HEADLINE NEWS (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Early 30” (76cm)
Wow is what I always say when I see this one bloom. The flowers are large and very dramatic. Lavender standards with a slightly darker infusion in the midrib. Falls are a very deep plush purple black with a very ruffled lavender band and then a thin deep purple wire edge. The beards are a brilliant orange. A very clean brilliant contrast. Makes startling clumps!! Highly recommended.
Sdlg TI169ZZ: sib to Higher Love X Twilight Rhapsody.

NEW TWIST (P. Black ‘20)
SDB Early- Midseason 13” (33cm)
Its form isn’t what I’d like but the color is like none other. Light yellow standards open wide to show peach styles. Light pink falls blend to cream and have narrow gold bands. Cute pink beards.
Sdlg. Y259B: V271A: (Orange Obsession x T219C, Meticulous pod parent sib) X V237B: (R262B, Blazing Garnet pollen parent sib x Lovable Pink sib)

PUERTO VALLARTA (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Early 36” (91cm)
Puerto Vallarta the iris kind of reminds me of the beautiful sunsets over the ocean on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, thus the name. Brilliant golden yellow standards. Falls have dark yellow hafts that blend to a lighter lemon wash and finally deepening to a mustard yellow edge. Salmon shadings are deeper at the haft becoming a blended wash inside the yellow edge. There is also a large white patch below the intensely saturated yellow/orange beards. A very consistent garden performer with show stems and 9 buds. An easy and strong grower that really adds a bright spot of color in the garden. Super!!
Sdlg TJ103YY: In the News X Dressed to the Nines.

TRUTH OR DARE (T. Johnson ’18)
TB Late 36” (91cm)
A total new pattern in TBs is emerging. We have loved this one from its maiden bloom. Garden nickname had been “pansy face” because it reminds us of a pattern you would find on a Pansy flower. Standards are lemon yellow deeper at the base. Falls are white with a faint yellow halo band near edge of petals. What really sets this flower off is the dramatic rusy to red central signal that surrounds the orange beard. Not the easiest of parents but from what we have bloomed from it so far it is well worth the effort. Nice stem with up to 8 buds.
Sdlg. TG111B: (Rogue Trader x (Rules of Love x Decadence)) X Daring Deception.

CHILD (Paul Black '22)
SDB Midseason-Late 14” (36cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance ‘Child’ is the beginning of a new color pattern of pink and yellow bi-colors. Mid pink standards sit atop light yellow falls washed pale pink then decorated with half tangerine and half soft lavender beards. Very pretty.
Sdlg. AA240C: Black T255A, Festive Bow pollen parent X Platitude

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

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.

THUNDER SNOW (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 32” (81cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The quest goes on for a white with blue beard. Each year the hope is that it will be there in the new crop of seedlings. Alas, it hasn’t been. There are beautiful creations that do happen. This beautifully formed milk-glass white has pale violet blue beards. Vigorous growth provides 2 branches and 7 buds. Sdlg. AA139A: involved parentage

UNIMAGINABLE (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 35” (89cm)
Slight musky fragrance It is difficult to say which of the newer veined standards and falls creations I like best. Each is distinctive and has its own appeal. ‘Unimaginable’ is certainly toward the top of the list. Standards are pale lilac with one inch band of dark plum and solid rim. Circular white upper half of falls is covered with black veins progressing to solid black lower half with white dotted laced rims. It is an amazing look. Three branches produce 7-8 buds. Lots of plicata in the background. Sdlg. Z95G: Black V145A: (Etcetera x Spiced Lemon) X Laser Light Show

NEW FALLEN SNOW (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 39” (99cm)
Slight sweet fragrance This ruffled creation is as flawless as ‘New Fallen Snow’. Big full blousy white blooms standards have a slight violet tint. Big white beards overlaid vibrant orange give it distinction. Tall statuesque show stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 10-11 buds. Strong vigorous growth. Seedlings in this cross had overall superb quality and a wide range of colors. Should be a great parent. Sdlg. Y93C: Nostalgic Memory X Black U1U, Luxuriant sib

MAJOR NEWS (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance. Brilliant golden yellow standards. Falls are a blended rosy violet with a lavender wash in the center. The hafts are touched gold and there is a narrow gold rim. Lovely ruffled and well-formed flowers are held proudly on strong show stems. Major News is a very floriferous and strong variety and makes a stunning garden display. Sdlg. TM56A: Dancing On My Own X (Innocent Miss x Big Spender)

CLEARLY STATED (T. Johnson ’25)
SDB Early-midseason 14” (35.5cm) Slight fragrance.
A super clean and bright glaciata in soft pink to orange tones. Even the beard is tipped in a very soft pink. A stunning iris and beautiful in a clump.
Sdlg. TO12A: Very Berry Shake X New Release

COZY KITTY (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) No fragrance.
This kitty looks more like it is ready to go partying rather than cozy up at home. Falls on light pink flowers with mid pink styles have mid red-purple lined and sanded hafts and center stripes. Beards are flaming neon coral pink. Makes a joyful clump. Another interesting parentage.
Sdlg. CC220B: Y263A: (New Release x W218C, Flirtin' Skirts sib) X X224C: (Intoxicating x V322A, Jolly pollen parent)

ATTENTION TO DETAIL (P. Black '25)
SDB Early-midseason 13” (33cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
This dark purple and white luminata is stunning. The white luminata patch demands your attention. You won’t walk past it without noticing it.
Sdlg. CC239A: Wow Gee Whiz X Black Z208F: (New Release x Black V296C, Cool Dude sib)

GHOSTLY APPARITION (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) Slight musky fragrance.
It is similar to the tall bearded ‘ghost plicatas’. White standards have wide mid blue-violet plicata bands and random dotting over centers. White ground falls have mid blue-violet plicata hafts, variable light blue-violet distal wash, and narrow mid blue-violet stitched band. Fascinating beards are half tangerine and white.
Sdlg. DD154D: X252A: (Love Spell x V322A, Jolly pollen parent) X Y263A: (New Release x W218C, Flirtin' Skirts 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)

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 and then thinly etched in violet. Beards are orange with red tips. Really dramatic in the fields. Sdlg TN125A: Headline News X Smashing Sensation