CORAL JEWEL (L. Miller ’23)
TB Midseason-late 31” (79cm)
Lightly fragrant. More coral than pink, this self reminds me of the coral jewelry you can obtain in Hawaii. The color always stops me in the garden because of its intensity. The coral-pink is a little creamy around the beards. Beards are coral, lightening to peach at the upturned tip. Flowers are ruffled with slightly crimped edges. Produces 7 to 12 large flowers per stalk. Sdlg. 7316B For Lovers Only X 9013B: (7211: In Love Again x Super Model) x Fiesta Orange))

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.

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.

PERKY LASS (L. Miller ’23)
TB Midseason-late 32” (81cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. As I work toward pink ground plicatas interesting combos are happening. The standards of Perky Lass are light pinkish salmon, lightly washed light violet. Falls are pinkish-salmon bordered with heavy maroon dotting, heaviest beside striking dark tangerine beards. 7 to 8 buds are held on show stalks. Sdlg. 5817C: 9813A, Lost cross X Powder Keg.

MEGA RUFFLES (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 30” (76cm)
Slight spicy fragrance If ruffles are your delight, then you’ll be on max overload with this exuberantly ruffled beauty. Light rosy peach standards blend to wide buttery yellow bands. Velvety dark red-grape falls have darker veins and lines overall and are encased in precise, closely packed light rose-pink bands. Tan-gold beards echo the standards color. With so many ruffles, these larger flowers open easily and completely. There are two branches and only 5 buds. Buds open one at a time so each can be fully appreciated and not shorten the bloom time. Fat super ruffled buds are quite fun. Sdlg. AA145A: Autumn Jewel X My Passion

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS (Paul Black 23)
TB Late-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Sparkling pristine white flowers have standards decorated with wide vibrant mid violet plicata bands and sparse sanded veins over their centers. Amount of center markings varies considerably from sparse to overall. Contrasting dark plum style crests peak out over white falls with narrow mid purple plic bands. Dark wine sanded darts cover the hafts then give way to closely spaced light yellow veins. Light marigold to white beards are the perfect complement. Clumps provide a light and bright spot in your garden. Two branches and spur have 5 buds. Sdlg. Z64E: All too Exciting X Black W143F, Wild Streak sib

SPARKLE AND SHINE (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 31” (79cm)
Slight sweet fragrance What an impressive clump this one makes in the garden. Stark white standards dance above strongly flared warmer white falls that become wide mottled and washed mid violet bands. Fiery orange beards demand you come in for a closer look. The bloom keeps on going and going with 4 branches and 10-11 buds. Sdlg. AA63A: Color Wheel X Black Y126 caramel sib: (You Belong to Me x Black Y61B, Creature of the Night 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

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

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

KEPT SECRET (B. Blyth ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91cm)
Slight fragrance. Yellow standards. Falls are deep orchid purple with a yellow zone on either side of the orange beard. Very wide and overlapping falls are nicely ruffled. Nicely formed flowers are held on tall well branched and budded stems. A favorite. Sdlg. Z29-A: In Grand Style sib.

STORM TROOPER (B. Blyth ’23)
TB Midseason 36” (91cm)
Slight sweet fragrance. Rich purple standards over deep maroon black falls with smoldering orange beards. Nicely branched and budded show stems. A real rich and plush bicolor that stands out well in the fields. Sdlg. Z40-B: Dash Of Burgundy X Devil By Night.

SHE’S BEAUTIFUL (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 36” (91cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Another project breeders have pursued for many years is putting a pink beard on a blue or purple iris. It seems loads of baby steps still haven’t gotten us there. These icy blue-white blooms coral pink beards. I probably don’t have enough years left to make it to the goal on this one. I’ll have to be content with it in my dreams. Sdlg. Z136A: Black W152A: (Black T80A: Fantasy in Pink x Black Q6A: (Dearie x Drifting Bubbles)) X Fire and Ice

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

SATIN BABY (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 11” (28cm)
Slight musky fragrance Everything about this baby is beautiful. Nicely ruffled standards are light-mid buffy pink as are styles. Wonderfully round ecru falls have light tan to pink blended hafts and light buffy pink ruffled band. Beards are half tangerine and half white. What a subtle beauty! Sdlg. AA181B: Breathtaking X Nutmeg Mambo

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

TRIPLE SMILES (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 13” (33cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Lovely form, pretty colors and robust clumps create ‘Triple Smiles’. Cameo pink standards sit pleasantly above mid lilac falls boldly adorned with dark red violet chevron spots. Colorful beards transition from dark orange to violet blue. Sdlg. BB231B: Black Y234A: (Black U159A, Queen of Darkness pod parent x Breathtaking) X Yoda

YOWZA (Paul Black 23)
MTB (tet) Late-Very Late 22” (56cm)
Slight sweet fragrance Considerable breeding has taken place to create fuller and more ruffled MTBs. After years of refining, the goal has been achieved. These classically formed and ruffled blooms create an elegant presence. Mid lilac standards base blends upward to light mauve pink with gilt tan-gold rims. Mid mauve pink styles peer out over very round light buff-pink falls etched with plum veins over their hafts. Fluffy tangerine beards top it all off. Strong growth creates clumps filled with show stalks having 3 branches plus 2 spurs with 9-12 buds. Exceptionally nice in every respect. Sdlg. AA161B: Black X185C, Queen Mum sib X Black Y196B, involved

GENTLE SIGH (Paul Black 23) MTB (tet) Midseason-Late 24” (61cm) slight sweet fragrance Through its softer colors and diminutive size, ‘Gentle Sigh’ conveys the feeling of peaceful serenity in your garden. Standards of white flowers have wide mid amethyst plicata bands and dotted centers. Falls have mid amethyst plicata stitched bands. White beards have interesting auburn tips over a light amethyst layer. Show stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 10-11 buds. A lovely refinement in tetraploid MTBs. Sdlg. AA276C: To the Contrary X Deep in the Heart

PAY THE PIPER (Black 23)
BB Midseason-Late 26” (66cm)
Slight spicy fragrance Once you’ve paid the piper, he’ll give you this spectacular creation. It makes one of the finest clumps with masses of classically formed flowers that last for days from iron like substance. Standards are light buffy pink and styles mid buffy pink. Mid buffy pink falls are washed old rose becoming darker toward edges. Hafts are veined dark old rose as are lines overall. Flaming dark orange beards complete the piper’s act. Exceptionally well-proportioned flowers are carried on show stalks with 3-4 branches and 9-12 buds. Sdlg. BB162E: Luscious Lips X Black Y171B: Luscious Lips sib