COSMIC MYSTERY (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. White ground standards are almost completely overlaid gold. The midrib is flushed violet. Falls are white with a deep velvet red band. There is medium red violet dotted band inside the darker band. Nicely ruffled flowers on a very bright and pleasing color combination. A nice classically ruffled form completes the look. Sdlg. TL213G: (Say It Right x Marry The Night sib) X (Marry The Night sib x pod parent of Be Not Afraid).

FINAL ANSWER (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Late 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Medium flesh pink standards have lavender violet centers. Falls are a rich lavender violet with flesh pink touched hafts. Beards are tangerine, tipped lavender. Final Answer has been an absolute favorite since its maiden bloom. Gorgeous wide, ruffled, and heavily laced form, on Impeccably branched and budded show stems, ensures a long bloom season. This is an iris for the more northerly gardens with its lateness it is sure to avoid any damage from late freezes. It is an amazingly fertile parent, setting pods easily. An absolute must have! Sdlg. TJ119YY: Catch My Breath X Dancing Days.

LEARNING TO LOVE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Lightly scented. Light lavender blue standards with medium pink centers. Falls are creamy white with a pink blush throughout. Icy blue white beards add to the beauty. The overall look of Learning To Love is elegance, with such a pleasing combination of pastels. Nice form and ruffles complete the package. Sdlg. TK13A: Poem Of Love X Enjoyment.

LOVELY LIVVY (T. Johnson ’23)
TB early-midseason 35” (89cm)
Lightly scented. LOVELY LIVVY (T. Johnson ’23) TB early-midseason 35” (89cm) Lightly scented. This gorgeous iris is named to honor the late great Olivia Newton-John. Olivia was not only a very talented celebrity but she was a gorgeous human being. Although I never met her, I certainly followed her career and life. Always a kind, warm and loving person, she never acted the celebrity, taking time to acknowledge all who came upon her. She courageously fought breast cancer in an out of remission for 20 years. Never one to complain she always looked on the positive side of things. The latter part of her life was dedicated to finding a cure for Cancer. She founded the Oliva Newton-John Cancer And Wellness Centre In Melbourne, Australia, the country she called home. Here she tirelessly raised money to support cancer research using plant-based treatments. Lovely Livvy was the pet name the media used throughout Olivia’s life to describe her. The iris we have chosen to honor her kind of named itself. Firstly, it is pink, the color of breast cancer awareness. On top of that, I made the cross in the garden of Barry and Lesley Blyth (using two of Barry’s seedlings), who live only miles from where Olivia grew up. Lovely Livvy is an extraordinary and unique creation in a color combination that has not yet been seen in iris until now. White standards are flushed pink. Falls are a deeper rose pink with a gorgeous ruffled white band. Olivia with her kind and generous heart inspired me to do my part, so I donated a portion of the proceeds of each plant sold in its introductory year (2023) to her Cancer research centre in Australia. Sdlg. TJ335B: X267-12 (U232-1: (S290-3: Raise the Curtain x Another Woman) x (S69-1: (02-185c: Restless Heart x Queen’s Circle) x (02-191B: Tour De France x Rippling River))) x Bashful Love. X Walk Right Back pod parent.

MOMENT OF PEACE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Blue pink standards are edged in lavender lace. Falls are near white edged with light lavender pink. The beards are pink with lavender blue tips. A very lacy flower in a very pleasing color combination. Very classy looking. Sdlg. TK52C: Poem Of Love X Full Of Hope sib.

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).

GABBY GAL (L. Miller ’23)
TB SA Midseason 32” (81cm)
Slight fragrance. This iris has fascinated me since its maiden bloom. The pattern is different especially for a horned variety. Standards and styles are a medium coral pink. Flaring falls are like a zebra. Is it medium orchid violet with pink veins or deep pink with medium orchid violet veins? The falls also have a defined narrow band of pink-orchid. Tangerine beards end with light violet horns that are always consistent. 6 to 7 buds. Sdlg. 5417: 3013B: (4211A, lost cross x Florentine Silk) X 7714, lost cross.

MONET PAINTING (L. Miller ’23)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Light sweet fragrance. The markings and color of this iris remind me of a fine Monet painting. Standards are bordered dark apricot diffusing to medium plum purple in the center. The dark apricot styles are tinted purple and are fringed. Falls have wide borders of plum purple that streaks into the medium apricot center. Extending from the dark tangerine beards are plum purple belly stripes. Great stalks with three branches support 9-13 buds. 5217A: Hot Wired sib.

