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by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw

Download a PDF of plant introductions by the Los Angeles Arboretum, beginning in 1957 by clicking the link in the article.
Starting in 1957 and continuing through to the present, The Arboretum has been responsible for the introduction of plants from around the world to Southern California. Many of these plants are now indispensable elements in our Southern California Gardens.
Download a list of 116 plants that have been introduced by The Arboretum by clicking this link: Arboretum Plant Introductions. Of course, this list of plant introductions doesn’t even come close to identifying all the plants in the Garden, but BAGSC members may find it useful for creating artwork for the upcoming exhibition at The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens newly renovated library, “Capturing the Arboretum: The Art of Botanical Illustration”
This list was originally posted in our blog article some years ago about the Arboretum note card project. It contains the currant names of the introduced plants, the year of introduction, and the accession number. The form also includes whether the plant is from a cutting (“C”), a seed (“S”), a graft (“G”) or a scion (“Scion”). Plants in bold type and underlined happen to be favorites of Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Arboretum.
In addition to the plant listing is a list of botanical names, common names and where the plants are found around the world.

When you first click on the link in the story to the Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions, this is what you’ll see; a list of all the plants with their locations as dots on the map. Click on “Satellite” view in the upper right corner of the map to see the information displayed over a photographic map.
If you want to find any of these plants while at the Arboretum, we have a link to a Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions throughout the Arboretum grounds (thank you Frank!) which also was previously published on the BAGSC Blog in conjunction with the note card project.
This data is about nine years old, so some plants from the list may be missing from the maps, and vice versa, but it’s a start to the treasure hunt. When you open the site, click on “satellite” view and zoom in to see the paths and roads in the Arboretum to use as landmarks, and to find your way around.

“Satellite” view of the Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions. Keep zooming in to see the paths, roads and landmarks in the Arboretum grounds.
Questions? Contact Janice Sharp.
Happy painting!
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC members were treated to an inspirational garden tour of Cordelia’s sustainable, drought-tolerant, and enchanting garden and home before the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting on June 4, 2016. Stay tuned to the blog for an article by Cordelia about the garden, its inspiration, planning, and building and more photos.
In the meantime, as promised, Cordelia has provided us with her plant list. All of the plants listed below are available from Australian Plants Nursery in Ojai, California.
Acacia cardiophylla
Acacia craspedocarpa
Acacia cultriformis
Acacia drummondii
Acacia hubbardiana
Acacia podalyriifolia pearl
Acacia spectabilis
Acacia stenophylla
Acacia terminalis
Agonis flexuosa burgundy
Alyogyne hakeifolia
Anigozanthos amber velvet
Anigozanthos flavidus bush nugget
Anigozanthos yellow gem

Looking from the front room out to the garden. The windows are laminated to dampen noise from the street. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Aulax cancellata
Austromyrtus dulcsis
Banksia blechnifolia
Banksia dryandroides
Banksia grandis
Banksia hookeriana dwarf
Banksia media dwarf
Banksia menziesii dwarf
Bankisa oblongifolia
Banksia petiolaris
Banksia praemorsa
Banksia repens
Banksia robur
Banksia serrata
Banksia speciosa
Banksia sphaerocarpa
Banksia spinulosa

Gathered around the center island in the kitchen, looking at “before and after” photos, Cordelia’s artwork, and listening to information about construction details. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Banksia spinulosa dwarf
Banksia telmatiaeae
Banksia verticillata
Banksia violaceae
Berzelia lanuginosa
Brachysema praemorsa bronze butterfly
Callistemon pinifolius
Callistemon red alert
Callistemon viminalis captain cook
Callistemon viminalis slim
Calothamnus villosus
Chamelaucium ciliatum
Cordyline stricta
Dianella becca
Dianella king alfred
Dianella sterling variegata
Dianella tasmanica variegata
Erica verticillata South Africa
Eucalyptus kruseana
Eucalyptus moonglow
Eucalyptus orbifolia
Eucalyptus preissiana
Eucalyptus victrix
Eutaxia obovata
Goodenia species, unknown purple flower (spreading ground cover)

