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

CLEAR VIEW (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 13” (33cm)
No fragrance Chalky pale lilac standards have wide light mauve finely lined bands. Dark red purple falls have white veins over hafts and short light violet dart at end of light orange to white beards. Very pretty ruffled form. Sdlg. BB245B: Black Y270A: (involved) X By the Sea

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

FINE OUTFIT (Paul Black 23)
MTB (diploid) Midseason 21” (53cm)
No fragrance This outfit comes from an interesting genetic mix of diploid and tetraploid parents plus an unknown. In trial crosses, ‘Fine Outfit’ has been fertile in diploid crosses but not tetraploid. Traditional diploid type flowers have mid lilac standards with darker fine lines overall. Elongated white hafts have wide dark purple veins with lower half being solid dark purple with white wire rim. Two branches sport 7 buds. Striking clumps filled with stalks and bloom. Sdlg. BB168N: Little White Tiger X Interject

FLIPPANT (Paul Black 23)
IB Midseason-Late 24” (61cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Who can get too serious with a clump filled with these wildly colored jokers? What one can take seriously are the superbly formed flowers carried in abundance on show stalks. Cream standards have wide maroon plicata bands and heavily marked centers. Light yellow falls have wide maroon plicata bands. Widely spaced dramatic dark maroon veins course downward. Vivid Marigold beards shout, “I don’t care!”. Show stalks have 2 branches plus spur and 8-9 buds. An exceptional garden variety. Sdlg. Z167A: Black U194G, Peppito sib X Cat Tales

SHE’S A BEAUTY (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 13” (33cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance This beauty is another project that has taken more than a few generations to get achieve, and it still isn’t finished. The goal is a clear pink amoena and blue/pink bicolor. Both are possible given enough generations. Cool white standards have light green veins up midribs. Light peach falls blend to buttery yellow. White stripes at ends of half and half mid-orange and white beards add a unique touch. Sdlg. BB215A: Black X265C: involved X Burlesque Cutie

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

ZAA ZAA ZING (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 15” (38cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Some seedlings are destined for introduction from the moment they open. This is one. It remains a favorite. White standards have light yellow centers changing to veining moving outward. Mid yellow styles echo the standards. Upper two-thirds of white falls are covered with heavy closely spaced dark red-brown veins and mottling. A white stripe bisects them. Neat half and half beards are mid gold ending in white. Makes a stunning and memorable clump you won’t forget. Sdlg. BB199A: (Open Your Eyes X Cheery Blush)

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

INTERJECT (Paul Black 23)
MTB dip Midseason-Late 20” (51cm)
No fragrance This cross again illustrates the unusual fertility between tetraploid and diploid MTBs that nobody seems to be able to adequately explain. The seedlings from my cross W195 proved to be sterile in crosses I made. A smart bee gave me one seed that is ‘Interject’. It is fertile with diploids and is being introduced to add more genes to the diploid MTB mix. Standards and styles are mid gold. Upper half of falls are white veined mid old gold and lower half is mid gold washed Dijon and rimmed in gold. Stalks have 2 branches and spur with 7-8 buds. Sdlg. Z159A: W195I: (S233A: (Redrock Princess x Ah Yes) x Mullinax Butterfly, unknown diploid) X Unkown bee

GONZO (Paul Black 23)
BB Midseason-Late 25” (63.5cm)
Slight spicy fragrance Descendants of ‘Delectable Treat’ have great substance. This is one of them. It takes 4 or 5 days for the flowers to open and expand. This cross gave a wide range of unique colors and patterns and most having superior branching and buds. Standards and styles are mid greenish yellow. Hafts of greenish cream falls are veined mid rosy brown changing to solid edgings along upper half. Dark pumpkin beards add a bit of warmth. Superbly proportioned flowers are carried on show stalks with 3-4 branches and 9-11 buds. No mistaking this for any other. Sdlg. BB162B: Luscious Lips X Black Y171B, Luscious Lips sib

ASSURED (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 37” (94cm)
Light fragrance. Assured is a different shade of pink. Standards are a medium blue pink. Falls are lighter with deeper texture veins and a darker edge. Coral pink beards add a nice touch of elegance. Nicely branched and budded stems. Sdlg. TL163XX: (Full Of Grace x Pick-up Line) X Ballroom Belle

HEY BABE (T. Johnson ’24)
SDB Midseason 12” (31cm)
Sweet fragrance. Orange standards with pink infusions in the center. Falls have a pinkish orange base color with overall magenta dotting and veining. Beards are an intensely saturated tangerine. Nice form and strong garden impact. Another child of the fantastic parent Alaia. Sdlg. TM176WW: Alaia X Tasty Treat

I’LL BE THE ONE (T. Johnson ’24)
Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance. Cream based standards have pink centers and a light lemon veined band. Falls are a rich apricot with light apricot below the beard and touched pink below the hafts. Very nice ruffled form and good stems. A very pretty iris and one that we like a lot. Sdlg TL222YY: (Bring Me Diamonds x Handful Of Magic) X unreadable label

LIKE A DREAM (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. A very difficult color to describe. Standards have a violet and pinkish blended center that transitions into golden yellow veins and outer band. Falls are light lavender in the center surrounded by a flesh pink band. Nicely formed flowers on well branched stems. A very unique and different iris. Super! Sdlg. TL77ZZ: Flirty Tease pod parent X Take Me Home

POWER AND PRESTIGE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Light fragrance. Creamy white standards have light orange centers with light lavender veins, becoming orange as they extend outwards to the petal’s edge. Falls are a medium orange with salmon tones blended in the center. We continue to work on the orange amoena type to improve the stems. Power And Prestige has nicely branched and budded stalks and has been used heavily in hybridizing. A very pretty iris. Sdlg. TL219A: (Barbara Rider x Arrivederci) X Shockaholic

SECRETIVE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Slight fragrance. Light lilac pink standards, flushed deeper pink in center, sit atop medium lavender falls with deeper violet texture veins and a lighter band. Large beards are a frosted deep violet, creating quite a dramatic effect. Well formed, ruffled, and lightly laced flowers are held on well branched and budded stems. Sdlg. TL160XX: Magic Trick X Que Sera Sera

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

TAKE MY HAND (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm)
Light fragrance. Icy white standards are flushed and veined pink in the center. Falls are orange with an overall wash of salmon-rose and slightly deeper veins. Nicely formed and branched stems move us another step forward in this color pattern. Sdlg. TL219ZZ, Power And Prestige sibling: (Barbara Rider x Arrivederci) X Shockaholic

VOCALISE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Early-Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance. Clear medium pink standards. Falls are a rich blue violet with deeper subtle texture veins. Hafts are blushed buff pink. Beards are totally orange. Gorgeous form and super strong growth with well branched stems. A very sharp, clean, and ruffled bicolor. Sdlg. TK218XX: unknown, lost hybridizing tag