Here are photos of the promising seedlings that I am currently evaluating in the seedling patch.   Some of these will be slated for introduction in upcoming years. 

The most inspired cross that I've made so far was Tobacco Chew X My Missus Carter.   The siblings from this cross displayed a wide array of colors,  many had great branching and triple-socketed terminals inherited from My Missus Carter, and some had the huge orange beards inherited from Tobacco chew.   Morning Has Broken was my first introduction from this cross, followed by Hazel Josephine.  Here is another exciting seedling from this cross, probably slated for introduction in 2024.   It won an Exhibition Certificate at the 2021 iris show in Winchester, VA.

 These two fantastic seedlings bloomed for the first time for me in 2021.   The dark red seedling on the left is from Rosalie Figge X Bottle Rocket.  I am waiting to see if it will rebloom reliably.  The smaller, perfectly proportioned velvety red blossoms are the longest lasting iris blooms in my garden.   Each flower stays beautiful for four days.  In 2021 it was just above BB height, with elegant, smaller stalks matching its flowers so it will probably end up in the 'small tall' category.

The striking seedling on the right is from the cross of Starring Encore X Starring.   It is simply breathtaking!  This iris had been growing in my garden for a few years, but hadn't bloomed yet until 2021.   I was amazed and took it to the iris show.   It won an Exhibition Certificate at the 2021 iris show in Winchester, VA. 

Another cross that has produced a high percentage of splendid seedlings for me is Showy Lowy X Thundering Ovation.
This cross was the most fun for me to see the seedlings bloom for the first time, because they came in so many different colors, and each one was so different from its siblings.   Listening for Lions was my first introduction from this cross, followed by Maddie's Singing Magic and Sunshine After Rain in 2023.  The diverse rainbow of colors I get from this cross should lead to several more introductions in future years.

Reliable rebloom is one of the traits that I hybridizing for.   My first reblooming introduction was an almost everblooming sunny SDB called Sunbeams Forever.  Georgia Emilyne, a warm-toned IB, is a lovely peach and apricot colored reliable rebloomer introduced in 2023.  It is from the cross of Starring Encore X Kumquat.   Watch this site for future irises that reliably rebloom across many time zones.