OH SO DIFFERENT (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 30” (76cm)
No fragrance It takes center stage with one of the most dramatically unique flowers. Standards and falls are both a study in color and pattern. Light buffy tan blended standards are widely banded with fine dark plum filigree. Old gold style crests striped dark brown emerge from between them. White falls are a puzzle of purple black veins and sanding overall becoming darker and more closely spaced toward edges. White stitching on reverses adds more distinction. Mid marigold beards help focus the eye. Of course, this has been a favorite since it first bloomed. Three branches have 8-9 buds. Easy and fast growth. Sdlg. AA73L, How Bizarre! Sib

PURE PURPLE (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 36” (91cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The name says it all – it’s purple. Mid purple standards and styles color repeats in a narrow band around dark purple falls. Black to indigo-black beards are lost in the darkness of the falls. Strong growth and disease resistant foliage produce quality show stalks with 3 branches plus spur and 8-9 buds. Sdlg. Z112A: Black V159J, Pleasure’s All Mine X Black Hole

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

SUNSHINE BOUQUET (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 35” (89cm)
Strong sweet fragrance There is nothing that shines in a garden like yellow. This clean as a whistle bright clear yellow glaciata has even more carrying power because of the white patch below yellow beards. If you’re keen to hybridize luminatas, pair this one up with a quality luminata and you should get plenty. Taller and better vigor than many glaciatas. Three branches provide 8 buds. Sdlg. Z61A: All too Exciting X Black V18A: (Rodeo Girl x Black S114MM, Dare Me 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

BLAZING ORANGE (Paul Black 23)
BB Midseason-Late 26” (66cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance This fiery apricot orange will instantly command your attention when you walk into your garden. Bright it is. Dark plum hafts showcase vivid red-orange beards. Show stalks have 3 branches and 8-9 buds. Makes quick clumps. Sdlg. Z125A: Time Out X Shivaree

DEMURE PRINCESS (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early-Midseason 13” (33cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance Absolutely beautiful in every way – form, color and plants. Round and gently ruffled falls of mid violet blue flowers have large darker violet blue spots with white darts over hafts. Soft pale blue beards are the perfect accent. Evenly distributed stalks throughout the clump. Sdlg. BB199F: Zaa Zaa Zing sib

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.

IN GRAND STYLE (B. Blyth ’23)
TB Midseason-late 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance. medium flesh pink standards. Falls are blended lavender blue with a washed orchid band and lavender edge. Fall centers are washed with a light pink. Large and nicely ruffled flowers are well branched and budded. A very regal and beautiful iris. Sdlg. Z29-2:

ON THE PODIUM (B. Blyth ’23)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance. White standards with pink washed centers. Falls are a deep purple with a lavender edge and orange spray pattern around the beard. Really wide, and rounded form with good ruffles and stems. Very nice! Sdlg. Y43-B: (Colour Bazaar x unknown) X unknown.

GRACE AND BEAUTY (B. Blyth ’23)
TB Early-midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance Icy lavender white standards. Falls are medium rosy pink with a lighter to near cream center and a light lavender band. Nicely branched and budded with lovely form. Very pastel and pretty. Sdlg. Z101-1:

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

FEELING PRETTY (Paul Black 23)
SDB Late-Very Late 15” (38cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance These clear, soft pastel colors will provide a calming presence for your garden. The light peach to greenish cream glaciata flowers are a perfect foil for taller, more colorful companions. Flowers are a bit larger than usual for the class. Can be used to breed quality plicatas, luminatas and more glaciatas. Sdlg. Z178A: Black V296B, Cool Dude sib X House of Cards

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

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

NEON FLASH (Paul Black 23)
MDB Midseason-Late 7.5” (19cm)
No fragrance The blazingly bright colors of ‘Neon Flash’ scream for attention. Mid-dark pink standards surround darker pink styles. Mid peach-pink falls are rouged rose at ends of clear pink beards. Cute little thumbnail sized blooms. Sdlg. BB226A: Hey Look at Me X Sweet Pink

RED HOT BLUES (Paul Black 23)
SDB Early 12” (30cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance The layers of color in the falls is entrancing. Standards and styles are mid gold. Black cherry hafts of falls blend to mid rose and then are banded bronzy brown. Half burnt orange and mid lavender beards end with a darker violet flash at their end. Sdlg. BB246A: Black Y278B: (Black V316F, Circus Act x Don’t Fix It) 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