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

OH SO DIFFERENT (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 30” (76cm)
No fragrance It takes center stage with one of the most dramatically unique flowers. Standards and falls are both a study in color and pattern. Light buffy tan blended standards are widely banded with fine dark plum filigree. Old gold style crests striped dark brown emerge from between them. White falls are a puzzle of purple black veins and sanding overall becoming darker and more closely spaced toward edges. White stitching on reverses adds more distinction. Mid marigold beards help focus the eye. Of course, this has been a favorite since it first bloomed. Three branches have 8-9 buds. Easy and fast growth. Sdlg. AA73L, How Bizarre! Sib

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

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

ROBUST CLARET (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The accent here is on robust. Single plants rapidly transform into big clumps that cover with bloom. Glistening mid ruby standards dance above velvety dark ruby falls with a network of fine black lines overall. Beards are neat half auburn and half mid violet. You’ll have plenty to give your neighbors. Sdlg. BB246E, Cinemagic sib

FOREIGN CONCEPT (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Light fragrance Lavender blue standards have a light reddish violet wash in the center. Falls are a very rich and deep old rose with glowing red beards. Foreign Concept is a very striking color combination. A favorite seedling since its maiden bloom. Sdlg. TM222A: Blyth Y66-A: (Devil’s Intent x Maybe Magic) X Blyth Z93-2: (X250-1: (V340-1: (Gathering Light x Infatuate) x V231-1: (T125-3, Chocolatier sibling x Infatuate)) x X226-1: (V277-1: (Thrillionaire x S115-D, Infatuate sibling) x U124-1: (Cascadian Rhythm x Adoree)))

SHINING BRIGHT (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance. The name on this iris describes it perfectly. The standards are yellow, and the falls are a light lilac with a lighter center and yellow hafts. It is a definite bright shining spot in the field. Nicely formed flowers are held proudly on well branched and budded stems. The result of crossing two great irises. Sdlg. TL7B: Barbara Rider X Hospitality

SUSPICIOUS MINDS (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 38” (97cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Standards have a cream base color with deep yellow at the base. There is a violet flush in the center that then fades and becomes lemon veins, before culminating in a narrow light lemon-yellow band. Falls are a rich and plush deep mahogany red violet with a wide lavender band and narrow buff edge. A tall showstopper in the garden that has been a favorite since its maiden bloom. Sdlg. TL49A: Seasons In The Sun X Read My Mind

FINAL BOW (L. Miller ’24)
TB Flattie Late-very late 36” (91cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. This lady is hard to forget when she takes her “final bow” in the garden. She has been the last to open in our garden since her maiden bloom. This light pink flattie has a few deeper veins beside the deep pink beard. She is also lightly laced and has serrated edged styles. Sdlg. 6218B: (Air Time x Don’t Stop Believing) X (((Steeples x Swoosh) x ((Candy clouds x High Spirited) x Swoosh)))

ASSORTED COLORS (Black ’24)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm)
Sweet fragrance. Its bright yellow standards invite you in for a closer look at the more subtle red-violet plicata falls. Very pretty!! Sdlg. BB212O: Black X224C: (Intoxicating x Black V322A: (Black T248C: (Black Q95A, My Cher sib x Black P168F, Total Denial sib) x Black T233A: (Black P188B: (Black M251A: (Black J392A: (Black F240A: (Sweet Bite x Black B281B: (Tweety Bird x Black 91216, Spin Again sib)) x Minidragon) x Black J282C, Amusing sib) x Tickety Boo) x Black R264: (Delayed Development x Black P189, He's So Shy sib)))) X Black X223A: (Intoxicating x Spectator)

ANKLE-BITER (Black ’24)
MDB Midseason-late 7” (18cm)
Musky fragrance. It’s the little ones you must look out for. Don’t let their size fool you; their dramatic coloring has great carrying power. Sdlg. BB212P: Black X224C: (Intoxicating x Black V322A: (Black T248C: (Black Q95A, My Cher sib x Black P168F, Total Denial sib) x Black T233A: (Black P188B: (Black M251A: (Black J392A: (Black F240A: (Sweet Bite x Black B281B: (Tweety Bird x Black 91216, Spin Again sib)) x Minidragon) x Black J282C, Amusing sib) x Tickety Boo) x Black R264: (Delayed Development x Black P189 T-beard purple, He's So Shy sib)))) X Black X233A: (Intoxicating x Spectator)

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!))