HEADLINE NEWS (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Early 30” (76cm)
Wow is what I always say when I see this one bloom. The flowers are large and very dramatic. Lavender standards with a slightly darker infusion in the midrib. Falls are a very deep plush purple black with a very ruffled lavender band and then a thin deep purple wire edge. The beards are a brilliant orange. A very clean brilliant contrast. Makes startling clumps!! Highly recommended.
Sdlg TI169ZZ: sib to Higher Love X Twilight Rhapsody.

OH WOW (T. Johnson ’17)
SDB Midseason-Late 15” (38cm)
Oh wow is exactly what I say whenever I see this. The picture says it best, it is all about the beards! The intensity of the blue beards is a bit variable from season to season but is always dramatic. 3 buds.
SDB Award of Merit 2021
Sdlg TG334F: (Sib to Wit x It’s Amazing) X Worry Wart.

REACH THE STARS (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Mid-Late 35” (89cm)
A difficult iris to photograph but stunning to see in person, especially in clump. White standards have a clean gold edge. Falls are white with a deep violet band and gold touched hafts. The super clean white falls are the perfect contrast for tangerine beards. A clump of Reach the Stars is memorable to say the least!!
Sdlg TJ238ZZ: sib to Angelic Morn

SAY THE WORD (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Mid 35” (89cm)
Some iris just remind me of food, perhaps it is just my insatiable appetite talking, but this one reminds me of some sort of yummy mango flavored dessert. Say the Word has very ruffled mango to peach blended standards and edge on white falls with a deep mango wash on the hafts and below the beard. A good grower and bloomer, Say the Word is a stunner; especially in full sun the color really shines. Very unique and won’t be confused with another. Gorgeous!!
Sdlg TJ326A: Blyth W51-1: ((Novel Idea x Gypsy Lord) x Magical) x Master at Arms sib) X Blyth W49-1: (Free to Dream x (((Alpine Harmony sib I’m Dreaming sib) x Platinum Class sib) x ((Wicked Woman x Pop Star) x (Wedding Belle x Starring)) x unknown))

GIRL POWER (Thomas Johnson ’22)
SDB Late 12” (31cm)
Sweet fragrance. Medium coral pink self with salmon pink styles. The beards totally make this one and are a very different mix of colors; I am just going to say look at the picture. Amazing garden impact.
Sdlg TL261A: Magic Splash X Lovable Pink

SHOCKING SECRET (T. Johnson ’22)
TB Late 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Shocking Secret was selected for introduction when I first laid eyes on it. It was in flower in the middle of a 20 row seedling patch. The patch was in full flower and still Shocking Secret stood out among the sea of color, staring at me with its deep signal as if to say “pick me”. Medium orchid to lavender self with pink tones infused in the standards. Falls are the same, only with a large dark black cherry signal that surrounds the orange beards. Nicely branched and budded with good form. Yet another introduction from When Doves Cry, proving to be an excellent parent. To say it is dramatic is an understatement.
Sdlg TJ246ZZ: Medal Of Honor X When Doves Cry.

A MILLION DREAMS (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason-Late 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Clear pink standards. Falls are lavender pink with pink touched hafts and shrimp beards. Very large and full wide flowers on perfect show stems. The simpler ruffling and clarity of color make for a knockout garden iris. Impressive to say the least! Sdlg. TL1B: Arrivederci X Hospitality.

COSMIC MYSTERY (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. White ground standards are almost completely overlaid gold. The midrib is flushed violet. Falls are white with a deep velvet red band. There is medium red violet dotted band inside the darker band. Nicely ruffled flowers on a very bright and pleasing color combination. A nice classically ruffled form completes the look. Sdlg. TL213G: (Say It Right x Marry The Night sib) X (Marry The Night sib x pod parent of Be Not Afraid).

RUNNING IN CIRCLES (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 36” (91.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. One of our favorite intros for this year and that is saying a lot with its competition and the fact that it is a plicata. The color on this is hard to convey in a picture as the presence it has in the garden. It is simply spectacular in clump with its extremely bright color and sharp pattern. Standards are icy white with a near solid overlay of blue lilac. The falls are white with a blue haft, center dart below beard, and band. Even the beard is tipped in blue. Gorgeous, wide, and ruffled form make it irresistible. Running In Circles has also been admired by garden visitors. Recommended! you won’t be sorry! Sdlg. TL180G: ((Ink Patterns x pollen parent of Counting Stars) X (pod parent of Say It Right x Marry The Night sib))

SHIVERS (T. Johnson ’23) TB Midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance. Wow, just wow is what I say each time I see this one in flower. Nearest attempt yet to a black amoena that we have seen. Icy blue white standards have a gilt gold edge and the visible style crests are also etched in gold. Falls are about a dark a black purple as there is. Beards are a burnt orange. Shivers is also blessed with beautiful form, ruffles, stems and good bud count. Absolutely spectacular. Check out additional pictures including clump shots of it on the website. Sdlg. TJ303ZZ: By Starlight sib.

