INNER DESIRE (Paul Black 26)
TB Early-midseason 32” (81.5cm) No fragrance.
This intensely saturated jewel will captivate your heart. The interior of dark red-grape standards is white with wide plicata banding of mid red-grape. The falls have a mid blue-purple area surrounding mid tangerine beards, that first transitions to a wide, warm white, heavily plicata-marked band, before ending in a wide, rich wine-magenta band. Its unique color will draw you in for a closer look. Well-branched stalks have 4 branches and 7-8 buds. Unusual buds (fall reverse) are greenish cream heavily dotted mid grape. Another wonderful and unique iris coming from ‘Crocodile Smile’. Sdlg. BB107G: Black Y55B, Crocodile Smile sibling X Crocodile Smile

PRONOUNCEMENT (Paul Black 26)
TB Midseason-late 30” (76cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
Its bold colors pronounce to the world, “I’m here!” Clear, mid yellow, exuberantly ruffled standards are circled by creamy yellow margins. Strongly flared, velvety mahogany falls are smoothly overlaid plum, blending lighter to narrow old gold margins. Soft marigold beards don’t interfere with the ‘Pronouncement’. Two nicely spaced branches and spur produce 7-8 buds. Sdlg. EE55F: Black BB103A, All About Color sibling X Enthusiastic

AT LAST MY LOVE (Paul Black 26)
SDB Late-very late 14.5” (37cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
For those wanting a SDB to enter in a typical TB show, here is another one of my multiple branched and budded, late blooming SDBs that fits the bill. Light rose infuses up the midribs of the mid lilac standards. Falls are mid red-violet, blending lighter to their edge. Big orange beards are sandwiched between white hafts veined dark plum. Two basal branches have a spur on each, and the main stem has 2 branches, all adding up to an incredible 10-11 buds. Sdlg. DD131D: Y211A, I Dreamed A Dream sibling X Silence Please

INFLUENCER (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason-late 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards are very light lemon, with a large deep golden yellow center. Falls are rich lavender, with a deep red violet to burgundy diffused spot in the center. Influencer has really lovely form, and the wide and ruffled flowers are displayed on show stems! Another from the ‘pansy face’ line that we love. Sdlg. TO253C: unknown, lost tag

FORTUNE AND GLORY (Paul Black 26)
BB Midseason-late 26” (66cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
This stable of smaller flowered parents helped create a near perfect border bearded of mouthwatering mid golden apricot blooms with hazy plum-brown veins descending from vivid orange beards. Moderate ruffling is perfect for its size. Superb parent for BBs, IBs and TBs. Two branches and spur carry 8-9 buds. Sdlg. EE60A: Black BB109A: (Black Y59C: (Hot Off The Press x All Too Exciting) x Hot Off The Press) X Black CC4A: (Hot Off The Press x Z145I: (Black V385B: (First Lady Of Spring x Silver Ice) x Black V168A: (Coral Splendor x Simply Coral)))

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)

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

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))

HARD CIDER (Lynda Miller ’26)
MTB (Tet.) Early-midseason 22” (56cm) No fragrance.
Medium orange standards sit atop red-orange falls with a lighter rim and tangerine beards. Seven to nine buds are held on nicely branched stems. Sdlg. 521C: Calico Jack sibling

SCARLET FLAME (Lynda Miller ’26)
MTB (Tet.) Early-midseason 18” (45.5cm) No fragrance.
Standards are red to red-violet; styles are burgundy with gold edges. Falls are maroon to rose red, with short orange ray lines around the tangerine beard. Sdlg. 921A: 418B: (1915D: (1613: (1411B: (Sun Spirit x Coral Caper) x Coral Sunrise) x 1011B: (Stylish Lass x Sun Spirit)) x 3915C: (2713B: (Cheerful Doll x Night Spirit) x 1411E: (Sun Spirit x Coral Capers))) X Disco Ball

MEET IN THE MIDDLE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
White standards are infused medium yellow up the midrib. Falls are white with a wide lavender dotted plicata band. Hafts are a dark red violet. Every flower has a deep violet dotted center line that varies from one flower to the next. Beautiful wide and ruffled form with gorgeous stems. We have used Meet In The Middle a lot in hybridizing, with fantastic results. Sdlg. TO229B: Road Not Taken X Tenacity

