THUNDER SNOW (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 32” (81cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The quest goes on for a white with blue beard. Each year the hope is that it will be there in the new crop of seedlings. Alas, it hasn’t been. There are beautiful creations that do happen. This beautifully formed milk-glass white has pale violet blue beards. Vigorous growth provides 2 branches and 7 buds. Sdlg. AA139A: involved parentage

DREAM OF DREAMS (Paul Black 23)
SDB Late-Very Late 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance This little jewel represents one more refinement in a many generations quest for late blooming, multi-budded and branched stalks with shorter foliage so all flowers can be seen. I place it close to the top of my breeding accomplishments. Clear mid yellow flowers are born on 2 branches plus spur and 7-8 buds. That sort of stalk and buds would make even a TB proud. Stalks are mid slate purple. Now the challenge is to add more colors and patterns. Imagine the breeding potential represented here. An easy candidate for “Queen of Show”. Sdlg. AA157A: Continuation X Black Y191A, Perfectly Composed sib

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

RAGTOP (Paul Black 23)
SDB Late-Very Late 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance For breeders, here’s a lovely twofer for you, luminata and plicata on one side and lace of the other. It makes for an exciting parent. Ruffled and lightly laced khaki standards have slate red violet bases. Light khaki style crests are laced. Mid yellow hafts are veined mid mahogany and darker mahogany over lower half. A neat narrow ruffled and laced light khaki band encircles them. Soft old gold beards are the perfect complement. Sdlg. AA259D: Jolly X Little Bit of Lace

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

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

MYSTERY MAN (Keppel '23)
TB Early-Midseason 40" (102cm)
Blended rosy red-violet standards. Falls are a deep red purple with a lighter edge. There is white rays on either side of blue beard and a lavender blue wash below the beard. ((Inside Track x Spice Lord) X Reckless Abandon)

AT LARGE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Slight fragrance. White ground standards are sanded all over with light golden yellow dotting. Falls are white with a light lilac dotted band. There is a red violet haft that spreads across the falls on either side of the burnt orange beards. At Large is so named because the flowers are immense and carried on strong wide candelabra branched stems. Quite impressive! Sdlg. TL166YY: Beautician sibling X (Marry The Night sibling x TD314ZZ: (Blyth O211-A: (L94-1: (Ostentatious x G48-5: (Burst x Epicenter)) x L266-1: (G48-5 x Zestful Miss)) x Blyth R41-6, Stay Stylish pollen parent sibling))

EDGING AHEAD (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Light fragrance. Light lavender to white standards with slightly darker lavender stitching and dotting. Falls are white with a violet dotted edge. There is a narrow violet belly stripe below the beard. The beard is quite intricate with a white base and then purple and finally orange hair tips. Exceptional form and branching complete the package. Sdlg. TM104C: Flirty Tease X Vintage Look

ETERNAL HOPE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Clean and crisp medium yellow standards. Falls are a very interesting blend of violet and yellow. The hafts are touched more solid yellow and there is a more concentrated yellow-tan blend forming a band. The center of the fall is flushed violet. Very nice form and ruffling, carried on nicely branched stems. Beautiful and bright! Sdlg. TL34A: Barbara Rider X ((Tango Express sibling x Danger Money) x Hooked On A Feeling)

HOME BY MIDNIGHT (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 37” (94cm)
Slight fragrance. Near solid deep purple black standards. Falls are white with grape dotted hafts and center line below the beard. There is also a grape dotted area inside the solid deep grape band. Sdlg. TM149C: Raspberry Pie X Flash Mob

MAJOR IMPACT (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Slight fragrance. Pink standards. Falls are pure white with a medium lilac plicata edge and short violet dart below red-orange beards. There is also a red violet lined and dotted bar across the haft. As with its sister seedling, At Large, Major Impact packs a real punch with its very large flowers and wide, well budded, and candelabra branched stems. Very striking! Sdlg. TL166ZZ, At Large sibling: Beautician sibling X (Marry The Night sibling x TD314ZZ: (Blyth O211-A: (L94-1: (Ostentatious x G48-5: (Burst x Epicenter)) x L266-1: (G48-5 x Zestful Miss)) x Blyth R41-6, Stay Stylish pollen parent sibling))

MAJOR NEWS (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance. Brilliant golden yellow standards. Falls are a blended rosy violet with a lavender wash in the center. The hafts are touched gold and there is a narrow gold rim. Lovely ruffled and well-formed flowers are held proudly on strong show stems. Major News is a very floriferous and strong variety and makes a stunning garden display. Sdlg. TM56A: Dancing On My Own X (Innocent Miss x Big Spender)

OUT OF CHARACTER (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance. Deep golden yellow standards, deeper in the center. Falls are a medium blue purple with a wide red haft bar that extends out below the beard and then blends into the blue purple. There is a buff yellow fall edge setting the stage for the wild beards. Beards are yellow with long horns or flounces in shades of purple. Out Of Character was given its name because it is not always consistent with its horns. Some years they are very consistent throughout; other years it is less so. Either way it is a beautiful well- formed iris with excellent growth and stems. Sdlg. TL184XX: What A Circus X ((Tango Express sib x Danger Money) x Hooked On A Feeling)

PRETTY RICH (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 40” (102cm)
Slight fragrance. If you have ever wondered what that iris is on the homepage of the website, well here it is. Pretty Rich likely will never win on the show bench, as the stems are a bit high branched and tighter budded. However, the flowers open sequentially, clumps have a long season of bloom, and the color is to die for. Very strong growth and beautiful healthy foliage add to its garden value. Sdlg. TK104ZZ: Awesome Wonder X Latest Fashion

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

TIMELESS QUESTION (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Late 36” (91cm)
Slight fragrance. Strong rich pink standards sit atop cream falls with a medium pink blended band. Beards are coral pink. There is a small blue flash on the falls at the end of the beard that draws the eye. Impeccable ruffled form with light lacing. A very beautiful creation for the late season. Sdlg. TL26ZZ: Arrivederci X Slice Of Heaven

CLEVER GIRL (L. Miller ’24)
TB Late 35” (89cm)
Slight fragrance. She knows how to attract the men with her full body in medium peach pink. Her standards are nicely domed but still in giving you a peek of her feathered styles. Falls are a little paler which helps accent her big deep peach beards. 7 Buds!! Sdlg. 6217B: Pink Pincurls X Mind Changer

LEMONY SWEETS (Black ’24)
MDB Early-midseason 7” (18cm)
Sweet fragrance. One of the sweetest and most refined MDBs. Crisp white and yellow flowers accented with marigold beards make an impressive sight. Sdlg. BB244N: Black Y273B: (Black V309A: (Black T238A: (Energizer Bunny x My Cher) x Black T271H, Spring Is Here sib) x W258C: (Black S320D, Mister Mistoffelees sib x Black T271B, Spring Is Here sib)) X Kisses