MAGNUM GOLD (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Late 34” (86cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance The name says it all, huge flowers and plenty of them. Heavily ruffled mid-dark yellow-gold flowers with vibrant marigold beards are a bold statement in the garden. You can’t miss it. Strong growth produces show stalks with 3 branches and 8 buds. Sdlg. AA58A: Winter’s Smile X Marrying Kind

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

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

TOUCH OF TURQUOISE (Paul Black 23)
SDB Midseason-Late 12” (30cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance What can I say, “it’s pretty”. Standards of gently ruffled white flowers are lined light lime up their midribs. Awesome light turquoise half-moon spots dress up the falls. White beards don’t distract. Sdlg. BB248C: Black Y295B, Two Faced sib X Two Faced

FOUND A LOVE (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 37” (94cm Slight fragrance. I have literally been in love with this seedling for a number of years and now have enough to share. Once again proving the value of Slice Of Heaven as a parent. Deep pink standards and edge on white falls with beautiful coral pink beards with a frosted pink end. Wonderful form and branching on strong stems. Found A Love, like its sister, As You Wish, from last year, is a very prolific bloomer and strong grower. I can’t say enough good things about this iris. Sdlg. TL74YY: Slice Of Heaven X Strawberry Shake

FREE AT LAST (T. Johnson ’24)
TB Midseason-late 40” (102cm)
Sweet fragrance. The photo says it all with this iris. The gorgeous wide, ruffled and impeccable form of the flowers first comes to mind. The ruffled medium yellow standards have a slight pink flush in the centers. Falls are cream with deeper yellow hafts and a lacy yellow edge. Sdlg. TL70ZZ: Slice Of Heaven X Painted Shadows

MOMENT OF REFLECTION (T. Johnson ’24)
Midseason-late 38” (97cm)
Sweet fragrance. Ooh la la is what I say each year when this one starts to flower. Impeccable wide and ruffled form. Not really sure whether to call this a bicolor or a blend. Whatever it is, we like it very much, and we love to hybridize with it. Blended golden orange and salmon standards swirl elegantly above light rosy lavender falls with a peach wash, deeper at the hafts, and lighter as it moves down the petal. Oh, and did we mention it is ruffled? This was a very productive cross and has yielded many intros including last year’s Head Of The Class and Refined Elegance. Sdlg. TK131B: Sweet City Woman X Dressed To The Nines

BEAUTIFUL ESSENCE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Yes, another ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. To say its plicata markings are subtle is an understatement. Some might question it being a plicata, but both parents are plicatas. It isn’t a glaciata because there are some subtle anthocyanin markings. A beautifully elegant flower, with all good garden traits, it should be an excellent parent. Standards are warm white with a pale stitched edge. Falls are warm white with minimum buff plicata hafts and edge. Sdlg. BB105D: Crocodile Smile X Z62C: (All Too Exciting x Black U53X, Rise Like A Phoenix sib)

OH FAR OUT (T. Johnson ’25)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
Oh Far Out is what I say each year when I approach this iris. The intensity of the gold is so bright, it is amazing!! Brilliant golden yellow flowers have a wide and precise maroon red band and lighter rim on the falls. An absolutely stunning iris in a clump!! Strong show stems are in abundance. Recommended for those who are looking for an iris to make a statement.
Sdlg. TM62YY: Headshot X Coloricious

JUST FOR JACKIE (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Jackie is one of my best friends. She has always been a big help by leaving pink post-it notes on seedlings she thinks I should keep. We’ve had many good laughs together. She also insists on helping me plant my iris seeds each fall. Of course I wouldn’t hurt her feelings by saying no. She makes it all fun. She likes brown irises, so for her here is a white and dark red-brown plicata. Note the pronounced lines in the falls. Strong stalks have three branches and 8-9 buds. This is one of many exceptional seedlings coming from Crocodile Smile.
Sdlg. BB106C: Crocodile Smile X Z100D, Background Noise sib