STREAK ATTACK (P. Black 22)
TB Early-Midseason 30” (76cm)
Blue-green and white variegated foliage in itself is relatively rare but then add purple base foliage and it becomes something quite exceptional. It is also one of the more stable variegated foliage types. Flower color is variable ranging from brownish plum to red violet with some flowers having large broken color segments of both. Flowers on some stalks are quite uniform for color while others are more varied. White hafts are veined and mottled auburn. Variegated stalks have 3 branches and 7-9 buds.
Sdlg. X95B: Variegated Wonder X Black N128A: (Cool Confidence x J22A: *variegated foliage sport* (Crazy for You x Distant Roads))

TENACITY (T. Johnson ’23).
TB Midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Lavender blue standards with a yellowish green veined network in the center. Falls are an intensely deep velvety black purple with a white sunburst. A wide deep purple belly stripe runs from the beard to the purple band. This is one spectacular iris. Great form, buds, branching and growth, and show stalks always. Tenacity has been marked as an introduction since its maiden bloom. She is also proving to be a very good parent. Sdlg. TL214B: TI180C: (Locomotion sib x (Blyth O211-A: (L94-1: (Ostentatious x G48-5: (Burst x Epicenter)) x L266-1: (G48-5 x Zestful Miss)) )x R41-6, Stay Stylish pollen parent sib X TH156A: (Photo Shoot x (Blyth O211-A: (L94-1: (Ostentatious x G48-5: (Burst x Epicenter)) x L266-1: (G48-5 x Zestful Miss)) )x R41-6, Stay Stylish pollen parent sib).

WAR OF WORDS (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Brilliant yellow standards with the edges veined in red. Falls are a rich dark chocolate with yellow rays extending out from around the beard. Gorgeous flowers on exceptionally well branched and budded stalks. A very fast increaser and easy doer. Sdlg. TK90ZZ: Superhero Kiss sib.

HOW BIZARRE! (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Very Late 36” (91cm)
Slight musky fragrance My ‘Action Packed’ has given rise to many other excitingly patterned standards and falls like ‘How Bizarre!”. Pale chalky grayed violet elliptical standards centers give way to wide mid tan-gold bands heavily veined and rimmed mid red brown. Velvety purple black falls have white centers heavily veined and sanded dark purple. Old gold beards echo standards color. An easy late show winner with 3 branches and 7 buds. Strong growth and clean disease resistant foliage. Sdlg. AA73A: Laser Light Show X Black X141E: (Black U53D, Rise Like a Phoenix sib x Black U38B, Jungle Mist sib)

CRAZY CHAOS (L. Miller ’23)
MTB dip. Midseason-late 23” (58.5cm)
No fragrance. Standards are white, splashed deep violet. Falls are washed and veined violet-blue with deep violet splashes. Dark yellow beards. Up to 17 buds! Sdlg. 1118A: 2415B: (Emoji x Gesondheit) X Chocolate Fountain.

MODERN MAJESTY (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Very Late 30” (76cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance No dowdy queen here. Her ‘Modern Majesty’ is decked out in the latest fashion but still with classic tight form. Mid-dark purple standards centers blend lighter to wide mid mauve bands. Falls are light pinkish mauve with darker texture veins and darker rose mauve hafts veined white. Fat orange beards make a lively statement. Two branches and spur produce 7 buds. Sdlg. Z53B: Make My Heart Sing X Princess Grace

UNIMAGINABLE (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 35” (89cm)
Slight musky fragrance It is difficult to say which of the newer veined standards and falls creations I like best. Each is distinctive and has its own appeal. ‘Unimaginable’ is certainly toward the top of the list. Standards are pale lilac with one inch band of dark plum and solid rim. Circular white upper half of falls is covered with black veins progressing to solid black lower half with white dotted laced rims. It is an amazing look. Three branches produce 7-8 buds. Lots of plicata in the background. Sdlg. Z95G: Black V145A: (Etcetera x Spiced Lemon) X Laser Light Show

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (Paul Black 23)
BB Late-Very Late 24” (61cm)
Slight musky fragrance You’ll return again and again to gaze upon this sultry siren. Full, classically formed flowers have smooth mid-dark garnet standards. Velvety black cherry falls are delicately edged in narrow paler ruffles. Glowing light yellow hafts are veined and sanded black cherry and adorned with smoldering burnt orange beards. Clean, vigorous growth produces show stalks with 3 branches and 7-9 buds. The IB, 'Morning Show' was used to provide a different genetic base in the quest for "the red iris". Sdlg. Z121A: Black V170A: (Morning Show x Black P248B, Hi Love pollen parent) X Black X59A, Radiant Garnet sib

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

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

GONZO (Paul Black 23)
BB Midseason-Late 25” (63.5cm)
Slight spicy fragrance Descendants of ‘Delectable Treat’ have great substance. This is one of them. It takes 4 or 5 days for the flowers to open and expand. This cross gave a wide range of unique colors and patterns and most having superior branching and buds. Standards and styles are mid greenish yellow. Hafts of greenish cream falls are veined mid rosy brown changing to solid edgings along upper half. Dark pumpkin beards add a bit of warmth. Superbly proportioned flowers are carried on show stalks with 3-4 branches and 9-11 buds. No mistaking this for any other. Sdlg. BB162B: Luscious Lips X Black Y171B, Luscious Lips sib

I’LL BE THE ONE (T. Johnson ’24)
Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance. Cream based standards have pink centers and a light lemon veined band. Falls are a rich apricot with light apricot below the beard and touched pink below the hafts. Very nice ruffled form and good stems. A very pretty iris and one that we like a lot. Sdlg TL222YY: (Bring Me Diamonds x Handful Of Magic) X unreadable label

TAKE MY HAND (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Light fragrance. Icy white standards are flushed and veined pink in the center. Falls are orange with an overall wash of salmon-rose and slightly deeper veins. Nicely formed and branched stems move us another step forward in this color pattern. Sdlg. TL219ZZ, Power And Prestige sibling: (Barbara Rider x Arrivederci) X Shockaholic

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.

AMETHYST STARBURST (Black ’24)
MTB Early-midseason 20” (51cm)
Slight spicy fragrance. Taking the I. variegata veined fall pattern to an extreme. Makes a startling clump. Parentage involves mostly tets., but Amethyst Starburst looks diploid. Sdlg. BB168A: Little White Tiger X Black Z159A: (Black W195I: (Black S233A: (Redrock Princess x Ah Yes) x Edinger "Mullinax Butterfly") x unknown)

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

HODGEPODGE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm)
Sweet fragrance. A very pleasing pastel broken color with strong growth and 8-9 buds. Standards are mid lilac in the center with irregular streaks of peach and a cream band. Falls have a pale violet center blending into a wide pale pink band. Hafts are light peach, veined white and there is irregular light to dark random streaks of violet overall. Ruffled! Sdlg. AA11M: Big Break X You’re A Mess

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

PISTOLS AT DAWN (L. Miller ’25)
TB SA Midseason-late 30” (76cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Golden yellow standards are reflected in the lighter yellow veined area around the beard on the rich red-black falls. Styles have dark maroon veining. Mustard beards have a reddish black-based horn. A favorite with garden visitors. Very dramatic and showy!
Sdlg. 5517: 8214F, Chiseled sib X 10714C: (7810: (10106C: (Panic Button x Fiery Temper) x Saturn) x Mist Arising)