AUTUMN RICHES (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 35” (89cm) Slight fragrance.
Light lemony buff standards are heavily shot pink in the centers, becoming 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, Untamed Glory sibling X Come To Life

BLIZZARD WARNING (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Slight fragrance.
When faced with the daunting task of naming irises each year, I often put the photos up on the computer screen to help inspire me. When I saw all of the photos for this one, I instantaneously said “Blizzard Warning”, because it just has a wintery blizzard sort of look. White standards sit atop white falls that are veined then washed bluish purple, with a light lavender edge. A very pretty color and pattern that certainly gets a lot of notice in the field. Sdlg. TN223C: This Is Crazy sibling X Just Between Us sibling

COSMETOLOGIST (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 35” (89cm) Sweet fragrance.
This is a plicata pattern that has a lot going on. Standards have a very light lavender ground, with lavender dotting showing in the center, and then becoming a medium lemon band. Falls are a light lavender white ground, with a deep burgundy haft bar, and a faint lilac lavender dotted edge. Even the beard is complex, with a white base and hair tips that change from burgundy to orange as it moves towards the heart of the flower. Cosmetologist comes from a line of plicatas that are not from traditional plicata breeding; they descend from recessive plicatas that appeared in bicolor breeding lines. Very nice form, bud count, and stems. Sdlg. TO237D: For The Ages X Open Flame plicata sibling

DREAM BELIEVER (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 36” (91cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards are a very complex color; deep rosy lavender centers blend to medium lavender, edged with a yellow buff band. Falls are a rich mustard yellow, with a lighter wash from below the beard to the deep mustard edge. Dream Believer is a super strong grower, and is very floriferous, completely covering itself in bloom, to create an eye-popping display. Sdlg. TN27FF: Artificial Intelligence sibling

GOING CONCERN (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Another iris with a distinctive and complicated color scheme. Standards are very light yellow, with deeper lemon and pink blended centers, and lighter edge with lemon veins. Falls have a large yellow sunburst pattern in the center, becoming a very pronounced deep burgundy, and then bordered with a precise wide lavender blue band. A very striking and unique flower, it makes a startling clump. Sdlg. TN232YY: Beautiful Mind sibling

GONE BALLISTIC (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 39” (99cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Golden yellow standards are darker in the center. Wide and ruffled falls are medium lavender with a deep plush burgundy center that breaks up as it moves towards the pencil thin burgundy edge. A very colorful and bright pattern. Well-branched stems are tall, carrying wide and ruffled flowers. Vigorous growth and lots of buds ensures a strong and long bloom season. Sdlg. TO237A: For The Ages X Open Flame sibling

AMERICAN ADVENTURE (Paul Black 26)
TB Late-very late 33” (84cm) No fragrance.
Rich, dramatic, and luxuriously ruffled, American Adventure makes a bold statement in the spring garden. The deep inky purple plicata markings over the muted white center of the standards contrast with the chalky white falls, which have a light purple fancy plicata wash that deepens to near black edges. Blooms are heavily textured and graced with artful rippling. Vigorous growth produces show stalks with 3 branches plus spur and branch spur, giving a superb 10-11 buds. Dark stalks and mid purple spathes add an artistic touch. Sdlg. DD20A: Y14E, Bespoke sibling X Awash In Purple

BORN TO BE KINGS (Paul Black 26)
TB Midseason-late 32” (81.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Regal and commanding, Born to Be Kings lives up to its royal presence. Crisp, luminous white standards rise in dramatic ruffles above rich, velvety falls of deep royal purple. The falls are boldly accented with a bright golden-yellow edge and glowing white center that radiates outward, drawing the eye straight to the marigold beard. Show stalks showcase these bold flowers. Sdlg. DD6A: Art Critic X Reticulated Ruby

HEAVEN’S ANGEL (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91cm) Slight fragrance.
“Wow” is what I say whenever I see this one! The form is absolute perfection. Add a warm color confection to the large, wide, and heavily ruffled flowers, and you have a winner! Standards are warm, clear medium pink, with a cream edge. Falls are the lightest pink to near white, with a stunning lavender band. Beards are near white, so as to not distract from the whole package. Nicely branched and budded stems round it out as a must have. This is one I have been waiting to introduce since its maiden bloom. Sdlg. TO187C: Anti Hero sibling