BAGSC members Steve Hampson, Rita Hopper and Leslie Walker discuss an interesting specimen in the back yard. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Gossypium sturtianum
Grevillea banksii
Grevillea bonfire
Grevillea bronze rambler
Grevillea austraflora fanfare
Grevillea filoba
Grevillea long john
Grevillea magic lantern
Grevillea majestic
Grevillea moonlight
Grevillea olivaceae
Grevillea peaches and cream
Grevillea petrophiloides
Grevillea pteridifolia
Grevillea red hooks
Grevillea robyn gordon
Grevillea sericea
Grevillea thelemanniana
Grevillea thelemanniana compact green gem
Grevillea wakiti sunrise
Grevillea winpara gem
Hakea adnata
Hakea elliptica
Hakea obtusa
Indigofera australis
Isopogon antheifolius curra moors
Isopogon formosus
Kennedia prorepens
Kunzea pulchella
Leptospermum burgundy
Leptospermum laevigatum reevesii
Leptospermum petersonii
Leptospermum polygalifolium
Leucadendron crown jubilee
Leucadendron cordifolium pickford
Leucadendron discolor pompom
Leucadendron goldstrike
Leucadendron jester
Leucadendron linifolia
Leucadendron little bit
Leucadendron maui sunset
Leucadendron meridian more silver
Leucadendron Mrs. Stanley
Leucadendron petrophill
Leucadendron red eye
Leucadendron safari sunset
Leucadendron salignum blush
Leucadendron salignum chief
Leucadendron salignum winter red
Leucadendron salignum summer red
Leucadendron salignum yellow form
Leucadendron scolymocephala New Zealand
Leucadendron stunning
Leucadendron tinctum
Leucadendron thymifolium
Leucadendron uliginiosum
Leucadendron wilson’s wonder
Leucospermum rotundifolium
Leucospermum yellow bird
Leucospermum yellow rocket
Leucospermum veldfire
Libertia peregrinans New Zealand
Lomandra longifolia
Melaleuca brian walters
Melaleuca coccinea
Melaleuca decussata gibbosa
Melaleuca densa
Melaleuca diosmifolia
Melaleuca elliptica
Melaleuca huegelii
Melaleuca incana nana (prostrate)
Melaleuca micromera
Melaleuca violaceae
Mimetes cucullatus South Africa
Myoporum floribundum
Nephrolepsis obliterata
Orphium frutescens
Pellaea falcata cliff brake fern
Phormium jester
Phyllica plumosa
Podocarpus macrophylla South Africa
Protea burchellii
Protea cynaroides South Africa
Protea cynaroides mini king
Protea eximia
Protea nerifolia
Protea obtusifolia
Protea pink ice
Protea sylvia
by Deb Shaw
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) will be holding their 38th annual GNSI Conference at the University of California Santa Cruz, July 3-9, 2016.
Home to the infamous Banana Slug mascot, the three-day core conference will be held July 3-6, 2016 on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus. Conference housing will be provided at Cowell College. Most of the conference events will also be conveniently located at Cowell. Rooms will be available in Cowell residence halls or apartments on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each housing package includes a full meal plan in the dining hall and a parking permit.
During the core conference, there will be seven keynote addresses, 37 breakout sessions, an auction, the ever-popular and always inspiring portfolio sharing session and a techniques showcase where illustrators generously share their knowledge with conference attendees.
Plenary speakers include John Muir Laws, nature journaling evangelist, who will present “Your Brain on Paper” and why it is so important for illustrators to have this observation tool. Terryl Whitlatch, artist for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, will share her tips and tricks in novel creature design. David Goodsell, a microbiologist from Scripps Institute of Oceanography, will reveal the world of cells in nanoscale through his watercolor paintings, which are both practical and beautiful.
Wendy Hiller Gee will highlight the importance of science and health literacy through her medical illustration practice. Breck Tyler, a seabird biologist, will share his experiences from 25 years at Midway Atoll observing albatross colonies. Jane Kim, founder of Ink Dwell studio, will share her extraordinary efforts to foster a love and respect for the earth through her Wall of Birds mural, depicting the 375-million-year evolution of birds. More than 260 species of birds are represented, all painted to scale. And Marc Paisin, our favorite art lawyer, will give us the rundown on how to copyright our own work (and how to stay out of trouble).
Presentations, Panels and Mini-Workshops
Following the plenary speakers in the mornings, there will be three afternoons packed with 50-minute presentations and 2-hour mini workshops by more than 45 experts in art, technical and scientific concepts. The presentations will cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from traditional media techniques (waxy pencil, gouache, and watercolor) to digital media (Photoshop and animation). BAGSC’s Tania Marien will be part of the panel for a presentation entitiled “When Good Careers Stall: Working Through the Slump.”
On Monday evening, all conference attendees can participate in illustrating a collaborative chalk mural of either a Kelp Forest or the California Coast Landscape. Expect a delightful evening of drawing, wine and desserts—working along side talented artists. Come prepared with sketches of your favorites from the species list on the website, or not; reference photos will be available. Want to help but not draw? Participants are needed to write species names in the border areas. After the conference, the two murals will hang on public display for about a month at the Sanctuary Exploration Center (SEC), a block from the Municipal Wharf—the heart of Santa Cruz.
Post-Conference Workshops and Field Trips
On July 7 and 8, following the core conference, there will be half-day and full-day workshops exploring traditional and digital media in depth. A few of the traditional media workshops include: silverpoint/pastels; mushrooms in watercolor; field sketching; graphite and pastel dust; and, textures in gouache.
A few of the exciting slate of field trips include: a whale-watching trip; sketching the jewel-like tide pools at Natural Bridges State Park; a behind-the-scenes tour of marine mammal facilities at Long Marine Lab; a day trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row; and a kayaking trip in Elkhorn Slough. And, of course, what conference in Northern California would be complete without a wine-tasting tour.
