GAY ROMANCE (P. Black ‘20)
BB Late- Very Late 27” (69cm)
You’re sure to fall in love with this richly saturated reverse purple amoena with tangerine beards. Stalks have 2 branches and 7 buds. Striking clumps.
Sdlg. Y130A: V118A, Only the Shadow Knows sib X W116C: (S158A: (Bubblicious x Q6A: (Dearie x Drifting Bubbles)) x Lost World)

KISS THE FROG (P. Black ‘18)
BB Early-Midseason 26” (66cm)
How about an alluring update on the perennial favorite ‘Jungle Shadows’? It isn’t as dark and brooding as ‘Jungle Shadows’ but it still possesses that mysterious ambiance. ‘KISS THE FROG’ is part of my program to create green/turquoise BBs and TBs.
Sdlg. W129B: Lost World X (Ink Patterns x Alberta Clipper)

LET’S TALK (P. Black '21)
SDB Early-Midseason 13” (33cm)
Definitely not the usual violet and white plicata. There is an interesting dialog between the redder dark plum standards and the white falls widely plicata banded mid violet blue with red plum hafts. Big golden beards end with a neat lilac shadow.
Sdlg. Y287A: Tourist Trap X W282A: (T245B: (Q85A: (Ghost Ship x O334 charcoal sib, Fido sib) x R287A, Mesa Sunrise sib) x S324F, Notation sib)

OVERSHADOWED (T. Johnson ’20)
TB Midseason 31” (79cm)
Milk glass white standards with heavy pink flush in the center. Falls are Medium violet with deep red violet hafts and central area below beard. Nice stems carrying 8 to 9 buds. A very dramatic look.
Sdlg TI133B PUZZLED X DEEPER MEANING

PAY IT FORWARD (T. Johnson ’20)
TB Early-Midseason 35” (89cm)
Icy lavender blue standards have a salmon-peach central flush. Falls are a smooth and rich violet purple with a lighter lavender edge. Great stems, growth, buds, form and very floriferous making quite a statement. We like everything about this iris.
Sdlg TI133A Sib to Overshadowed.

SHADOW BANDS (T. Johnson ’19)
TB Early-Midseason 36” (91cm)
Sweetly scented. Milk glass white standards are heavily infused lemon yellow in the center. Falls are a plush burgundy with a yellow sunburst flash in the center around the yellow orange beards. Very flashy and a vigorous grower with lots of bloom on strong stems carrying up to 11 buds. Nice!!
Sdlg. TH83A: Risk Taker X Sib to Hard to Resist

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS (Thomas Johnson ’22)
TB Midseason 33” (84cm)
Slight fragrance. Emphasis here is on the width and size of the flowers coming from its father, Hard to Resist. Yellow standards are edged in cream. Falls are yellow with a very wide violet border. Nicely branched show stems carry 8 buds. This one will not be overlooked in the garden. There are several sisters being introduced from this cross. Truly stunning!!
Sdlg TK199A: Shadow Bands X Hard to Resist.

SHADOWBOXER (T. Johnson ’22)
TB Midseason-Late 36” (91cm)
Sweet fragrance. Plum purple standards blushed lighter in the center. Falls are medium lavender with very deep plum hafts and narrow medium plum band. Nicely formed and ruffled flowers are carried on show stems with 9 buds. Very distinctive and pretty.
Sdlg TK124B: Dream About You X Elite.

ALGORITHM (Paul Black '22)
SDB Early-Midseason 13” (33cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Paler fall centers of icy blue white flowers have fine brassy olive lines precisely surrounded on each side with lighter tan shadows. The look is captivating and as far as I know, it is the first instance of this sort of pattern.
Sdlg. AA199C: Lucky X Mini Mouse

BACKGROUND NOISE (Paul Black '22)
TB Late-Very Late 34” (86cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance Two of this year’s introductions are from this cross that produced many delightful seedlings. ‘Me and My Shadow’ has proven to be a solid parent for quality later blooming hardy plicatas. Light blending to dark butterscotch standards have fine darker caramel veining. Styles are darker butterscotch with styles veined brown. Crisp white falls are decorated with wide dark burgundy plicata bands while near black irregular lines descend part way down their centers. Three well-spaced branches carry 7-8 buds. A vigorous and hardy plicata.
Sdlg. Z100I: Me and My Shadow X First Pick

