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

CALL TO ATTENTION (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Slight fragrance.
The nice contrasting of this bicolor definitely catches your attention. Medium lemon yellow standards are very clean and clear. Falls are a rich deep burgundy red with a narrow lemon rim. Beautiful, full, round, and ruffled form, with great clarity of color. Sdlg. TM113RR: Distant Shores X Painted Sky

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

FUTURE DREAMS (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
For many years I have worked with plicatas that are the result of outcrosses to bicolors, to increase vigor and bring more diversity in color and pattern. Future Dreams is so named because of the wide-ranging breeding potential in this pattern. Standards are deep lavender purple with darker maroon veining. Falls are white with a deep maroon haft and band. If that weren’t enough, upon closer inspection, you will notice broken color within the band. A totally unique and distinctive color and pattern variation in plicatas. Flowers are well-formed, and carried on strong show stems with lots of buds. Future Dreams has a good pedigree, and once again shows the importance of ‘Tenacity’ as a parent, both for quality and diversity. Sdlg. TO236M: Running In Circles sibling X Tenacity

HEART AND SOUL (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 35” (89cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Heart And Soul has a pattern that one would be more likely to see in an SDB: a large, plush, deep burgundy fall spot on super brilliant canary yellow to gold petals. The colors are so bright, especially in the sun, that one wants to reach for the sunglasses! Absolutely amazing, and shows from clear across the field. Heart And Soul has strong growth, and lots of bloom on nicely branched stems. Sdlg. TN31YY: Eye Love You sibling

ALL OVER THE PLACE (Paul Black 26)
TB Early-midseason 33” (84cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
A striking garden standout, this broken color iris showcases an artful blend of light to mid violet and creamy white, brushed and splashed together so no two blooms are alike. Heavily ruffled standards rise above broad, arched falls capped with white to marigold beards. Strong upright stems have 3 well-spaced branches plus spur and 8-9 buds. Pairs beautifully with pastels or more bold colors. Sdlg. BB127B: You're A Mess X Black Y111C: (Black V100A, I Broke It sibling x Black W143B, Wild Streak sibling)

INNER DESIRE (Paul Black 26)
TB Early-midseason 32” (81.5cm) No fragrance.
This intensely saturated jewel will captivate your heart. The interior of dark red-grape standards is white with wide plicata banding of mid red-grape. The falls have a mid blue-purple area surrounding mid tangerine beards, that first transitions to a wide, warm white, heavily plicata-marked band, before ending in a wide, rich wine-magenta band. Its unique color will draw you in for a closer look. Well-branched stalks have 4 branches and 7-8 buds. Unusual buds (fall reverse) are greenish cream heavily dotted mid grape. Another wonderful and unique iris coming from ‘Crocodile Smile’. Sdlg. BB107G: Black Y55B, Crocodile Smile sibling X Crocodile Smile

RIDING THE SURF (Paul Black 26)
TB Early-midseason 40” (101.5cm) No fragrance.
Clear skies above and pounding surf below, it’s time to break out the surfboard. Pristine white standards tower above white falls irregularly washed and blended mid to dark blue. Pale blue blended bands add some foam. Strong, elegantly tall stalks have 4 branches and a branch spur, giving 11-12 buds. Coming from a stable of robust parents gives it staying power in your garden. Sdlg. CC76B: Black Z40B: (Black V67A: (Black R72A: (Fancy Dog x Black M80CC: (Black J140B, First Page sibling x Man About Town)) x Blueberry Parfait) x V191A: (Black R174B: (Frontline x Bluebird Of Happiness) x Dancing Star)) X Black X1A: (Adriatic Waves x All Ashore)

LIFE GOES ON (Paul Black 26)
BB Early-midseason 27” (68.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
The simply formed mid violet flowers are nothing you’ll get excited about. The appeal is the green and white variegated foliage with some purple at the base. There is some reblooming blood in the parentage, so it can be useful in breeding reblooming variegated foliage types. Sdlg. CC11A: Variegated Wonder X Sub-Zero