Many ASBA and BASGC members also below to GNSI — you will recognize a lot of familiar faces! There is much to see, learn and do. Registrants who sign up before June 5 receive a $50 early bird discount! Hope to see you there!
by Veronica Raymond, posted by Deb Shaw
Although not a BAGSC or ASBA workshop, the following may be interesting to all of us who are working on trees for the ASBA exhibition “Out of the Woods”.Dr. Matt Ritter, professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, will be teaching a workshop entitled, “Tough Trees Made Easy: Pines, Oaks, Eucalypts, and Figs.”
Here is the workshop description and information, by Dr. Ritter and Dr. Yost:
Learn to ID species in the most difficult groups of trees! Help support student research travel. At this workshop we will teach you the biology and important identifying characters of pines, oaks, eucalypts, and figs. This all-day workshop will include lecture and lots of hands-on lab time for you to test your knowledge and practice difficult tree identification. You will walk away with the skills and working knowledge needed to identify species in the largest and most confusing groups of trees in California. We’ll also send you away with all the reference materials you’ll need for future work with these ubiquitous trees.
Three workshop locations to choose from:
- Palomar College, San Marcos on Tuesday June 28th, 2016
- The Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia on Thursday June 30th, 2016
- San Jose State University, San Jose on Thursday July 7th, 2016
The workshop costs $120 and includes:
- A workshop packet and illustrated materials for identification
- Post workshop online identification and reference tools
- Catered breakfast and lunch, coffee, tea, and refreshments
- ISA Continuing Education Units (7 units)
100% of the workshop proceeds go to support student research travel to Australia. Learn new information while helping a Cal Poly student realize their dream!
Space is limited, register online or email Matt Ritter.
Workshop Instructors:
Dr. Matt Ritter: Winner of the WCISA R. W. Harris Award for Excellence in Education and author of California’s funniest book on trees.
Dr. Jenn Yost: Inspiring Professor of Botany at Cal Poly, where she teaches plant identification, ecology, and evolution.
by Deb Shaw
In conjunction with “Weird, Wild, and Wonderful” The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) will present a supplemental exhibition from August 1–9, in the Brody Botanical Center’s Banta Hall at The Huntington, featuring free public demonstrations, lectures about botanical art, and specimens of botanical curiosities. The BAGSC adjunct exhibition features 72 artworks by 37 members.
An exhibition of Botanical Oddities…
illustrations by the
Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California
in The Frances Lasker Brody Botanical Center
At The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
August 1–9, 2015 (closed Tuesday)
10:30 am – 4:30 pm
We will have a reception for BAGSC members, our guests, and Huntington VIPs and staff at:
10:00 am this Saturday, August 1, 2015
before The Huntington opens to the public.
The “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” New York Triennial exhibition also will be open the entire time the BAGSC exhibition is up, August 1 – 9, except on Tuesday, when The Huntington is closed.
Weird, Wild & Wonderful exhibition dates:
June 13 – August 23
Exhibition open to the public weekends only and each day August 1–9
Additional exhibition information: asba-art.org/exhibitions/weird-wild-wonderful
Exhibition information and hours posted at huntington.org
Artists in the BAGSC exhibition include:
Bonnie Born Ash, Cristina Baltayian, Nancy Beckham, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Jan Clouse, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Nancy Grubb, Asuka Hishiki, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Teri Kuwahara, Patricia Mark, Lee McCaffree, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Kathy Morgan, Terri Munroe, Alyse Ochniak, Marilyn Parrino, Dolores Pope, Kathlyn Powell, Lesley Randall, Veronica Raymond, Robyn Reilman, Norma Sarkin, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, Beth Stone, Gayle Uyehara, Lori Vreeke, Leslie Walker, Jude Wiesenfeld.
Download the full invitation here: bagscExhibitionInviteF
by Beth Stone
Are you planning to enter BAGSC ‘s very own adjunct exhibition to “Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, Botanical Illustrations of Remarkable Plants” which is coming to The Huntington’s Brody Botanical Center?
Let’s all take advantage of this truly Wonderful opportunity. First time BAGSC exhibitors are encouraged to enter! Can YOU contribute at least one artwork? (limit is 3 artworks per member)
We have an important deadline, here’s how you can help:
Please email the complete botanical name of your subject matter no later than this coming Wednesday, May 27, 2015 to Beth Stone. Don’t worry, this does not obligate you to submit those works.
by Beth Stone
The call for entries has been sent (see email from Deb Shaw dated 5/5/15) for BAGSC ‘s very own adjunct exhibition to “Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, Botanical Illustrations of Remarkable Plants” coming to The Huntington’s Brody Botanical Center.
BAGSC members of all experience levels are encouraged to enter at least one artwork (limit is 3 artworks per member). To date we have a list of nearly 50 subjects from 25 artists, we’re expecting many more.
Botanical oddities and curiosities could be those found locally, in natural surroundings or a botanical garden. If you’re looking for more inspiration, Dick Rauh, PhD offered ideas to artists on potentially pertinent plants: http://asba-art.org/article/weird-wild-and-wonderful-suggested-subjects. We’d like to include as many different species as possible.
So…what visually unusual, bizarre, beautiful (or not) subject have you chosen?
We have an important deadline, here’s how you can help:
Please email the complete botanical name of your choices ASAP but no later than Wednesday, May 27, 2015 to Beth Stone. Don’t worry, this does not obligate you to submit those works.
The cut-off date is when we will submit our “list of plant subjects” as best we know it to The Huntington so they can start planning on signage, related plants from the Garden, microscopes and more, linking our artworks to The Huntington’s vast plant collection in creative, and no doubt “wonderful”, ways.
by Deb Shaw

