By Beth Stone and Janice Sharp

The BAGSC information and sales table, with some of the Camellia botanical artwork.

The BAGSC information and sales table, with some of the Camellia botanical artwork.

The Camellia Societies of Southern California (Kern County, Pacific, Southern California and San Diego Camellia Societies) held their first Camellia show of the 2015 season at Descanso Gardens on January 17 and 18, 2015. As part of the show, members of BAGSC were invited to hang “Camellia” art works. Ten artists, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia Mark, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, and Beth Stone submitted a combined total of 20 artworks.

The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with beautiful Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanical artwork.

The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with beautiful Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanical artwork.

The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with table after table covered with wildly diverse Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanicals. The art of our members was well received by Camellia flower exhibitors and the public alike as a refreshing addition to the floral display.

Descanso Gardens was also enthusiastic to use the art to complement the current Camellia blooming season and has agreed to hang all 20 painting in the Boddy House where they will remain on display for the next several months.

In addition to participating in the botanical art exhibition, Beth Stone won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.

In addition to participating in the botanical art exhibition, Beth Stone won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.

In addition, Beth participated in the Camellia show where she won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.

Many thanks to David Brown and Susan Armstrong of Descanso Gardens and George Harrison and Tom Gilfoy of the Pacific Camellia Society for making this collaboration with BAGSC possible.

Thanks also to Clara Josephs for encouraging this project from the beginning and to Deb Shaw for creating the publicity flier and attending to multiple necessary details. Thank you to Gilly Shaeffer for demonstrating watercolor techniques during the exhibit and to Melanie Cambell-Carter, Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Patricia Mark, Tania Norris, Veronica Raymond and Mitsuko Schultz for volunteering to set-up, staff and take down the exhibit.