FIVE STAR (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Gorgeously formed, ruffled, and lightly laced blooms are adorned with big delicious beards. Light mid pink standards are blended buff at the edges. Falls have a creamy cantaloupe center with orange hafts and lighter edge. Supremely show-branched stalks have 3 branches and spur resulting in 10-12 blooms. Very strong, robust, and clean growth. A favorite since maiden bloom; everything about it is five stars!! Sdlg. BB78A: Black Y4A: (Fantasy In Pink x Bedroom Romance) X Black Y84A: (Black V22C: (Toast Of The Town x unknown) x Black W22A: (Clouds Go By x What A Beard!))

SPECIAL AGENT MAN (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Another ‘Crocodile Smile’ child. It has an interesting combination of cool colored standards and warm falls. Falls show a slightly different expression of the plicata pattern. Also notice the interesting dotted plicata pattern on the back of the falls, characteristic of many ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. Near solid gray plum standards sit atop butter yellow ground falls with a nearly solid overlay of dark plum and marigold beards. Sdlg. BB108A: Black Y56B: (Hot Off The Press x All Too Exciting) X Crocodile Smile

GO CAT GO (Black ’24)
TB (small flowered) Midseason-late 32” (81.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Here we have one of my infamous “small flowered tall bearded” introductions. Disclaimer: There is no such class. It is a TB, the only class for it. It is from about as diverse a parentage as one can get. There are TBs, tet MTBs, IBs, and SDBs in its background. What a breeding bonanza! Expect considerable variation in seedling heights in breeding. Clumps are filled with show stalks that have 3 to 4 branches and 12-15 buds. It is a showstopper. Growth and disease resistance is A++. Perfect for windy areas prone to toppling taller TBs. Every garden should have one. Sdlg. BB111D: Black Label X Black Y77A: (Black U59A: (Soft Whisper x Simply Coral) x Daffy Duck)

GARDEN APPEAL (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 32” (81.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. This smaller flowered tall bearded beauty traces back to ‘Passionate Embrace’ and the unusually colored flowers it produces, particularly in the citrus colors. Its myriads of show stalks cover the clumps in bloom. The white fall bands make it pop. Contrasting style arms are characteristic of ‘Passionate Embrace’ offspring, as are unique colors and show branched stalks. Sdlg. BB116C: Black Y84C: (Black V22C: (Toast Of The Town x unknown) x Black W32A: (Clouds Go By x What A Beard!)) X Solar Sunrise

RIPPLES IN TIME (Black ’24)
TB Late 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Amply ruffled flowers are displayed on superbly branched show stalks. Strong growing, disease resistant foliage makes Ripples In Time a good landscape plant. Three branches and a spur provide 10-11 buds. Its lovely pastel color is a perfect foil for darker colors. Standards are lemon with gold centers. Falls are a blended pale violet to blue with a distinctive deep violet blue center stripe. Sdlg. BB8N: Colour Bazaar X All Ashore

FUNKY TOWN (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Musky fragrance. Over-the-top color and pattern are its hallmark. Is there room left for anything else? Thirty years ago such things were hardly imaginable. Veined and banded standards rise above falls with contrasting hafts, cascading centers, and a contrasting band. Wow! Add to that well-branched stalks with three branches and a spur with 10-12 buds. Get on board for the Funky Town Express. Sdlg. BB21A: Flash Of Brilliance X Espionage

BEAUTIFUL ESSENCE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Yes, another ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. To say its plicata markings are subtle is an understatement. Some might question it being a plicata, but both parents are plicatas. It isn’t a glaciata because there are some subtle anthocyanin markings. A beautifully elegant flower, with all good garden traits, it should be an excellent parent. Standards are warm white with a pale stitched edge. Falls are warm white with minimum buff plicata hafts and edge. Sdlg. BB105D: Crocodile Smile X Z62C: (All Too Exciting x Black U53X, Rise Like A Phoenix sib)

LEMON PEEL (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 34” (86.5cm)
Musky fragrance. Another of the ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring, with bright yellow ground falls. Plicata markings are variable from flower to flower, which indicates ‘Crocodile Smile’ or its offspring should be good to pair with broken color plicatas. A waxy texture over the falls is fairly common. Notice the vivid yellow styles. Fun and unique. Sdlg. BB104L: Crocodile Smile X Black Y135A: (All Too Exciting x Fancy Ideas)

CRASH BANG (Black ’24) TB Very early 32” (81.5cm) Musky fragrance. A very smooth and brilliant variegata ensures ‘Crash Bang’ won’t be overlooked. Brilliant dark yellow standards. Falls are a dark coppery brown with a gold blaze around the beard. Well-branched stalks carry 7 buds. Nice! Sdlg. AA62M: Color Wheel X Core Values.

