Do you have your paints ready? Your pencils, brushes and paper close at hand? Perhaps you've been wanting to work on a silverpoint piece, or an etching! Now's the time to start working on artwork to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California. The Iris is traditionally used to celebrate a 25th anniversary. To carry on that tradition we are highlighting the elegant and beautiful Iris in the Iris Exhibition. We would like to invite all current members of BAGSC to submit artwork to the Iris Exhibition show. Details and links for submissions will be coming shortly.
Although the Iris is the traditional flower of a 25th anniversary, artists may choose to depict any plant from the Iridaceae family. There are 66 accepted genera in the Iridaceae family with approximately 2,244 species. For more information on the Iridaceae family, please follow this link:
The Iris is the largest genus in the Iridaceae family. There are between 260-300 species of Iris.
Iris are perennial plants most often growing from creeping rhizomes; rhizomatous irises. In drier climates you will find Iris that grow from bulbs; bulbous irises.
Classifications of Iris have changed over time. Today, modern classifications recognize six subgenera of Iris. For more information on the subgenera of Iris, please follow the links below:
Iris ( bearded rhizomatous irises) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_subg._Iris
Liminiris (Beardless rhizomatous irises) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_subg._Limniris
Xiphium (Smooth-bulbed bulbous irises) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_subg._Xiphium
Nepalensis (Bulbous irises) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_subg._Nepalensis
Scorpiris (Smooth-bulbed bulbous irises) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_subg._Scorpiris
Hermodactyloides (Reticulate-bulbed bulbous irises) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_subg._Hermodactyloides
The American Iris Society has a wonderful Iris encyclopedia:
There are 28 species of Iris native to the United States. For more information on native Iris, please follow this link:
Save the date of September 30, 2022! BAGSC will celebrate the opening of the Iris Exhibition and the 25th Anniversary of the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California. The celebration will be held at the Brody Educational Center, at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens. Times and detailed information will be announced soon.