IT'S A SNAP (Paul Black 23)
MDB Early-Midseason 7” (18cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance. What a welcome sight these cute little flowers are as spring begins to ramp up. Vigorous clumps cover themselves in masses of bloom. Mid-light brassy gold standards color repeats in wire rims around dark mahogany blended falls. Sdlg. BB195B, Bacon and Eggs sib

MINI STRIPE (Paul Black 23)
MDB Midseason 7” (18cm)
No fragrance ‘Mini Stripe’ is an eye-catching sport of a quite average purple seedling. Both standards and falls of silvery translucent white flowers have mid to dark violet lines etched overall and becoming a closer stitched fall band. White styles with violet lined crests nestle between upright standards. Sdlg. Y269N: involved

NEON FLASH (Paul Black 23)
MDB Midseason-Late 7.5” (19cm)
No fragrance The blazingly bright colors of ‘Neon Flash’ scream for attention. Mid-dark pink standards surround darker pink styles. Mid peach-pink falls are rouged rose at ends of clear pink beards. Cute little thumbnail sized blooms. Sdlg. BB226A: Hey Look at Me X Sweet Pink

PATRIOTIC (Paul Black 23)
BB Midseason-Very Late 27” (69cm)
I’ve been working a number of generations for a turquoise TB or at least one that leans well in that direction. I’ve been incorporating medians to give more genetic possibility. It is another project that I’m fast running out of time to complete. ‘Patriotic’ is a clear sky blue with fine dark blue lines over the falls. Classically formed flowers are carried on show stalks with 3 branches and spur providing 8-10 buds. Clumps are filled with stalks and bloom. Sdlg. AA148A: Poise and Charm X Black W164A: (Luxuriant x Black U67 mid blue sib to pollen parent of New Fangled)

PROCEEDING FORWARD (Paul Black 23)
Spec-X Midseason-Late 12” (30cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Work to further exploit the superb traits of I. junonia continue with this cross to incorporate pink color into the mix. This is a breeders iris more than a polished modern SDB. Mid slate garnet flowers have rusty orange hafts with white veins. Two branches and 4 buds is normal. Sdlg. BB208A: Weird Science X Sweet Pink

PULSATING (Paul Black 23)
MDB Midseason-Late 7.5” (19cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance It is all about color for this little guy. Vivid mid yellow standards and styles beam above light buff falls with hafts heavily plic lined and sanded mid wine as well as narrow plic bands and darts at ends of bright orange beards. You can’t miss it in the forward border. Sdlg. AA264B: Black X332C, Jolly sib X Jolly

RAGTOP (Paul Black 23)
SDB Late-Very Late 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance For breeders, here’s a lovely twofer for you, luminata and plicata on one side and lace of the other. It makes for an exciting parent. Ruffled and lightly laced khaki standards have slate red violet bases. Light khaki style crests are laced. Mid yellow hafts are veined mid mahogany and darker mahogany over lower half. A neat narrow ruffled and laced light khaki band encircles them. Soft old gold beards are the perfect complement. Sdlg. AA259D: Jolly X Little Bit of Lace

RED HOT BLUES (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early 12” (30cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The layers of color in the falls is entrancing. Standards and styles are mid gold. Black cherry hafts of falls blend to mid rose and then are banded bronzy brown. Half burnt orange and mid lavender beards end with a darker violet flash at their end. Sdlg. BB246A: Black Y278B: (Black V316F, Circus Act x Don’t Fix It) X Yoda

ROBUST CLARET (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The accent here is on robust. Single plants rapidly transform into big clumps that cover with bloom. Glistening mid ruby standards dance above velvety dark ruby falls with a network of fine black lines overall. Beards are neat half auburn and half mid violet. You’ll have plenty to give your neighbors. Sdlg. BB246E, Cinemagic sib

SATIN BABY (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 11” (28cm)
Slight musky fragrance Everything about this baby is beautiful. Nicely ruffled standards are light-mid buffy pink as are styles. Wonderfully round ecru falls have light tan to pink blended hafts and light buffy pink ruffled band. Beards are half tangerine and half white. What a subtle beauty! Sdlg. AA181B: Breathtaking X Nutmeg Mambo

SHE’S A BEAUTY (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 13” (33cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance This beauty is another project that has taken more than a few generations to get achieve, and it still isn’t finished. The goal is a clear pink amoena and blue/pink bicolor. Both are possible given enough generations. Cool white standards have light green veins up midribs. Light peach falls blend to buttery yellow. White stripes at ends of half and half mid-orange and white beards add a unique touch. Sdlg. BB215A: Black X265C: involved X Burlesque Cutie

