SUAVE AND SOPHISTICATED (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm)
Lightly scented. Golden yellow standards are shot light violet at the midrib. Falls are deep burgundy black with purple tones and a gold edge. A very sharp and clean bicolor coming from two great iris. Sdlg. TK3A: Barbara Rider X Espionage.

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).

HOT WIRED (L. Miller ’23)
TB Midseason 32” (81cm)
Light fragrance. Not just another plicata! Standards are mostly solid rich maroon with slight undertones of apricot in the center. The lacey edges of the very dark apricot styles are trimmed in maroon. Flaring falls have apricot-peach ground bordered by a solid maroon edge that turns to dots as it extends from the burnt dark orange beards. 9 to 10 buds on well branched stalks. Sdlg. 5217E Powder Keg X 9813A, 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.

MAKE ME WANNA SHOUT (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 29” (74cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Oh yes, that big billowy ruffled form is something to shout about. Mid red violet standards have ruffled light buff bands and subtle gray-white veins shot outward from their centers. Styles are light buff. Mid dark red violet blended falls have muted fine gray-white lines overall, narrow gray-white bands and white luminata patch. Beards progress from mid marigold ending in white. Blue-green foliage has limited purple base. Mid slate purple stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 8-10 buds. Lovely clumps. Sdlg. Z2C, Feast for the Eyes sib

SATAN’S TANGO (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Late 32” (81cm)
No fragrance This bold devil is all about motion and intensity. Let the dance begin. Highly ruffled vivid mid yellow standards swirl around same-colored styles with crests streaked rust. Edges of velvety red-black falls are trimmed mid red and yellow. White veins thrust over the hafts in a moustache pattern. Clumps are ooh la la hot! Moderate sized flowers are born in great abundance on show stalks with 3 branches and 8-9 buds. Clean foliage and easy growth make this a top pick garden variety. Sdlg. Z95K, Unimaginable sib

DESERT DYNAMO (Paul Black 23)
AB OGB- Late 32” (81cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Big flowers are carried on show branched stalks with 2 branches and 5 buds. Pale violet white standards have light buff filigree overall. Large smoky tan styles peer out over mid grayed rosy violet blended falls. Dark Dutch chocolate beards end in dark grape aril signals. Sdlg. BB185A: Smokin’ Hot X Big Band

TOTALLY HOT (B. Blyth ’23)
TB Midseason 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Rich golden yellow standards have a maroon line in the center and some sporadic red dots. Falls have a deep yellow ground that is heavily overlaid with deep maroon red rays that become a solid band at petal edge. Tall well branched and showy stems. An extremely bright yellow ground plicata. Sdlg. Z33-1: Plenty Of Jazz sib.

RED HOT BLUES (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early 12” (30cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The layers of color in the falls is entrancing. Standards and styles are mid gold. Black cherry hafts of falls blend to mid rose and then are banded bronzy brown. Half burnt orange and mid lavender beards end with a darker violet flash at their end. Sdlg. BB246A: Black Y278B: (Black V316F, Circus Act x Don’t Fix It) X Yoda

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

HEAT INDEX (T. Johnson ’24)
SDB Early 12” (31cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Hot indeed. This flower is literally on fire! A gorgeous red purple bitone with a deeper fall spot. The large intensely saturated orange beards are the icing on top. Quality! Sdlg. TL295B: Prego X Roaring Fire

FREE AT LAST (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 40” (102cm)
Sweet fragrance. The photo says it all with this iris. The gorgeous wide, ruffled and impeccable form of the flowers first comes to mind. The ruffled medium yellow standards have a slight pink flush in the centers. Falls are cream with deeper yellow hafts and a lacy yellow edge. Sdlg. TL70ZZ: Slice Of Heaven X Painted Shadows

MAROON MINARET (Black ’24)
AB (OGB-) Midseason 33” (84cm)
No fragrance. Sultry rich dark colored blooms are supported by stalks with 2 branches having 6 buds. Easy to grow. Sdlg. BB187C: Smokin’ Hot X Cat Tales

SPECIAL AGENT MAN (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Another ‘Crocodile Smile’ child. It has an interesting combination of cool colored standards and warm falls. Falls show a slightly different expression of the plicata pattern. Also notice the interesting dotted plicata pattern on the back of the falls, characteristic of many ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. Near solid gray plum standards sit atop butter yellow ground falls with a nearly solid overlay of dark plum and marigold beards. Sdlg. BB108A: Black Y56B: (Hot Off The Press x All Too Exciting) X Crocodile Smile

BOXING RING (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards are a medium yellow with a darker edge. Falls are a very light yellow with deep lemon yellow hafts. A wide ruffled deep maroon band frames the pattern. It is hard to capture the true grandeur of Boxing Ring in a photo. The flowers are very large and widely formed with great ruffles. It creates a very dramatic look in the garden. Much admired by garden visitors, it is a gorgeous iris that will not be overlooked.
Sdlg. TN118XX: Headshot X TI147B: (Hard To Resist x TE25A: (TY55B: (Starship Enterprise x Pursuit Of Happiness) x Brazilian Art)

DRAMATIC FINALE (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Late-very late 38” (96.5cm) Slight fragrance.
Standards have dark reddish violet centers with a wide blue violet area and then a lighter edge. Falls are the same with deep reddish violet hafts. The flowers on Dramatic Finale are extremely ruffled and a bit flared. Nice stems with good bud count are the norm. Dramatic Finale is very late and is not recommended in hot early climates such as Southern CA or Arizona where it may be susceptible to heat burn. It should be a great variety to close the season in the more northerly gardens.
Sdlg. TL6ZZ: Barbara Rider X Espionage

FEELING SO SMALL (T. Johnson ’25)
MDB Early-midseason 7” (18cm) Slight fragrance.
This iris is truly a little show off! A rust red plicata with a split yellow ground below the large orange beard. Makes an absolutely stunning clump.
Sdlg. TN304A: Zig Zag X Spicy Hot sib

OH FAR OUT (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
Oh Far Out is what I say each year when I approach this iris. The intensity of the gold is so bright, it is amazing!! Brilliant golden yellow flowers have a wide and precise maroon red band and lighter rim on the falls. An absolutely stunning iris in a clump!! Strong show stems are in abundance. Recommended for those who are looking for an iris to make a statement.
Sdlg. TM62YY: Headshot X Coloricious

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