Tuscan Summer won the Wister, so it is loved by many. Keith is one of my favorite hybridizers. I bought Tuscan Summer and was so excited to see it bloom which took a couple of years. At the same time I bought Flash Mob, that I wasn't sure I would like.

So this year, both bloomed. I loved Flash Mob! Tuscan Summer, not so much, because of the colors - the dark shade was more brown than black and this took away from the fantastic pattern.

Another iris I was disappointed when I saw it was Easter Charm. I was hoping the blue would be more intense. It seemed washed out to me.

I was very excited about the brown/tan iris a few years ago. Now it isn't appealing to me. I was very excited about the black iris a few years ago too. I decided that I prefer a dark purple to the black self - I love the black when it is combined with another color.

I have bought a lot of yellow recently - when I started collecting iris, I had no yellow and didn't really much want any. I didn't like yellow. Now I'm painting the walls of my house yellow.

The only thing that never changes is that I love purple.

I feel like I must be getting very fussy or something. Has this happened to you?

I looked both irises up and I like that Flash Mob is brighter. I used to be a blue fanatic, then searching for the clearest pink. But I never cared for oranges because I thought they would clash, but I have since gained much respect for the way they compliment rather than blend with other colors. Now I am adding oranges to my blues and purples!
Guadalajara
Orange Joker
Fresno Flash
Sweet orange Spice
Edgefield Glow
I have read that our taste buds change every 7 years, ( why? I wonder) so possibly our aesthetic taste do as well. And the old saying " familiarity breeds contempt " might be a factor as well. I have a violet purple bitone that could populate the world, and although it is pretty, I tend to disregard it in favor of the more persnickety divas. Very unfair of me!

My tastes change every season. I am very bad about buying way to much of similars in a given year.
Teresa: I loved your description of Persnickety Divas cause yes I have some of those I love. The "I just might bloom for you and let you gaze at my beauty, if you may be so lucky". Yep, know the type well

This year I have become obsessed with lines and veins.

Yup.. every year or two it's a new obsession.. I've gone through Broken Colors, Space age, Blues, Whites, Crimson, Yellow, Line and Spatter, Variegated foliage, Luminatas, wild combinations etc... Now I think I like the quiet beauties best.. A really nicely formed self is like the perfect black dress.. Understated, but elegant.

My Beloved


Soul Mate


Friendly Advice


Absolute Treasure


That's all Folks

There are as many varieties of iris as there are tastes. I find it so interesting. So, for example, when people post their orders they are often ordering from the same vendors I buy from, so I know what is available. I also know from people's plant lists what they have or want. Some people are culling iris I really covet, and vice versa. Because I have limited space, I have to make choices. This accounts for a good deal of my fussiness.

Back to Tuscan Summer.... Last time it bloomed was 2020, and since I have one picture of it, I'm guessing there wasn't much else going on there.
Does anyone grow Flash Mob or Kiss the Night.. Those are both children of Tuscan Summer, and similar in appearance.. Wondering if they grow any better.
Drama Queen is in the genetics of Tuscan Summer and grows perfectly fine here.. Maybe slightly older in form, but still a good garden plant.

I grow Flash Mob. I love it! The point of my original post was to compare it to Tuscan Summer. TS is the big award winner, but I prefer Flash Mob.

Henhouse said: Back to Tuscan Summer.... Last time it bloomed was 2020, and since I have one picture of it, I'm guessing there wasn't much else going on there.
Does anyone grow Flash Mob or Kiss the Night.. Those are both children of Tuscan Summer, and similar in appearance.. Wondering if they grow any better.
Drama Queen is in the genetics of Tuscan Summer and grows perfectly fine here.. Maybe slightly older in form, but still a good garden plant.

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Flash Mob')
• Uploaded by ARUBA1334

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Kiss the Night')
• Uploaded by ARUBA1334

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Drama Queen')
• Uploaded by Henhouse

I obtained Flash Mob this summer from one of our wonderful members. I can hardly wait to see it bloom, and when it does, I will post a photo.

Sherry, I love the selfs, too. I find they are quite beautiful en masse, where many bicolors can sometimes be too busy or even messy looking from a distance. My Beloved is on my wish list, for certain. I don't think I've ever seen a lovelier white self.

Flash Mob is on my want list. May have to add Kiss the Night.

I have both Tuscan Summer and Flash Mob.Both nice,
but I prefer Flash Mob.
As far as Drama Queen is concerned,I have tried to grow it twice, but it has died out for me after 2 bloom seasons.

@lauriemorningglory Bar some unforeseen disaster, I'm sure I'll have enough to send you Flash Mob next summer

lauriemorningglory said: Flash Mob is on my want list. May have to add Kiss the Night.