PICTURE PERFECT MOMENT (Paul Black 26)
TB Late-very late 32” (81.5cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Its lavish ruffles and lace, that harken to a baroque time of sumptuous excess, will make it a focal point in any garden. Tightly formed blooms have rich deep lilac standards. Lilac falls transition from darker shades at their edges to lighter, almost lavender-tinted, centers. Vibrant orange beards hit a high note. Hefty rhizomes produce strong stalks with 2 branches and 7-8 buds. Heavy substance ensures its striking presence, no matter the weather. Sdlg. DD13A: So Much More X Black AA270B: (Soul Mate x Super Model)

HIGHLY RATED (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Slight fragrance.
Standards are deep shrimp pink with a lemon peach band. Falls are rich shrimp to flamingo pink, with a lighter area below the beard, and a narrow cream edge, yellow at the haft. Really a beautiful color, with lots of buds. One branch is a little tight on the stem, but still opens unobstructed. Stunning, once again showing the value of ‘Lovely Livvy’ as a parent! Sdlg. TM116ZZ: For Real sibling

SULTRY BEAUTY (Paul Black 26)
TB Midseason-late 31” (78.5cm) Pronounced spicy fragrance.
This beauty sweeps onto the dance floor in an elegant velvet gown. The satin sheen of her tightly fitted mid boysenberry top courses downward to her velvety dark burgundy skirt, underlaid with near black veins. Iridescent boysenberry-edged ruffles complete the ensemble. Mid orange beards add a bit of flash. Strong growth produces show stalks with 4 branches and 8-9 buds. It is valuable as a broken color parent. Sdlg. CC57A: Black Y115A, Breaking Free sibling X Goat Rodeo

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

INDIGO BRIM (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 35” (89cm) Slight fragrance.
Icy blue white standards are slightly darker at the edge. Falls are icy blue white, with a deep indigo band and yellow haft. This has the classic ‘Emma Cook’ pattern, but with a much deeper band than usual, and an unusual yellow haft. The band appears near black to the eye from across the garden. Sdlg. TN210ZZ: Feed The Flame sibling X Super Sized sibling

LA LA PALOOZA (Paul Black 26)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Its medley of color will certainly make you take notice. The light grayed violet infused mid brass color of the standards is repeated in a narrow band around the wide falls. Irregularly edged large dark red-brown spots streak into the band. Jolly fat two-toned beards begin with mid gold throats and end in light violet. Sdlg. EE132B: Black BB218A: long and involved X Wow Gee Whiz

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)

SORCERER’S SPELL (Paul Black 26)
IB Early-midseason 22” (56cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
Beware of the dark side lurking here. Mid red-purple standards blend lighter toward their edge. Open standards reveal showy rose and gold styles. Velvety dark purple falls shade to near black margins. The light tangerine over white beard rests in a white luminata plicata patch. There are sometimes random white streaks and splashes. Use it to create IB and BB broken color flowers. Three branches carry 8-9 buds. Sdlg. EE86A: Nickel’s Worth X Lumistreak

TOMBOY BLUE (Paul Black 26)
MDB Early-midseason 7” (18cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
This cute sibling to ‘Blue Songbird’ is just as appealing, but in a more subtle way. Standards of tightly constructed flowers are palest blue. Clear mid blue falls blend paler to their edge. Light blue beards are frosted white. Makes a serenely beautiful clump. Perfect as an edging, or in a rock garden. Sdlg. EE127D: Slightly Confused X By The Sea

FOR EMMA (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Midseason-late 29” (73.5cm) No fragrance.
Named for our dearly departed friend Emma Cook, since the pattern of this iris was named after her. Standards are snow white; styles are tinted ice blue white, with yellow at the base of the standards. The snow white falls are banded medium purple, with a lighter watermark between the purple and the white. Beards are bright full yellow. Seven buds on strong stems. Sdlg. 4119K: 6415D: (She’s A Bimbo x Private Eye) X Edge Of Heaven

SKY WHISPERS (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Early-midseason 32” (81.5cm) Slight musky fragrance.
The pattern of Sky Whispers has intrigued me from the first moment I saw it. Standards are light blue-violet, veined darker, with a dark chartreuse edge. Style arms are light blue-violet, tipped dark chartreuse. Falls are full plum-purple, veined light plum purple, with dotted shoulders. Pale blue beards are heavily tipped old gold. Eight buds are held on good stems. Sdlg. 6618A: 7115A: (Lotto Winner x Tuscan Summer) X Gilded Chocolate