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 40” (101.5cm) Slight fragrance.
I had a dream many years ago to take that wonderful burnt orange color on the iris ‘Shockaholic’ and put it on a plant that had wider branching and a better stem, thus the name of this lovely result, Mission Accomplished. I am very happy with this one. The standards are light blue lavender with a deep orange spot in the center. Falls are rich burnt orange with a lighter edge. Beards are rich tangerine to red. The icing on the cake is the tall, well branched and budded stems. Mission Accomplished also inherited its great vigor from ‘Shockaholic’. Sdlg. TN157ZZ: Big Flirt sibling X Shockaholic

MYSTERIOUS ONE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 39” (99cm) Slight fragrance.
Salmon to orange standards have a violet infusion up the midrib. Falls have a salmon orange ground that is heavily overlaid with mulberry purple. More of the salmon ground color shows through on either side of the dark mulberry belly stripe. Beautiful form on incredible stems that can have up to 4 branches, 4 spurs, and up to 16 buds. Mysterious One has been very valuable, not only for its beauty, but for its breeding potential for pink and orange ground plicatas. It is also a super strong and easy grower. Sdlg. TM134SS: Flash Mob X TK161A: ((Fashion Diva X unknown) x Beautician)

PERFECTLY STAGED (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 39” (99cm) Sweet fragrance.
Light golden yellow standards have a slight violet flush in the center. Falls are a rich and plush deep burgundy to near black, with a defined wide lavender purple band and a thin gold pencil edge. Beards are orange with red tips. The form and stems are very good on this stunning iris, earning it a high recommendation. Sdlg. TO253A: Influencer sibling

PLAY THAT SONG (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards are flesh pink with slightly lighter edges. Falls are rich reddish violet with a wide lavender band. The flowers are full, round, and ruffled, and held on nicely branched and budded stems. Pink and purple always seem to go so well together, and this is no exception. Really a very lovely iris that grows and blooms very well. Sdlg. TN98UU: Autumn Tease sibling X Private Party

PRETTY MUCH IT (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason-late 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Plicatas are such an interesting and fun group because of the variability that you can get. In general terms, one would describe this as a purple plicata, but Pretty Much It is so much more than that! Standards are white with a green flush up the midrib. Falls are pristine white, with a narrow stitched violet edge, and then a deeper violet wire rim. Hafts are touched deep red violet, and there is a small violet dart below the beard. Even the beard is a strange blend of orange and white. Upon closer inspection and as the flower ages a bit, the standards open slightly to show the gorgeous contrasting deep gold style crests from inside. The flowers are large and extremely wide and ruffled. Stems are tall, well branched and balanced, and display the beauty of the pattern perfectly. Sdlg. TO163B: Say It Right X Castle On The Hill

PUZZLE PIECE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 37” (94cm) Slight fragrance.
Iris have become such complex beings when it comes to patterns and application of color. The standards are pretty straight forward, being a brilliant golden yellow, but the falls are a bit more complex. There is a large and plush mahogany red signal spot in the center, but things get complicated in the band. There is a large wide band that circles the signal, but instead of it being one consistent color, it starts out as a light lavender and lemon blend at the haft, about half way down transitions to lemon, and finally shows deep gold at the distal end. The standard color reflecting itself at the distal end of the fall draws the eye across the whole flower and creates a very pleasing presentation. Tall, well branched and budded stems help it to compete on the show bench as well. Shockingly bright and beautiful. Sdlg. TN50ZZ: Autumn Tease sibling X Truth Or Dare

ROCKET SCIENCE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Deep golden yellow standards have light lemon to near wide edges. Falls are deep burgundy red, with a wide deep lavender and yellow blended band and center belly stripe. Well branched and budded stems elegantly display the blooms of this showy iris. Sdlg. TN92B: Autumn Tease X Taboo sibling

SMILING EMOJI (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Cream standards have a deep lemon center, and then lemon infusions throughout the edges. Falls are white with short violet lines and golden yellow hafts. Ruffled and lightly laced, it immediately made me think of the smiling emoji. A very happy flower that can have incredible show stems. Sdlg. TN111ZZ: Taboo sibling X Hour Of The Dawn