SPILT MILK (Paul Black 23)
AB OGB- Midseason-Late 28” (71cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Interestingly, this cross had about 1/3 broken colored seedlings. I don’t know where it comes from. Ecru standards have light old gold centers turning to lines and then heavier stitched borders. Random rosy wine splashes further decorate them. Crests of dark gold styles are striped red-brown. White falls are heavily washed and mottled dark brown. Random streaks and flecks of white make it a bit whimsical. Multi-layered dark brown and old gold beards terminate in small black aril signals. Two well-spaced branches have 5 buds. Sdlg. BB186B: Smokin’ Hot X Let’s Play Dress Up

TOUCH OF TURQUOISE (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 12” (30cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance What can I say, “it’s pretty”. Standards of gently ruffled white flowers are lined light lime up their midribs. Awesome light turquoise half-moon spots dress up the falls. White beards don’t distract. Sdlg. BB248C: Black Y295B, Two Faced sib X Two Faced

TRIPLE SMILES (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 13” (33cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Lovely form, pretty colors and robust clumps create ‘Triple Smiles’. Cameo pink standards sit pleasantly above mid lilac falls boldly adorned with dark red violet chevron spots. Colorful beards transition from dark orange to violet blue. Sdlg. BB231B: Black Y234A: (Black U159A, Queen of Darkness pod parent x Breathtaking) X Yoda

UNRULY SURPRISE (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 12” (30cm)
No fragrance Clumps of ‘Unruly Surprise’ are covered with these more simply formed flowers. Standards are pale peach as are hafts and narrow bands around falls. Zingy orange beards punctuate the falls. Sdlg. BB234A: Missing You X Kisses

YOWZA (Paul Black 23)
MTB (tet) Late-Very Late 22” (56cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Considerable breeding has taken place to create fuller and more ruffled MTBs. After years of refining, the goal has been achieved. These classically formed and ruffled blooms create an elegant presence. Mid lilac standards base blends upward to light mauve pink with gilt tan-gold rims. Mid mauve pink styles peer out over very round light buff-pink falls etched with plum veins over their hafts. Fluffy tangerine beards top it all off. Strong growth creates clumps filled with show stalks having 3 branches plus 2 spurs with 9-12 buds. Exceptionally nice in every respect. Sdlg. AA161B: Black X185C, Queen Mum sib X Black Y196B, involved

ZAA ZAA ZING (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Some seedlings are destined for introduction from the moment they open. This is one. It remains a favorite. White standards have light yellow centers changing to veining moving outward. Mid yellow styles echo the standards. Upper two-thirds of white falls are covered with heavy closely spaced dark red-brown veins and mottling. A white stripe bisects them. Neat half and half beards are mid gold ending in white. Makes a stunning and memorable clump you won’t forget. Sdlg. BB199A: (Open Your Eyes X Cheery Blush)

GALACTIC GIGOLO (Paul Black 23) AB (OGB-) Early-Midseason 22” (56cm) no fragrance For those unsure of growing arilbreds, this ¼ bred is for you. It grows as easily and vigorously as a SDB or IB. Standards are light lilac with mid gold bases, random dark violet flecks and gold stitched band. Styles are dark apricot gold. Big bold dark to ruby blended fall spots are widely banded mid ochre. Dark marigold beards are tipped dark garnet and end in small diffuse black aril signals. Vigorous growth produces showy clumps filled with stalks. Sdlg. CC145A: Shaman’s Magic X Black AA211A, Sassy Salsa sib

GENTLE SIGH (Paul Black 23) MTB (tet) Midseason-Late 24” (61cm) slight sweet fragrance Through its softer colors and diminutive size, ‘Gentle Sigh’ conveys the feeling of peaceful serenity in your garden. Standards of white flowers have wide mid amethyst plicata bands and dotted centers. Falls have mid amethyst plicata stitched bands. White beards have interesting auburn tips over a light amethyst layer. Show stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 10-11 buds. A lovely refinement in tetraploid MTBs. Sdlg. AA276C: To the Contrary X Deep in the Heart

PAY THE PIPER (Black 23)
BB Midseason-Late 26” (66cm)
Slight spicy fragrance Once you’ve paid the piper, he’ll give you this spectacular creation. It makes one of the finest clumps with masses of classically formed flowers that last for days from iron like substance. Standards are light buffy pink and styles mid buffy pink. Mid buffy pink falls are washed old rose becoming darker toward edges. Hafts are veined dark old rose as are lines overall. Flaming dark orange beards complete the piper’s act. Exceptionally well-proportioned flowers are carried on show stalks with 3-4 branches and 9-12 buds. Sdlg. BB162E: Luscious Lips X Black Y171B: Luscious Lips sib