KICK START (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 39” (99cm) Slight fragrance.
Kick Start is very early; it starts the iris bloom season. Amber to orange standards are held perfectly over amber yellow falls, lighter in the center, with a wide deep rose band. Beards are brilliant tangerine to near red. If you want a stunning floral display with lots of bloom and buds, this iris is for you. Smashing! Sdlg. TO184B: Date Night sibling

RIZZ (Lynda Miller ’26)
TB Early-midseason 34” (86.5cm) No fragrance.
Rizz is slang for style, charm, or attractiveness. This one can grab your attention in the garden with its full orange self, with only a very small lighter spot at the tip of the tangerine beards. Stalks are well-branched, with 8-10 buds. Sdlg. 5220: 5816G: (lost record x lost record) X Candy Corn Treats

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

MOST UNUSUAL (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 39” (99cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Medium lemon-yellow standards. Falls are very complex. There is a large light lemon-yellow central sunburst that transitions into a blue violet brindled wash, and then finally to a wide lavender band. The whole effect is stunning! Flowers are very large, and on well branched and budded stems. You won’t walk by this one. Sdlg. TN223YY: Dare To Be Different sibling X Only Imagine sibling

NO DENYING (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 38” (96.5cm) No fragrance.
Icy blue white standards have lemon bases and a gold halo. Falls are white with a blue band and lemon hafts. Beards are more yellow than orange, giving the flower brightness and light. Best of all are the plant habits. Vigorous plants cover themselves with an abundance of tall, well-branched stems, creating an amazing floral display. It got its name when I walked by a clump of it in full flower last year and commented to myself that there is certainly “no denying” you! Sdlg. TN70XX: So Excited sibling X Angelic Morn

PERFECT IN EVERY WAY (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason-late 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Ooh la la, this one is a stunner. I am not usually overtaken by yellow and white, as the pattern has been done before, but... I simply cannot get enough of this. The form is impeccable, the stems and bud count are first rate, and the clumps are like heaven! The color is so clean and clear, and applied in such a way, that it makes me want to just pull up a chair and sit and stare at it all day long. Is it a glaciata? If you look deep in the heart, you will see the smallest of short purple lines. Whatever the classification, it is certainly gorgeous and highly recommended. Sdlg. TO150C: Gone Viral X Feast For The Eyes

THERE YOU ARE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Light musky fragrance.
Medium pink standards rise above very light creamy white falls with a slight pink flush and deeper pink hafts. A wide and pronounced violet blue band frames the fall and brings the whole iris to life. Really good, tall, multi-budded show stems make one stop in their tracks. Really a very elegant and polished iris. Sdlg. TN121A: Conniption Fit X Super Sized sibling

WANNA DANCE WITH YOU (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 40” (101.5cm) Light sweet fragrance.
Golden yellow standards have a greenish cast to them up the midrib. Falls are a full deep lavender blue-violet, with darker rosy hafts that are touched lemon and a reddish-brown band. Flowers are very large, ruffled and wide. Nice stems and good bud count ensure a long bloom season. Very pretty indeed. Sdlg. TN172A: That’s About Right sibling

WATCHFUL EYE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 39” (99cm) Sweet fragrance.
Light lavender white standards have dark lemon centers and a light lemon touched edge. Falls are a light lavender white with a deep rust haft and a deep violet black flash below the beard. Quite a stunner of an iris, and one that has been much loved in the garden. Tall, well branched and budded stems make it a contender for best in show on the show bench. Sdlg. TN180F: Are You Kidding Me and Looking Like That sibling

WHOLE SHEBANG (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 41” (104cm) Slight fragrance.
The lightest of lavender pink standards are medium pink at the center. Falls are cream, with a light pink area around the pinkish coral beard, and a very wide deep purple band. The flowers on Whole Shebang are very large and extremely bright and showy. You won’t miss this one, nor soon forget it either. Stunning, with tall, well branched and budded stems. Sdlg. TN204ZZ: Super Sized sibling X Conniption Fit