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.

ANTI HERO (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet Fragrance
An absolutely stunning flower with very wide overlapping hafts and an exuberant ruffles. The color of the standards is a very complex blending of orange light orange and pink the lavender tones. Falls are creamy white with peach touched hafts and a wide lilac to lavender band. Anti Hero is also blessed with nicely branched and budded stems making her a winner on the show bench as well. Sdlg. TO187B: Just Between Us X unknown seedling number illegible tag.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME (Thomas Johnson ’26
) TB Early-midseason 38” (97cm)
Slight sweet fragrance The name was inspired by our young iris enthusiastic friend Dylan Just. If you have ever seen his lively inspiring iris videos you will certainly recognize the phrase “are you kidding me” as his signature punchline. It is a very fitting name and very descriptive of the way I myself felt the year it first bloomed. Coming from the line of unique iris that have been coined the “pansy face” pattern. I love everything about this iris. From its lavender standards with maroon bases, to its wide and ruffled falls with deep maroon central overlay. The beards are blended a mysterious old gold to purple. Strong growth and gorgeous show stems just solidify the deal. Sdlg TN180A: Feel The Beat X Autumn Tease sib.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance Standards have centers that are a deep purple graduating deeper towards the heart of the flower. A wide buff yellow band with subtle deeper gold veins rim the standards. White falls have wide, and overlapping form, with a deep golden yellow band. A stunning reverse bicolor with large, wide, and ruffled flowers. Sdlg. TN27C: Mood Ring X Easy On The Eyes

AT FIRST LIGHT (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance Sky blue standards have a deep reddish violet central wash. Falls are creamy white with slightly gold touched hafts and a wide gold band. Well formed, ruffled, budded, and branched. Coming from a very good cross that produced many introduction worthy children. Sdlg. TN27EE: Artificial Intelligence sib

BAKER’S SECRET (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance Standards have an interesting blend of yellow and violet that creates a very rich brownish confection. The color reminds me of a dark cinnamon bun dripping with sweet frosting. Falls are a with the faintest of lavender overlaid then with a deep golden yellow haft and band. Baker’s Secret is absolutely amazing in clump!! Sdlg. TN27QQ: Artificial Intelligence sib.

AUTUMN RICHES (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 35” (88cm)
Slight fragrance Light lemony buff standards are heavily shot shot pink in the centers becomes veining towards the edge. Falls are a rich pumpkin orange. Nicely ruffled flowers that have amazing garden impact with color that radiates across the garden. Sdlg. TN128ZZ: TI225ZZ: (Blyth W75: Nutcracker pollen parent x unknown) X Come To Life

BALLROOM GOWN (Thomas Johnson ’26) TB Early-Midseason 39” (99cm) Sweet fragrance It is difficult to find the words to describe this one, the picture kind of says it all. Incredible form and with heavy substance, this stately luminata is characterized with a very wide rim on the standards. Intensely ruffled falls have a huge showy central luminata patch. At 39 inches it is very tall for this pattern which has tended to be on the shorter side. Show stems that can carry up to three branches and spurs even on the branches provide lots of buds for an extended bloom season. We have used this one heavily in our hybridizing program, putting it right at the top of our favorites list. Sdlg TN21XX: Affair to Remember X Gone Viral

BEATEN TO THE PUNCH (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Very early-midseason 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance Very light lemon standards with a violet flush at the base sit atop a very complex patterned fall. Falls are best described as a lavender base color that is then overlaid with a deep violet brindled wash, then bordered in a buff pink band. Beards are a very weird brown to black. The whole package is quite dramatic and intriguing that always draws me in from across the garden for a closer look. Beaten To The Punch is one of the first to start to bloom and is held on tall well branched and budded stems. Beautiful. Sdlg. TN89YY: Stitches sib X Hit The Bullseye sib.

BEHIND THE SCENES (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB midseason-late 39” (99cm)
Slight fragrance Eggshell standards have an ecru to greenish yellow bases. Falls are very light lavender with a maroon haft and a deep purple central wash that extends down further in the middle. Large flowers are held on very tall stems. Unique and different. Sdlg TN47ZZ: Feel The Beat X Space Signal

BLIZZARD WARNING (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Slight fragrance When we are faced the daunting task of naming iris each year we often put a picture up on the screen and say out loud the first thing that comes to our mind. I instantaneously said “Blizzard Warning”, it just has the wintery blizzard sort of look. White standards sit atop white falls that are washed in bluish purple with white ray lines and light lavender edge. A very pretty color and pattern that certainly gets a lot of notice in the field. Sdlg TN223C: This Is Crazy sib X Just Between Us sib

CALL TO ATTENTION (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB early-midseason 38” (97cm)
Slight fragrance Medium lemon yellow standards that are very clean and clear. Falls are a rich deep burgundy red with a narrow lemon rim. Beautiful, full, round and ruffled form with great clarity of color and a nice contrasting bicolor. Sdlg TM113RR: Distant Shores X Painted Sky

CAN JUST IMAGINE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 40” (102cm)
Sweet fragrance Lavender blue standards; falls are lavender blue with a deeper violet blue brindled wash. Beards are burnt orange with lavender tips. Can Just Imagine is very tall and stately with beautiful show stems. It is a “fancy” which in hybridizing talk means it is about one generation away from being a luminata. A unique and striking feature is beautiful lavender spathes and stems. It is very hard to photograph but is very noticeable in the garden. We have used this one quite a lot in hybridizing. A very pretty quality iris and the product of two great parents. Sdlg. TN90ZZ: Beautician X Gone Viral

CLOSING CEREMONY (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason-late-very late 38” (97cm)
Slight fragrance The name kind of tells you the story. It starts flowering with the midseason varieties and continues through until the very last of iris bloom. Very rich pink standards repeat themselves in a soft band on white falls. Big showy powder blue beards certainly add a touch of class. Very nice form with good buds and stems. A true delight to look at. A favorite for sure! Sdlg TO160A: Somebody To Love X TK109ZZ: ((TG52CC, Uptown Lady x Don’t Stop Believing) x Slice Of Heaven)

COMPLETE OPPOSITE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (97cm)
Slight fragrance What can we say about this one? Contrast certainly comes to mind! Deep blue purple standards sit atop cinnamon brown falls. Tall stems with lightly ruffled flowers have carrying power out the kazoo! Holy cow does this one make a statement, it is the iris that garden visitors most often tell me about, it seems to imprint! Certainly unique and won’t be mistaken for anything else! Stems and branching are good, the flowers are not as wide and ruffled as I usually like, but certainly adequate. Sdlg. TN13A: Mood Ring by unknown seedling