Joe Ghio’s hybridizing efforts have continued uninterrupted since the first crosses were made in 1954. He has received nearly all the awards the iris world offers. This includes the American Iris Society’s Hybridizer’s Medal given in recognition of a body of work done by a hybridizer. His MYSTIQUE won the Dykes Medal—only one is awarded each year to a particular variety considered most outstanding. His Pacifica irises are recognized as the best in the world.

BEWITCHMENT

A new coloring to the iris spectrum coming from our Heaven line crossed with Fogbound. The tightly domed standards are dark orchid pink deepening to purple at the base. The wide falls are light orchid pink with deeper pink shoulders and light tangerine beards. Wide branched show stems show off these bubble ruffled beauties. Will send up more stalks after its main bloom flush. No. 98-21H: 93-40J3: (Heaven x 91-92B3: (89-74C: (Birthday Greetings x Bubbling Along) x 89-73: (Birthday Greetings x Presence))) X Fogbound. 35 inches, EM. $45.00

CURRENT EVENTS

Bringing our efforts to produce a modern version of the old classic, Edenite, close to fulfillment. A lustrous black currant self with a shinny leathery sheen. Has the Regimen pinking sheered petal edges all undulating with lace and heavy ruffling. Perfect branching with lots of buds. No. 97-89H2: Regimen X Ennoble. 32 inches, ML. $40.00

ENTICE

Ovation has always had a color to strive for in a modern iris and even given rise to "ovation pink" as a coloring. Entice is close to ovation pink with Ghio form. Domed standards and wide semi-flaring falls with light ruffling. Nice balanced branching and plentiful buds. No. 97-48R: 95-38S: (Keppel 89-29C: (Social Event x Femme Fatale) x Boudoir) X Cast of Characters, sib to Thinking of You. 35 inches, ML. $45.00

EXPOSÉ

At last, here it is: The much anticipated and desired unique origination, not seen before in the iris filament. White domed standards with falls of white with wide yellow shoulders and wide yellow bands. The beards are dark tangerine with blue lines radiating from it over the wide white falls to the yellow band! There are also faint blue dots at the base of the falls. Wonderful show branching, good bud count and vigorous growth. An iris to die for! No. U97-3C: 95-1: (U92-7A2:, unknown, x 93-90, sib to Snowed In, etc) X Impulsive. 34 inches, ML. $85.00 each, 3 for $192.50

FOR THE SOUL

One of those soul-satisfying colorings: Blue white shading to pink at the base of the standards and pink at the heart of the blooms spilling over the shoulders. Very large blooms with overlapping hafts, lightly serrated petal edges with the huge blooms oozing in bubble ruffling. Self beards shading to light tangerine in the heart. No. 98-21M2, sib to Bewitchment. 32 inches, L. $40.00

LOST AND FOUND

Standards are white with a apricot base which veins up the midrib. The falls are smooth apricot orange with a white hairline around the wavy ruffled petal edges. Faint purple speckles at the end of the fall petals. Nice well branched stems for the show. No. U97-18R, unknown, but undoubtedly from the 88-180P line. 34 inches, ML. $40.00

MOUNT VESUVIUS

Years ago we grew the iris Vesuvius, and have been trying to get that wonderful rosy purple coloring in a modern iris. Finally here it is! The rosy purple Vesuvius coloring on big blooms with a metallic sheen and ultrasmooth finish. The petals have the Regimen fine sheered edges with ruffling and lace. The beards are striking antique gold. Ennoble stems with plentiful buds. No. 97-80C2, sib to Current Events. 36 inches, ML. $40.00

NEW DAY DAWNING

Bringing the line and speckle line into a new coloring: Yellow orange with the standards slightly lighter. There are red brown speckles at the end of the fall petals. Light ruffling and tangerine beards. Ramrod thick stalks, wide balanced branching and multiple buds per socket. Very vigorous with very wide foliage. Best Seedling, Capitola, 2002. No. 99-42H3: 97-46N: (Impulsive x Ocelot) X 97-41B2: (95-36D, Impulsive sib, x Dear Jean). 36 inches, EML. $40.00

PURE AND SIMPLE
(Maryott)

Light yellow concial held standards with wide falls of white with light yellow overlapping hafts and thick yellow band around the lightly ruffled falls. The blooms are large and are well shown off on the well branched stems. Yellow beards with light ruffling and lacing. No. DD-117C: Barbara My Love X Ghio U94-1A, yellow/white, unknown. 36 inches, EM. $40.00

TIME ZONE

A new zonal: Standards have a blue edge fading off to a white center. Broad falls are mid blue with a large white zonal around the blue tipped cream beards. Nice Ghio formed blooms on well branched multi-budded stalks. Reblooms some here. No. 99-89E3: 97-125lt: (Established Powers x Double Dribble) X 97-56P: (94-1A: (90-8: (Silhouette x ((Go Round x Snowbrook) x Handshake sib)) x 89-104A: (Polar Seas x Handshake)) x 91-22A: (City Lights x 89-104A)) x Double Dribble). 34 inches, ML. $45.00

TREASURED

Smooth alabaster pink with a pink flush up the midrid. The style arms are pink as are the shoulders. A beautiful pastel pink confection. The beards are coral in the throat and shade to blue at the tips. Broad semi-flaring falls with closed standards with the blooms resplendid in accordion ruffling. Tall, sturdy, well branched stalks. No. 98-31Q: Fogbound X 93-40J3, reverse cross of Bewitchment and For the Soul. 42 inches, EM. $50.00 each, 3 for $112.50

#1: GHIO 2004 Tall Bearded Special. Two different current year Ghio originations, our choice (they sell for $40-$50 each) only $48.50, plus $6.50 shipping.

#2: COLLECTION of recent Ghio Tall Bearded releases (Introduced in 2001, ’02, ’03), 3 different varieties, our choice, $38.50, plus $6.50 shipping.