CROCODILE SMILE (Paul Black '22)
TB Late-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance If I could have only one of my plicatas to breed with, it would be this one. Its genetic diversity, including several instances of ‘Dolce’ plus SDBs, IBs, tet MTBs, BBs and TBs, has given rise to unique colors and patterns in addition to solid growth. White ground standards are washed pale mustard becoming darker toward edges then embellished with darker mustard fine veining overall and white edges. Yellow styles are held within strongly held standards. Expansive white ground falls are widely plicata banded dark olive gold with more olive random dotting and line down centers, over centers and haft. Unique olive gold beards complete this unusual creature. Three branches have 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. Y55A: Black U14A, Drag Race pod parent X Black W191A, Black Label pollen parent

EXPANDING UNIVERSE (Paul Black '22)
TB Midseason-Late 35” (89cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. This cross is another that yielded many quality seedlings from which choices had to be made as to what goes and what stays. Big broad and heavily ruffled flowers are presented on strong show stalks. Standards have wide purple black plicata bands and only centers show their white ground. Styles are near black. Super wide falls are warm white shaded buff over hafts. Dark purple plicata bands encircle the falls and unusual waxy black chevrons surround rich dark black-brown beards. Strong show stalks have 3 branches and spur to show of 10-12 buds. A must have.
Sdlg. Z74H: Goat Rodeo sib

GIRLS WANNA HAVE FUN (Paul Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance. Combinations of the plicata pattern with other patterns have created a seemingly never ending universe of new and unique patterns and colors. One of those is a butterfly type design where a luminata patch would be. There will be many variations of these to come. This one has mid pink standards with subtle darker rose lines and outer edge. Velvety dark purple-black falls have white darted chevon haft patches overlaid with near black lines sandwiched between purple sanded veins in a modified butterfly pattern. Coral beards enhance its uniqueness. Clumps are gloriously filled with an abundance of stalks having 3 branches and 8-9 buds.
Sdlg. Z88W: Dearest X Black U53X, Rise Like a Phoenix sib

STARRY STARRY NIGHT (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 36” (91cm)
Slight musky fragrance It is a night you’ll long remember. Classically formed, ruffled and lightly laced purple black flowers have standards with white sanded veins over their centers that show their plicata heritage. White fall hafts have closely spaced purple black lines and sanded veins transitioning to velvety purple black falls. Butterscotch beards turn to white climaxing in a white shooting star dart for a dramatic accent. It has a stunning presence even before opening. Bud reverses have chartreuse haft centers streaking into white center bands then white veins streaking into dark purple outer bands. It is an awesome look. Sturdy growth produces 4 well-spaced branches but only 7 buds. As if this wasn’t enough, it has been a mystery progenitor of many broken color plicatas. There is nothing in the parentage to suggest this trait. I’m still exploring its potential. In one cross, about a third of the seedlings looked like it, a third were standard plicata types and a third were broken color plicatas. There is much to be explored!
Sdlg. Y161A: Me and My Shadow X Black V159B, Pleasure’s All Mine sib

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))

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

HASHTAG (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Early 12” (30.5cm)
Slight fragrance. Very light yellow-orange standards. Falls have a white ground that is completely lined with deep maroon red lines and veins. The hafts are touched yellow. Beards are white with tangerine hair tips. Very striking and the first lined SDB in this color that we know of. The parents of this one are the two iris named after our two little dogs. Sdlg. TM175A: Alaia X Tula.

JEWEL HEIST (T. Johnson ’23)
SDB Midseason 11” (28cm)
Musky fragrance. Yet again another introduction from the fabulous parent Alaia. These colors are in neon. Standards and styles have pink centers with light orange edges. Falls have a pink ground with violet dots at haft and below beard. Fall edges blend from pink to orange. Enormous bushy red-orange beards. Incredible! Sdlg. TK293E: Alaia X Sweet Devotion.

