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

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

BOLD AWAKENING (Tasco '16) Early-midseason 33" (84cm) Standards are magenta-rose, veined darker. Falls are brick red with an orange blush and large oval shaped, dark burgundy-black signal.

LANCER (Shockey '95) (OGB) Midseason 28" (71cm) Medium orchid violet with large black signal.

NOVA (Tasco '18) (OGB) Late 28" (71cm) Standards are light violet with slightly darker veining. Falls are rosy orange to brick with darker veining and a large round dark burgundy black signal.

KEEP AN EYE OUT (T. Johnson ’25)
AB (OGB-) Early-midseason 26” (66cm) Slight fragrance.
A lovely clear blue with a deep red black signal. Certainly a catchy looking iris in the garden, and a strong grower.
Sdlg. TO4B: Lancer X TL319E, You’ve Got This sib: (TI295A: (Antsy sib x Yodel sib) x Prego)

REMASTERED (T. Johnson ’25)
SDB Early-midseason 12” (30.5cm) Slight fragrance.
Brilliant golden yellow with deep mahogany to red fall spot, that looks a bit more like a signal than a spot. Intensely bright and showy.
Sdlg. TO19B: Searing Embers X You’ve Got This

STARE INTO MY EYES (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB-) Late-very late 23” (58.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Stare Into My Eyes makes a significant advancement in the buds and branching of quarter arilbred irises. It is a big favorite. Strong stalks have two well-spaced branches plus spur and 7-8 buds. It is vigorous and as easy to grow as other bearded irises. White standards have light yellow centers blended to wide white bands shot with light yellow veins. Falls have big purple signals irregularly blended into wide light amethyst bands. Because of its later bloom, you’ll be able to take it to a show.
Sdlg. CC140A: Heart Of Hearts X Casual Attire

DESERT OASIS (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB-) Midseason-late 33” (84cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Quarter arilbreds keep getting better and better, and more aril looking, with the big plus that they are easy to grow. Awesome white standards have light yellow centers and lined filigree with mid yellow styles peeking out. The light-yellow base of falls are washed and blended mid rose. Dark black-cherry streaked chevron signals surround brassy old gold beards.
Sdlg. CC142A: Smokin' Hot X Rise Like A Phoenix

ARABIAN DESERT (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB) Early-midseason 21” (53.5cm) No fragrance.
Large, oncocyclus type blooms have white standards with fine amethyst lined filigree overall. Mid maroon falls are finely filigreed with darker lines. Bold black signals compel you to have a close-up look. Stunning!
Sdlg. CC144A: Smokin' Hot X Beautiful Brown Eyes

GOLDEN MARMOSET (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB-) Midseason-late 22” (56cm) No fragrance.
Its brilliant color ensures this easy to grow arilbred won’t be overlooked. The falls of bright mid gold flowers are washed light coppery red, becoming lighter to their edge. A bold dark-mid black cherry to ruby blended chevron signal surrounds mid caramel beards. There are two branches and five buds.
Sdlg. CC146C: Shaman's Magic X Wild

VERMILION CLIFFS (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB-) Midseason-late 23” (58.5cm) No fragrance.
Its name comes from the similarly colored Vermilion Cliffs of Arizona. Mid gold styles peek out from between light tan standards. Falls have light tan ground washed coppery tangerine over the lower half, and have mid coppery red sanded veins on the upper half. Light yellow beards end in small red-black signals.
Sdlg. DD087A: Smokin' Hot X Bottle Rocket

ARE YOU KIDDING ME (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
The name was inspired by our young iris enthusiast friend Dylan Just. If you have ever seen his lively inspiring iris videos, you will certainly recognize the phrase “are you kidding me” as his signature punchline. It is a very fitting name, and very descriptive of the way I myself felt the year it first bloomed. It comes from the line of unique iris that have been coined the ‘pansy face’ pattern. I love everything about this iris, from its lavender standards with maroon base, to its wide and ruffled falls with deep maroon central overlay. The beards are blended a mysterious old gold to purple. Strong growth and gorgeous show stems just solidify the deal. Sdlg. TN180A: Feel The Beat X Autumn Tease sibling

BEHIND THE SCENES (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason-late 39” (99cm) Slight fragrance.
Eggshell standards have an ecru to greenish yellow base. Falls are very light lavender with a maroon haft, and a deep purple central wash that extends down further in the middle. Large flowers are held on very tall stems. Unique and different. Sdlg. TN47ZZ: Feel The Beat X Space Signal

DONE DEAL (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 40” (101.5cm) Slight fragrance.
Done Deal is one of those iris that has it all: great form, branching, bud count, and vigor. Standards are a pearl white with pink and light salmon blended centers. Falls are a rich lavender with a deep red violet signal around the beard, which becomes a deeper lavender wash throughout the mid-section. We used this one quite a lot in hybridizing for all of its exemplary qualities. Sdlg. TN180ZZ: Are You Kidding Me sibling

EYE LOVE YOU (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 36” (91cm) Slight musky fragrance.
I have been working on the ‘pansy face’ pattern, or you could say ‘signal’ pattern, in TBs for quite a few years. Trying to get different colors in the pattern has been fun. Eye Love You has a lot going on in the color department. Standards are flesh to peach, with large pink centers and a lavender infusion up the midrib. Falls are light lavender with a deep maroon signal, and upon closer inspection, there is a very faint lighter peach band. The orange beard sitting on top of the maroon signal just makes the whole thing pop. It certainly makes for a brilliant display in the fields, and won’t be mistaken for any other iris. Sdlg. TN31ZZ: Truth Or Dare X Autumn Tease

ZOOMBA MOOMBA (Paul Black 26)
AB (OGB-) Early-midseason 22” (56cm) No fragrance.
Globular light lilac standards are etched with mulberry streaks around their outer ⅓, and open toward their base to expose contrasting mid cantaloupe styles. A large red-black signal spot blends into a wide iridescent claret band. Closer inspection reveals darkest purple beards topped darkest brown. Very neat. Easy and strong growth. Sdlg. EE153B: Smokin’ Hot X Debonair Bear

PAINTED NAILS (Thomas Johnson ’26)
AB (OGB) Early-midseason 30” (76cm) No fragrance.
Lavender purple standards have deeper red violet veining throughout. Falls are rich medium magenta, with deeper veins throughout and a large black cherry to black signal. Stunning, and a good grower, selected in a wet climate that can often be harsh on arilbreds. Sdlg. TO2A: Smokin’ Hot X Onlooker

LOOKING LIKE THAT (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
This pattern is so clear and matter of fact that I thought it deserved a name that is a strong statement. Looking Like That is bold and beautiful, and creates quite a stir. Standards are complex, with deep lemon centers becoming the lightest lavender, then showing lemon veining at the edge. Falls are rich deep lavender, with a massive deep burgundy signal and yellow orange beards. Fantastic stems that are well branched and held high above the foliage set the stage for quite a show. Sdlg. TN180E: Are You Kidding Me sibling

MARDI GRAS MASK (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 38” (96.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Standards are lavender with a blended pink and orange center that extends out to the edge as veining. Falls are rich blue lavender with a deep inky purple diffused signal. Beards are a stunning mixture of orange and purple, giving the appearance of brown. A very wildly patterned iris that is an easy grower, with buds and branching galore. Sdlg. TO237B: For The Ages X Open Flame sibling