SACK OF SUNSHINE (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. This vigorous and hardy yellow ground plicata comes from very different breeding. It produces consistent show stalks that are at home in the garden or on the show bench. Plicata markings are somewhat variable from one year to the next. Use it to breed for better plicata winter hardiness. Sldg. BB98A: Black Y52B: (Black U14A: (Dog Days x Black R133A: (Black O159B: (Out Of The Dark x Sea Power) x Black P75B: (Black L83D, Wonders Never Cease sib x Cheap Frills))) x Black U1A, Luxuriant sib) X Black Z90F: (Black V143B, Heartfelt sib x Black V154F: (Black S114B, Dare Me sib x Black S112H, Bright On Top sib))

WRITING ON THE WALL (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm)
Musky fragrance. ‘Crocodile Smile’ has been a supreme parent for creating unusual and different plicatas. A good proportion of seedlings have lovely branching and buds. Like ironing a small checked shirt, the patterning of Writing On The Wall makes it difficult to focus on any one part. It is unusual. Sdlg. BB104J: Crocodile Smile X Black Y135A: (All Too Exciting x Fancy Ideas)

INDISCRIMINATE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. A broken color plicata, coming from ‘Me And My Shadow’. No two flowers alike, as the degree of stippling and dotting in ratio to broken color changes from bloom to bloom. Taller show stalks have 3 branches and sometimes a spur with 9-11 buds. Plants are strong with vigorous growth and increase. An exciting and fun pattern. Sdlg. AA89U: Me And My Shadow X Black Y54B, Drag Race sib

COLORING BOOK (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 32” (81.5cm) Sweet fragrance. Could you possibly put more color on an iris? I’ve been looking forward to introducing this spectacular iris since its maiden bloom. You won’t mistake it for an
y other, and that uniqueness will attract the judges when show stalks are exhibited. Apricot standards over white falls with a wide mottled lilac inner band, then widely banded cinnamon apricot. Gorgeous! Sdlg. AA63D: Color Wheel X Black Y126 caramel sib: (You Belong To Me x V61B, Creature Of The Night sib)

BEAUTIFUL MIND (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 39” (99cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards are a very light creamy yellow with a deep golden yellow center. Falls are creamy white with a nice lavender to violet band. The hafts are also touched a bit with lemon. This strong grower has excellent form and stems with lots of buds. It has been used extensively in hybridizing and has proven to be a quality parent. A standout iris!
Sdlg. TN232ZZ: Coat Of Many Colors X Just Wanting Attention

BOXING RING (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards are a medium yellow with a darker edge. Falls are a very light yellow with deep lemon yellow hafts. A wide ruffled deep maroon band frames the pattern. It is hard to capture the true grandeur of Boxing Ring in a photo. The flowers are very large and widely formed with great ruffles. It creates a very dramatic look in the garden. Much admired by garden visitors, it is a gorgeous iris that will not be overlooked.
Sdlg. TN118XX: Headshot X TI147B: (Hard To Resist x TE25A: (TY55B: (Starship Enterprise x Pursuit Of Happiness) x Brazilian Art)

CHOIR OF ANGELS (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
White standards have nice wide gold bands. Falls are white with a deep violet blue plicata band. Choir Of Angels is a very strong grower that covers itself in bloom. Show stems are the norm on this classy beauty.
Sdlg. TM138WW: High Desert X Sheer Madness sib

CLEAR AND CRISP (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Deep golden yellow standards have a fine reddish veined edge. Falls are a stark clean and crisp white with a precise deep rust-red dotted plicata band. Its absolutely stunning clean and clear pattern is very noticeable from across the garden. The nicely ruffled flowers held high on well budded and branched stems add to the beauty.
Sdlg. TM25A: What A View X Raspberry Pie

COMPLEXITY (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Standards are light lavender, with muted gold in the center and edge. Falls are white with deep violet lines extending from the beard then becoming a wash as the pattern blends into a violet band. Complexity has very wide and billowing form in a unique color.
Sdlg. TN87A: Stitches X TK130YY: (Truth Or Dare x Autumn Tease sib)

DRAMATIC FINALE (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Late-very late 38” (96.5cm) Slight fragrance.
Standards have dark reddish violet centers with a wide blue violet area and then a lighter edge. Falls are the same with deep reddish violet hafts. The flowers on Dramatic Finale are extremely ruffled and a bit flared. Nice stems with good bud count are the norm. Dramatic Finale is very late and is not recommended in hot early climates such as Southern CA or Arizona where it may be susceptible to heat burn. It should be a great variety to close the season in the more northerly gardens.
Sdlg. TL6ZZ: Barbara Rider X Espionage

ETERNAL DAWN (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 39” (99cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Light buff pink standards are flushed deep pink in the centers. Falls are cream in the center with deep peach pink hafts and a pink and cream blended band. Tall and stately stems with nice branching and bud count create a beautiful display early in the season. Great parentage also makes Eternal Dawn a fun parent for gorgeous pastels.
Sdlg. TM89ZZ: TJ164A, Precious Thing sib: (Highly Classified x Easy On The Eyes) X TI6YY:(In The Mix x Dance Til Dawn)