STARE INTO MY EYES (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB-) Late-very late 23” (58.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Stare Into My Eyes makes a significant advancement in the buds and branching of quarter arilbred irises. It is a big favorite. Strong stalks have two well-spaced branches plus spur and 7-8 buds. It is vigorous and as easy to grow as other bearded irises. White standards have light yellow centers blended to wide white bands shot with light yellow veins. Falls have big purple signals irregularly blended into wide light amethyst bands. Because of its later bloom, you’ll be able to take it to a show.
Sdlg. CC140A: Heart Of Hearts X Casual Attire

DESERT OASIS (P. Black '25)
AB (OGB-) Midseason-late 33” (84cm) Slight musky fragrance.
Quarter arilbreds keep getting better and better, and more aril looking, with the big plus that they are easy to grow. Awesome white standards have light yellow centers and lined filigree with mid yellow styles peeking out. The light-yellow base of falls are washed and blended mid rose. Dark black-cherry streaked chevron signals surround brassy old gold beards.
Sdlg. CC142A: Smokin' Hot X Rise Like A Phoenix

WAVES OF BLUE (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 14” (35.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Pretty mid blue flowers have white mottled hafts and a dart at the end of each white beard brushed light yellow.
Sdlg. CC187B: Tourist Trap X Before The Dawn

COZY KITTY (P. Black '25)
SDB Midseason-late 13” (33cm) No fragrance.
This kitty looks more like it is ready to go partying rather than cozy up at home. Falls on light pink flowers with mid pink styles have mid red-purple lined and sanded hafts and center stripes. Beards are flaming neon coral pink. Makes a joyful clump. Another interesting parentage.
Sdlg. CC220B: Y263A: (New Release x W218C, Flirtin' Skirts sib) X X224C: (Intoxicating x V322A, Jolly pollen parent)

TWIZZLER (P. Black '25)
MDB Early-midseason 7” (18cm) No fragrance.
This small guy has caramel tan standards with interior mid slate wine plicata markings. Very round falls have light caramel tan ground with dark slate wine lines, plicata dotting, and dappling. Mid-dark tangerine beards glow from the heart.
Sdlg. CC230B: Z183D: (Galaxy Quest x unknown) X Z187C: (V218C: (Pinky Ring x Skimbleshanks) x Jolly)

CHANGE OF HABIT (P. Black '25)
MTB (tet) Midseason-late 23” (58.5cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
It is easy to make a habit of this well-formed light silvery blue-violet and dark purple bitone with neat two-tone beards. Show stalks have three branches plus two spurs and 10-11 buds. Makes a lovely clump. Another very interesting parentage.
Sdlg. DD97D: Z160D: (W218A, Flirtin' Skirts sib x X145A: (U68C: (Date With Destiny x unknown) x T171A, Time For Magic pollen parent)) X Deep In The Heart

FLAME OUT (P. Black '25)
SDB Early-midseason 12” (30.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Flame Out is an awesome approach to red. The red ground of the ruffled standards is washed red-black. Super wide and perfectly ruffled falls are mid red with a deeper wash. The mid gold half-moon center is plicata mottled and sanded dark red-brown, and surrounds big mid marigold beards.
Sdlg. DD153A: AA220F: (W233B, See No Evil sib x Artist's Hand) X Artist's Hand

BLACKBERRY SLUSHY (P. Black '25)
SDB Early-midseason 14” (35.5cm) Pronounced spicy fragrance.
Rich dark black-purple standards with white heavily plicata marked centers. Light peach ground falls have mid maroon heavily plicata marked hafts becoming sanded veins then dark maroon lower third. Large vivid orange beards cry out for attention.
Sdlg. DD153B: AA220F: (W233B, See No Evil sib x Artist's Hand) X Artist's Hand

RUM AND RAISIN (P. Black '25)
SDB Early-midseason 13” (33cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
If you like earth tones, Rum And Raisin is for you. Standards are mid-light caramel tan. Multiple rings of color in the falls start with mid gold hafts with light tan plicata marks, then to a wide mid raisin band blended to mid gold bands. Muted mid marigold beards are a subtle contrast. YUM!
Sdlg. DD153D: AA220F: (W233B, See No Evil sib x Artist's Hand) X Artist's Hand

DARK EYED LASS (P. Black '25)
SDB Early-midseason 10” (25.5cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
Here it is, the one many of you have been asking about since I first posted its picture on FB. I’m also in love with it. It is one of those irises where everything works together to make a stunning creation. Light yellow standard centers blend to wide stark white bands. Irregularly edged big brown-black fall spots transition to wide white bands, including a white dart up their distal center. A nest of white darts encircles white beards. OH MY!
Sdlg. DD163A: BB248A, Touch Of Turquoise sib X Zaa Zaa Zing

