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)

MAKE UP YOUR MIND (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 33” (84cm)
Sweet fragrance. This is one of the first broken color plicatas. Subsequent generations indicate it is an inheritable trait, so let the breeding begin. Nothing in the parentage indicates the possibility of broken color. About 1/3 of the seedlings from this cross were plicatas, about 1/3 were selfs, and about 1/3 were broken color plicatas. Well-branched stalks have 2 branches and a spur producing 7-9 blooms. Vigorous growth provides quick clumps. Intriguing to see each flower marked differently. Sdlg. AA84T: Come And Dance X Starry Starry Night

PRETTY SIGHT (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. This taller sibling of ‘Make Up Your Mind’ is a very handsome traditional plicata in a lovely cornflower blue shade. It adds one more branch and a complement of 9-10 buds on show stalks. It too is a strong clean grower. Standards are a near solid cornflower blue with a buff wire edge. Falls have a white ground with cornflower dotting inside a more solid band, and then a complementary buff band. Sdlg. AA84X: Come And Dance X Starry Starry Night

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

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)

NEVER NEVER LAND (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. ‘Me And My Shadow’ has been an excellent parent. I am excited about the possibilities of using Never Never Land in plicata breeding since it is half plicata. Its vivid red-orange beards will be a wonderful bold addition when transferred to plicatas. Superior garden traits make it a great garden subject. Standards are light blue with a tan wire rim. Falls are velvety purple black with a narrow purple band. A touch of light apricot in the center accentuates the bold red-orange beards. Sdlg. BB164D: Daffy Duck X Me And My Shadow

COZY KITTY (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) No fragrance.
This kitty looks more like it is ready to go partying rather than cozy up at home. Falls on light pink flowers with mid pink styles have mid red-purple lined and sanded hafts and center stripes. Beards are flaming neon coral pink. Makes a joyful clump. Another interesting parentage.
Sdlg. CC220B: Y263A: (New Release x W218C, Flirtin' Skirts sib) X X224C: (Intoxicating x V322A, Jolly pollen parent)

RING OF LOVE (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) Slight musky fragrance.
What keeps Ring Of Love from being just another white and violet blue plicata? It is the superbly formed flowers and the precise distribution of stalks throughout the clumps. Falls are wide, round and perfectly ruffled. It makes for a stunning clump.
Sdlg. CC263A: Tender Loving Care X Lap Of Luxury

DARK EYED LASS (P. Black '25)
SDB Early-midseason 10” (25.5cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
Here it is, the one many of you have been asking about since I first posted its picture on FB. I’m also in love with it. It is one of those irises where everything works together to make a stunning creation. Light yellow standard centers blend to wide stark white bands. Irregularly edged big brown-black fall spots transition to wide white bands, including a white dart up their distal center. A nest of white darts encircles white beards. OH MY!
Sdlg. DD163A: BB248A, Touch Of Turquoise sib X Zaa Zaa Zing

BEYOND FABULOUS (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 32” (81.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
An abundance of ruffles, pleasing color contrasts, and all-around great garden performance make Beyond Fabulous a prime candidate for your garden. Light grayed cantaloupe centers blend to very wide pale icy blue-white bands. Dark blended dark purple falls have white hafts heavily lined and sanded dark maroon and are finished with medium wide icy white streaked bands. Two-toned beards are mid marigold, ending in light violet. Three branches provide 8-9 buds. Strong growth.
Sdlg. BB73B: My Passion X Z139: (V89: (unknown x Hotsy Totsy) x Hotsy Totsy)