BACKGROUND NOISE (Paul Black '22)
TB Late-Very Late 34” (86cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Two of this year’s introductions are from this cross that produced many delightful seedlings. ‘Me and My Shadow’ has proven to be a solid parent for quality later blooming hardy plicatas. Light blending to dark butterscotch standards have fine darker caramel veining. Styles are darker butterscotch with styles veined brown. Crisp white falls are decorated with wide dark burgundy plicata bands while near black irregular lines descend part way down their centers. Three well-spaced branches carry 7-8 buds. A vigorous and hardy plicata.
Sdlg. Z100I: Me and My Shadow X First Pick

GOAT RODEO (Paul Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Many early blooming plicatas were a disaster in colder climates because of their related early growth. ‘Goat Rodeo’ is another from my lines to produce later blooming, cold hardy and vigorous plicatas. Dark wine standards show a small central patch of white ground. Pale yellow ground falls are widely banded dark brownish wine with hafts more heavily sanded dark brown. Marigold beards are just the right pop of accent color. Strong growth produces stalks with 3 branches and 8-10 buds.
Sdlg. Z74F: Black V127H, Plum Frost sib X Steal Your Heart

TOO MIXED UP (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Late 30” (76cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance. If broken colored sorts are your proclivity, ‘Too Mixed Up’ should be on your must have list. Flowers are the ultimate in ruffled form but buds are bit lacking at 6-7. Standards are silvery white with random dashes, segments and slashes of violet to red violet. Falls are the same except rosy peach hafts. Two colored beards have tangerine throats ending in light lavender. Vigorous growth.
Sdlg. X115B: Big Break X Break In

SCORCHING HOT (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Midseason 12” (30.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Golden yellow standards with a rust-red infusion at the midrib. Falls are near solid mahogany-red with a little bit of gold showing through and a pencil thin gold petal edge. Vigorous and showy with three buds. Beautiful clumps! Sdlg. TL303C: Alaia sib X (My Little Friend pod parent x (Brash And Sassy x Galaxy Quest)).

FEAST FOR THE EYES (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 31” (79cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance What a medley of colors and pattern creating a ‘Feast for the Eyes’. This easy growing luminata has vibrant rosy lilac standards blended to light buttery tan ruffled bands. Velvety black-purple falls are narrowly banded light buttery tan. White luminata patches sit beside light yellow beards. Purple based foliage and disease resistant foliage are a big plus. Vigorous growth produces show stalks with 3 branches and 7-8 buds. A big show-off even from a good distance away. Sdlg. Z2B: Affair to Remember X Black V126C, All too Exciting sib

THUNDER SNOW (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 32” (81cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The quest goes on for a white with blue beard. Each year the hope is that it will be there in the new crop of seedlings. Alas, it hasn’t been. There are beautiful creations that do happen. This beautifully formed milk-glass white has pale violet blue beards. Vigorous growth provides 2 branches and 7 buds. Sdlg. AA139A: involved parentage

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION (Paul Black 23)
IB Early-Late 25” (63cm)
Pronounced musky fragrance I think without a doubt this is the finest of the black and white plicata IBs. Centers of iridescent purple-black standards reveal just a bit of white plic ground. White falls have wide black plic bands with purple interior markings. Show stalks have 2 branches plus spur and 7-8 buds. Vigorous growth and increase. Stunning clumps. It is fertile. Sdlg. AA277A: Midnight Velvet X Lap of Luxury

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

IT'S A SNAP (Paul Black 23)
MDB Early-Midseason 7” (18cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance. What a welcome sight these cute little flowers are as spring begins to ramp up. Vigorous clumps cover themselves in masses of bloom. Mid-light brassy gold standards color repeats in wire rims around dark mahogany blended falls. Sdlg. BB195B, Bacon and Eggs sib

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

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

DANGEROUS LOVE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance. Deep wine-red standards. Falls are a dark black cherry with a lighter edge and frosted orange beards. Nice stems, and a good bud count on healthy vigorous plants. Sdlg. TM75ZZ, Can’t Be Denied sibling: Night Whispers X Own The Night

CLOWN CAR (Black ’24)
MDB Midseason 7.5” (19cm)
Sweet fragrance. Bright and cheerful little blooms cover vigorous plants. A sure delight to welcome spring. Sdlg; BB200N: Peppito X Take Your Pick

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

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))

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

KEEPING WATCH (T. Johnson ’25)
SDB Early-midseason 14” (35.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Sky blue with a large deep indigo blue fall spot. Large beards are white with orange tips. Flowers are very round and fully formed on nice stems with vigorous growth. Stunning in a clump.
Sdlg. TO7E: Thimble X Hold On Tight sib

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

GOLD RIPPLES (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 14” (35.5cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
Gold Ripples is one of the most vigorous and floriferous SDBs in the garden. Beautifully ruffled dark slate gold flowers are minimally plicata marked dark brown. Mid marigold beards brighten this more subtle flower.
Sdlg. CC201A: Foofaraw X Black AA190A, My Guy sib