FINE OUTFIT (Paul Black 23)
MTB (diploid) Midseason 21” (53cm)
No fragrance This outfit comes from an interesting genetic mix of diploid and tetraploid parents plus an unknown. In trial crosses, ‘Fine Outfit’ has been fertile in diploid crosses but not tetraploid. Traditional diploid type flowers have mid lilac standards with darker fine lines overall. Elongated white hafts have wide dark purple veins with lower half being solid dark purple with white wire rim. Two branches sport 7 buds. Striking clumps filled with stalks and bloom. Sdlg. BB168N: Little White Tiger X Interject

HYBRIDIZERS TAKE NOTE
FUTURISTIC (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 12” (30cm)
Slight sweet fragrance As far as I know, this is the first variegated foliage SDB to be introduced. I’ve bloomed others but none good enough to introduce. ‘Futuristic’ had an interesting beginning. Bloom the first year was a mix of gray-white flowers, grayed pink flowers and some broken colored of gray and pink. Since then, most have transitioned to light gray with a light tan haft veined darker slate tan and narrowly bordered slate violet. There are very subtle light tan broken color segments. Mid old gold beards give a little life to these more somber colors. ‘Futuristic’ is fertile and can produce variegated foliage and broken color flowers but progress is slow. Sdlg. Y262A: Black V277B: (Black S283B: (Black O335B, Burlesque Cutie pod parent x Worry Wart) x Eye of the Tiger) X Black V324A, Egghead 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

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

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

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)

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

INTERJECT (Paul Black 23)
MTB dip Midseason-Late 20” (51cm)
No fragrance This cross again illustrates the unusual fertility between tetraploid and diploid MTBs that nobody seems to be able to adequately explain. The seedlings from my cross W195 proved to be sterile in crosses I made. A smart bee gave me one seed that is ‘Interject’. It is fertile with diploids and is being introduced to add more genes to the diploid MTB mix. Standards and styles are mid gold. Upper half of falls are white veined mid old gold and lower half is mid gold washed Dijon and rimmed in gold. Stalks have 2 branches and spur with 7-8 buds. Sdlg. Z159A: W195I: (S233A: (Redrock Princess x Ah Yes) x Mullinax Butterfly, unknown diploid) X Unkown bee

PRINCESS PRETTY PINK (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 34” (86.5cm)
Slight musky fragrance This later blooming pink ground plicata avoids the winter damage that plagued so many earlier ones of this type. Ruffled standards are mid pink blending to mid apricot edges. Mid coral styles echo these warmer colors. Light pink falls have white luminata type patches lined mid plum. Narrow ruffled red-plum plicata bands encircle the expansive falls. Coral beards are the perfect accessory. Vigorous growth creates sumptuous clumps filled with show stalks having 3 branches and 8-10 buds. Sdlg. BB149G: Black Y135A: (All too Exciting x Fancy Ideas) X Z100G, Background Noise sib

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

SPICED APPLES (Black 23)
BB Midseason-Late 27” (68.5cm)
Slight sweet fragrance You’ll love the warm yummy colors of these ‘Spiced Apples’. Standards are light copper peach styles mid copper. White fall hafts are mottled light wine then solid to edge. Light rosy peach centers blend to light then mid rosy-copper to edges and are circled with gilt gold rims and adorned with bright orange beards. Show stalks have 4 branches plus spur and 11-14 buds. Superb parent. Sdlg. Z148B: Delectable Treat X Black W182D: (Black U78C:(Black R168C, Three Part Harmony sib x Grace and Charm) x Long And Winding Road pollen parent)

COVERT CAPER (Keppel 23)
White ground plicata with slight tan stitched rim on standards and black purple fall rim.

EASTER DRESS (Keppel '23)
TB Late 36" (91cm)
Yellow standards; White falls have a blended lavender border and dark canary yellow hafts. Beards are bright orange with yellow at the end. (((Bollywood sib x sib) x (Mild Manner x Paris Fashion)) X Rio sib x Gypsy Lord))

MYSTERY MAN (Keppel '23)
TB Early-Midseason 40" (102cm)
Blended rosy red-violet standards. Falls are a deep red purple with a lighter edge. There is white rays on either side of blue beard and a lavender blue wash below the beard. ((Inside Track x Spice Lord) X Reckless Abandon)

SNOW KISS (Keppel '23)
TB Midseason-Late
35" (85cm)
Palest pink standards; Falls are creamy white blushed pink becoming tinted lavender towards the edge. Beards are tipped powder blue at the end. (Arrivederci X Marital Bliss)

UNSTAINED (Keppel '23)
TB Midseason 32" (81cm)
Purest white including the beard. Very clean and sharp looking (Nevertheless sib X ((Telepathy x Moonlit Water) x Montmartre))

AT LARGE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Slight fragrance. White ground standards are sanded all over with light golden yellow dotting. Falls are white with a light lilac dotted band. There is a red violet haft that spreads across the falls on either side of the burnt orange beards. At Large is so named because the flowers are immense and carried on strong wide candelabra branched stems. Quite impressive! Sdlg. TL166YY: Beautician sibling X (Marry The Night sibling x TD314ZZ: (Blyth O211-A: (L94-1: (Ostentatious x G48-5: (Burst x Epicenter)) x L266-1: (G48-5 x Zestful Miss)) x Blyth R41-6, Stay Stylish pollen parent sibling))