I am drawn to the Blyth irises for the same reasons. He sent me a catalog years ago that I am sure cost him a lot of postage but I was enamored with his intros from that day on. Still have those two old well-worn catalogs he sent me about 5 years ago. I am not sure that all of them are good growers in Zone 6b but then many T Johnson's are not either.
I love Ghio and Keppel but lust after Blyth the most.