ROAD RAGE (T. Johnson ’23)
Early 13” (33cm)
Sweet fragrance. Brilliant gold standards. Falls have medium gold ground with a heavily dotted and stitched red violet plicata haft and narrow petal edge. Huge near red beards are intensely saturated. Fantastic wide, round, and ruffled form on nice stems carrying three buds. Sdlg. TL298B: Alaia X Twitter Bug.

WITCH WAY (T. Johnson ’23)
IB Early-midseason 26” (66cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Reddish brown standards blended with some yellow at the edges. Falls are lemon yellow with a deep maroon red haft and wide band. Gorgeous form, with nice stalks and heavy bloom. There are several sisters from this cross that will be introduced all in different colors. Sdlg. TM187E: Superstitious sib.

A MILLION DREAMS (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-Late 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Clear pink standards. Falls are lavender pink with pink touched hafts and shrimp beards. Very large and full wide flowers on perfect show stems. The simpler ruffling and clarity of color make for a knockout garden iris. Impressive to say the least! Sdlg. TL1B: Arrivederci X Hospitality.

ALL STITCHED UP (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Golden yellow standards with an ever so slightly stitched violet edge. Falls are cream with medium violet stitched hafts and narrow stitched band. All Stitched Up will start the TB bloom season and will continue on blooming all the way through midseason. A super strong grower, heavy bloomer with show stems galore. Sdlg. TL45A: High Desert X Beautician.

BE THE LIGHT (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm)
This is a color combination I am a bit of a sucker for. Brilliant bright yellow standards that are exceptionally clean are held over light to medium lavender falls. The falls have deeper texture veins that run the length of the petals and the hafts are touched yellow. Strong stems on large classically formed flowers. The overall effect is a super clean bicolor that oozes class. Sdlg. TL7A: Barbara Rider X Hospitality.

CATCH PHRASE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Icy blue white standards with green veins in the center. Falls are white with a lavender rim. Inside the rim are random violet dots. The hafts have deep violet lines and there is a center line of violet below the beard. Beards are white with orange hair tips. A beautiful take on a purple and white plicata. An easy grower with show stems and gorgeous form. We like! Sdlg. TL46A: High Desert X Mixed Feelings.

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.

FLYING FREE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Standards are an off white with medium violet veins and shades of lemon blending throughout the petal. The lemon is more concentrated in the center and the edge. Falls are a rich lavender violet deepening at the hafts and lightening at the petal edge. Put all this together with fantastic wide bubble ruffles and you have a very showy creation indeed. Sdlg. TK27B: Dream About You X Espionage.

GALA EVENT (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Golden orange standards tower over deep old rose falls with a large central blue violet wash. Hafts are touched gold on either side of burnt orange beards. Lots of ruffles on well- formed flowers. Good branching and bud count complete the package. Sdlg. TI122A: Barbara Rider X Arrivederci.

GONE VIRAL (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Standards are marine blue violet with a white band. Falls are a deep rich blue violet with a white edge and striping on the sides. There is a large white luminata patch around the beard and a short white dart below the beard. The hafts are touched orange which helps to draw the eye into the flower. An exceptionally beautiful luminata that has been popular with garden visitors waiting for its release. Recommended! Sdlg. TJ124YY: Song Of Silence X Belle Fille.

HERE COMES TROUBLE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Dark burgundy-maroon standards are edged with a wide gold band. Falls are a deep beetroot red to near black with a narrow gold edge. The central white luminata patch has gold touched hafts on both sides. Heavily ruffled flowers are a delight to behold. Here Comes Trouble is a strong grower with fast increase and a prolific bloomer. She has been very popular with garden visitors. Sdlg. TK51VV: Fancy Ideas X TG173B: (Song Of Silence x TC174D: (Midnight Velvet pod parent x TY10AA: (High Master x Double Click))).

LET ME BE THERE (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweetly scented. Let Me Be There is a WOW iris that cannot be overlooked! Standards are deep lemon yellow. Falls are white with a diffused lilac border. Hafts are touched lemon. The form and ruffles are indescribable, simple gorgeous. We have used Let Me Be There heavily in our breeding program and have been glad we did. An absolute must iris! Sdlg. TL151B: Dressed To The Nines X Gala Event.