LATE TO THE PARTY (P. Black '25)
TB Late-very late 35” (89cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
For those in colder climates and areas subject to late frosts and freezes, a plicata being Late To The Party is a good thing. White standards have wide mid-dark purple plicata banding and sparse dotting over the center. The white of the standards accents the dark purple style arms. White falls have dark plum plicata hafts and narrow light plum plicata bands. The large mid marigold beards are an interesting accent. Overall, a very clean and exciting flower. The ground color and plicata markings are somewhat variable. Two branches plus spur carry 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. BB100C: Black Y53A, Sun Peeking Out sib X Black Z64A, Random Acts Of Kindness sib

ALL ABOUT COLOR (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
The warm yellow color of the standards calms the eye, while the violet and maroon blended and streaked falls banded with tan push toward party time. Strong growth creates clumps filled with eye-catching flowers. Weather resistant stalks have 3 branches plus spur and 8-9 buds.
Sdlg. BB103N: Y54E: (U14A: (Dog Days x R133A: (O159B: (Out Of The Dark x Sea Power) x P75B: (L83D, Magic Masquerade sib x Cheap Frills))) x W10A: (Dog Days x Hidden Innocence)) X Z139: (V89: (unknown x Hotsy Totsy) x Hotsy Totsy)

CALYPSO JOE (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm) No fragrance.
Imagine loads of sun, sandy beaches, and music with a Latin beat when Calypso Joe appears in his flamboyant attire. The light butter ground of the standards is widely banded dark wine with random plicata marks over their centers. Bright mid yellow falls have dark wine hafts extending beyond the root beer beard and ending in an irregular dart. The plicata markings are wide in upper 1/3 then becoming narrow. Robust growth produces strong stalks with 3 branches and 9-10 buds. Quite a showstopper.
Sdlg. CC68A: Fantasmagorical X Z70H, Capture A Little Sun sib

HEART SO TRUE (P. Black '25)
TB Late-very late 31” (78.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
If you want a BIG robust pink iris for your garden, here it is. Large flowers have mid pink standards. White falls have light pink washed hafts, band, center stripe, and widely spaced texture veins. Zingy pink beards enliven this more subtle creation. Super strong stalks have three branches plus spur and 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. Z124C: Time Out X Pink Poodle

BURNING FLAME (Thomas Johnson ’26)
SDB Early-midseason 12” (30.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
These smaller, more tailored flowers create a wallop of a punch in the color department! That BEARD!! Sdlg. TP254B: Forever Aglow X TL282B: (Kay x Roaring Fire)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards have centers that are a deep purple graduating deeper towards the heart of the flower. A wide buff yellow band with subtle deeper gold veins rim the standards. White falls have wide, overlapping form, with a deep golden yellow band. A stunning reverse bicolor with large, wide, and ruffled flowers. Sdlg. TN27C: Mood Ring X Easy On The Eyes

AT FIRST LIGHT (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm) Sweet fragrance.
Sky blue standards have a deep reddish violet central wash. Falls are creamy white with slightly gold-touched hafts and a wide gold band. Well formed, ruffled, budded, and branched, At First Light comes from a very good cross that produced many introduction-worthy children. Sdlg. TN27EE: Artificial Intelligence sibling

BAKER’S SECRET (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm) Sweet fragrance.
Standards have an interesting blend of yellow and violet that creates a very rich brownish confection. The color reminds me of a dark cinnamon bun dripping with sweet frosting. Falls are white with the faintest of lavender overlaid, then edged with a deep golden yellow haft and band. Baker’s Secret is absolutely amazing in a clump!! Sdlg. TN27QQ: Artificial Intelligence sibling

BEATEN TO THE PUNCH (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Very early-midseason 38” (96.5cm) Sweet fragrance.
Very light lemon standards with a violet flush at the base sit atop a very complex patterned fall; its lavender base color is overlaid with a deep violet brindled wash, then bordered in a buff pink band. Beards are a very weird brown to black. The whole package is quite dramatic and intriguing; it always draws me in from across the garden for a closer look. Beaten To The Punch is one of the first to start to bloom, and is held on tall, well branched and budded stems. Beautiful. Sdlg. TN89YY: Stitches sibling X Hit The Bullseye sibling

CLOSING CEREMONY (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Midseason late-very late 38” (96.5cm) Slight fragrance.
The name kind of tells you the story. It starts flowering with the midseason varieties, and continues through until the very end of the iris bloom season. Very rich pink standards repeat themselves in a soft band on white falls. Big showy powder blue beards certainly add a touch of class. Very nice form with good bud count and stems. A true delight to look at, it is a favorite for sure! Sdlg. TO160A: Somebody To Love X TK109ZZ: (TG52CC: (Uptown Lady x Don’t Stop Believing) x Slice Of Heaven)