this cross that will be introduced all in different colors. Sdlg. TM187E: Superstitious 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.

AS YOU WISH (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Light fragrance. Medium rose-lavender-pink standards and edge on lighter pink falls. There is a darker pink blush on either side of the beautiful saturated pink beards. Very nice ruffled and laced form on nice show stems. As You Wish is an easy grower and has been used heavily in hybridizing. This is an iris that we like a lot!! Sdlg. TL74ZZ: Slice Of Heaven X Strawberry Shake.

BE THE LIGHT (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm)
This is a color combination I am a bit of a sucker for. Brilliant bright yellow standards that are exceptionally clean are held over light to medium lavender falls. The falls have deeper texture veins that run the length of the petals and the hafts are touched yellow. Strong stems on large classically formed flowers. The overall effect is a super clean bicolor that oozes class. Sdlg. TL7A: Barbara Rider X Hospitality.