O. K. Brad. You said choose one..... tough task master. Its a good thing you only posted six or I could not respond. I would be choosing and re-choosing all morning. The first photo you posted I fell for immediately. As a yellow/blue it is clear and clean but for the final ONE.... it is 06-77-W. I saw the clump and it reminded me of a storm on the ocean. I can imagine what it would look like if they were stirred by a breeze. mesmerizing. Just beautiful.... well, all of them really.

It is hard to believe that when we do a walk about in our garden and get really overjoyed at the blooms we see there that hybridizers are creating new blooms that are even more captivating.

Seems like everyone likes "W" the best. I am, of course, going to buck that trend and go with "D".

I'm with you Greg -- my pick would be D. Second choice would be W.

I am also with Greg on this. I love D, and really like that the big beard mirrors the colors on both the standards and falls. And the coloration is stronger than on the other yellow/purple bitones. I would be really happy with this one in my garden.

My second choice is also W - it just reminds me too much of World Premier for some reason. Though I think it is a nicer bloom tha World Premier.

I don't think I'd kick any of them out of my (flower) "bed!"

My preference of this group is C.

I emailed him and received this reply:
"Thanks, Debra! Glad to see that some of my iris children are so well received.

Of the 06-77 seedlings Brad showed...C = Swedish Lullaby; D = a wait and see selection; F = Espionage; J has been discarded; W = Billowing Waves; DD = Painted Shadows. (The named ones will be for 2015.)

And, no connection between "DD" and the Santa Cruz bar, but the name of one of mine from years ago (Catalyst) WAS lifted from a Santa Cruz bar.... :-)

Keith"

Well Bonnie, you said W reminded you of Storms on the ocean, and it's name it Billowing waves! Not far off!

It's a toss up between F and D for me. I would be happy to have all of them.

Amusing to see that the one Keith Keppel is holding off on is the one that seems to have the most votes.

With those kind of waves it would have to have been a storm on the ocean. I, like you, would be 'over the moon' happy to have any one of them. And, in person, er flower, they would be even more lovely.

There can be lots of reasons for holding off. Maybe needs more time to propagate, or maybe wants to limit the number that gets introduced in one year. Maybe too much like one someone else is going to introduce. Maybe just needs to study it further to see if next year it looks better. Who knows.

Also, it's hard to judge much about an iris from a picture. All you can really see is the color and perhaps get a sense of form and substance. Even then, the picture merely captures an instant in time. You can't see all of the other attributes like growth habit, branching, etc. You just have to hope that the hybridizer filters seedlings according to those attributes so all you have to worry about, as a buyer, is whether you like the flower or not.

I know, Tom, I just found it funny that the only one of that group he is still pondering about keeping/naming is the one that got the most votes, here. But he knows that because I sent him the link to this page in my email.

One thing for sure is that I will not run out of irises to buy

Guess I'm gonna hafta start a wish list.......W and DD will definitely be on it!

That's a good start, Pam!

I agree with your choices Pam.

Sherry, I never heard of that bar. By the name, I was thinking it was another Hooters type of place. Nope, it's a Sports Bar...

Thanks everybody for responding it's Fun to get everyone's vote on these, I am thrilled that 3 of them got names this year and I don't think there is a problem with D at all because it was excellent it could just be a case of him saving the one he likes best for last not sure of that but it's my guess in the meantime Wow what a great bunch available for next year. It took me hours just to move on from this one cross in his garden especially when I realized they were all Sibs. I was in awe because everyone of them had a beautiful flower, the plants were all nice with wonderful branching and I couldn't find a flaw in any of them. I kept asking myself if I could only pick 1 which one would it be and my choice was ( F ) it was talking to me although it was hard DD and W were right there as well. Here are some more pictures of F.




I have pictures of a few more seedlings he talked about in the catalog as Plants he liked and Have to agree they are really nice as well. The 1st one 06-156 G is a sib to Friendly Advice and I Loved it good form and color with ruffles we can never get enough good pinks


The next one that caught my eye was 09-104A a dark black/purple loaded with ruffles and blooms it seemed to be a really good grower in his garden kept going back to it over and over as well. What also sparks my interest is the breeding of it this one is 3/4 plicata so should throw lots of plicatas for kids if it gets a name




The last one of the night was a Reckless Abandon cross 09-85 which produced another great group of plants all with way different unique patterns.

(09-85 C) &( 09-85 E)


(09-85 G)


My favorite of this cross was ( G) I want a clump of it growing in my garden right beside 09-104 A the Black one it would be Awesome to have them side by side. I know Kieth had lot's of seedlings from the 06-77 kids will work on finding some pictures of those to show what may be coming in the future from them Very Impressive plants !!

I'm a little late weighing in, but the two that jumped out at me were D and F. I kept looking at the others, especially W, but in the end came back to the first two. Don't ask me to pick just one!!! The purple/black bi-tone 09-104 A is gorgeous too!