'Black Comedy'
(Paul Black 2017, IB)
‘Bingo Marker’
‘Calypso Heat Wave’
(Paul Black 2014, IB)
(Lynda Miller 2017, MTB)
‘Fab Life’
(Thomas Johnson 2017, SDB)
‘Probie’
(Lynda Miller 2018, MTB)
continued from page 31
There was much discussion among the garden guests
about ‘Fiasco’ (Blyth 2018, TB-Novelty). It delivers good
branching and bud count along with its novelty flat form.
The hybridizers were discussing its fertility—it will set
pods. Another quite notable TB was ‘Blinded By The
Light’ (Lauer 2017). It is extremely bright indeed, the very
clear yellow-orange blooms draw you across the garden.
Branching and bud count are good as well. This is one
of the better yellow-oranges to be introduced in recent
years. Thomas Johnson's ‘Break Tradition’ (2018, TB) is a
lovely amoena with distinctive deep violet striped falls
with a white rim and wire edge in the same color as the
stripes. The stalks are excellent, and plant qualities are
strong. It is great to see the improvement in form in the
striped pattern.
‘When In Love’ (Ghio 2017, TB) is a lovely apricot
amoena. Its form is up to Ghio standards and the flowers
are presented well on good stalks. Thomas Johnson’s
2018 TB introduction, ‘Highly Classified’ was showing
off its ruffled blooms on excellent stalks. And never to
be overlooked, ‘Rise Like A Phoenix’ (Black 2017, TB)
was in great form. Show stalks with lots of buds were
evident—and the deep saturation of red-black color in
the falls really sets off the bright gold standards. Mike
Sutton’s ‘Bottle Rocket’ (2010, TB) was also growing well.
Such bright colors always draw you to this iris. Branching
and bud count make it excellent in the garden. ‘Royalty
‘Plinko’
(Thomas Johnson 2018, MTB)
Remembered’ (Keppel 2017, TB) was performing well.
There were consistent stalks with ample buds. It has
rebloomed consistently in Oregon gardens, and has
notably good form among irises that rebloom.
There were a number of SDBs still in bloom, Paul and
Thomas have been making strides at lengthening the
SDB season. A nice blue with ruffling and lovely form
was ‘Bucket List’ (Black 2018). ‘Cherry Hollow’ (Thomas
Johnson 2018, SDB) was showing off in deep wine purple
with plenty of buds. ‘Fab Life’ (Thomas Johnson 2017,
SDB) was excellent. It is quite floriferous and its nice blue
beards are lovely set against the cocoa pink of the falls.
There were some excellent IBs as well. Notable for
very striking beards was ‘Black Comedy’ (Black 2017).
This IB has lovely form and excellent branching. An IB
plicata, ‘Calypso Heat Wave’ (Black 2014) was also a
standout in the field.
Seeing the MTBs massed in the field is a treat—they
are so floriferous. In a great color, ‘Probie’ (Lynda Miller
2018) showed off its great stalks and petite blooms. The
tangerine beards add to the package. Also impossible to
miss was Thomas Johnson’s tetraploid 2018 MTB ‘Plinko’.
Delicate pink flowers are well placed on excellent stalks.
To say there are plenty of buds is an understatement.
MTB ‘Bingo Marker’ (Lynda Miller 2017), a diploid, was
just beginning to open. The color contrast is excellent, the
stems are well branched. It was obvious that a big show
34 AIS Bulletin Summer 2018