CAST A TALL SHADOW (Paul Black 22)
TB Late-Very Late 36” (91cm)
No fragrance SHOW STALKS are borne in abundance on husky, hardy and disease resistant plants. It’s a win all round! Ruffled round and expansive flowers have mid violet blue standards. White half-moon fall centers are closely veined purple black transitioning to solid purple black lower half. Sturdy stalks have 4 branches plus spur and 10-12 buds. Gorgeous clumps filled with stalks. Husky disease resistant plants
Sdlg. Y10G: Haunted Heart X Clotho’s Web

STARRY STARRY NIGHT (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 36” (91cm)
Slight musky fragrance It is a night you’ll long remember. Classically formed, ruffled and lightly laced purple black flowers have standards with white sanded veins over their centers that show their plicata heritage. White fall hafts have closely spaced purple black lines and sanded veins transitioning to velvety purple black falls. Butterscotch beards turn to white climaxing in a white shooting star dart for a dramatic accent. It has a stunning presence even before opening. Bud reverses have chartreuse haft centers streaking into white center bands then white veins streaking into dark purple outer bands. It is an awesome look. Sturdy growth produces 4 well-spaced branches but only 7 buds. As if this wasn’t enough, it has been a mystery progenitor of many broken color plicatas. There is nothing in the parentage to suggest this trait. I’m still exploring its potential. In one cross, about a third of the seedlings looked like it, a third were standard plicata types and a third were broken color plicatas. There is much to be explored!
Sdlg. Y161A: Me and My Shadow X Black V159B, Pleasure’s All Mine sib

TIME CAPSULE (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 33” (84cm)
Slight sweet fragrance I’ve thought for a while it was time for an update of the older, ‘Sand and Sea’. My ideal goal is yellow standards and band on blue falls. ‘Time Capsule’ is a notable step toward that goal. Dark red-violet standards base blend to gray then brassy gold then to tan margins. Pale blue falls are narrowly banded light yellow. Distinctive mid blue beards are tipped from tan throats to white ends. Compact flowers are lightly ruffled and laced. Three branches present 7-8 flowers.
Sdlg. Z50C: Black V110B: (Fred and Ginger x Go for Broke) X Black V118A, Only the Shadow Knows sib

BLACKBERRY BANDIT (Paul Black 23)
TB Early-Midseason 32” (81cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance ‘Blackberry Bandit’ is sure to seduce you and never break your heart. Clean, husky growing plants produce show stalks with 3 branches and spur plus 8-9 buds. Standards and styles are mid-dark red violet. Extended white hafts with dark red violet veins form a butterfly wing pattern coalescing into the solid red-black lower half with irregular white dotted edges. Two-toned orange to purple beards add a charming character. Sdlg. Y10B, Cast a Tall Shadow sib

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

INDISCRIMINATE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. A broken color plicata, coming from ‘Me And My Shadow’. No two flowers alike, as the degree of stippling and dotting in ratio to broken color changes from bloom to bloom. Taller show stalks have 3 branches and sometimes a spur with 9-11 buds. Plants are strong with vigorous growth and increase. An exciting and fun pattern. Sdlg. AA89U: Me And My Shadow X Black Y54B, Drag Race sib

NEVER NEVER LAND (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. ‘Me And My Shadow’ has been an excellent parent. I am excited about the possibilities of using Never Never Land in plicata breeding since it is half plicata. Its vivid red-orange beards will be a wonderful bold addition when transferred to plicatas. Superior garden traits make it a great garden subject. Standards are light blue with a tan wire rim. Falls are velvety purple black with a narrow purple band. A touch of light apricot in the center accentuates the bold red-orange beards. Sdlg. BB164D: Daffy Duck X Me And My Shadow

BROWN NOSE (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
It is all about the big ochre beard with the cute stubby slate brown horn. As for the rest of the flower, standards are light khaki tan and falls are a mid-dark charcoal red-violet blend becoming lighter to a narrow tan band. Darker veining over falls provides more interest. Three well-spaced branches plus spur produce 9-10 buds.
Sdlg. BB120N: Y93B, New Fallen Snow sib X Z11A: (Seasons In The Sun x V118A, Only The Shadow Knows sib)