Promotional for Roger’s Gardens “Day of Art,” Sunday, March 1 features a painting in progress that BAGSC member Clara Josephs was working on during the last year’s “Day of Art” at Roger’s.
Roger’s Garden is proud to present their 3rd Annual “Day of Art,” Sunday, March 1 from 10 AM – 4 PM. (In case of rain, this event will be cancelled until further notice.) For the event schedule, visit the Roger’s Gardens’ Art Gallery page.
This Springtime event attracts 50 invited plein air and botanical artists painting and drawing in the Gardens for the day. A painting by each of the participating artists will be on display and available to the public for purchase. This year Roger’s will be judging the 50 original artworks with awards and recognitions.
Open to the public at no charge, all visitors will have the opportunity to participate in scheduled workshops and demonstrations.
BAGSC members Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Patricia Mark and Deborah Shaw will be participating in the event, and BAGSC will have an information table about botanical art, our group, and our upcoming events and plans. Deborah, Clara, and Diane will be teaching a free “Drawing in your garden” introductory botanical art workshop from 2 pm to 3 pm on that afternoon. The workshop is free and open to the public, no art experience required. Roger’s Gardens will supply basic drawing materials, or participants can bring additional supplies.
Roger’s Gardens is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, 949.640.5800.
by Beth Stone, posted by Deb Shaw
The Techniques Showcase featured three artists covering a very broad range of approaches: Hillary Parker, Ann Swan, Kelly Leahy Radding.
Hillary Parker shared her artistic problem-solving approach to very large format botanical watercolors which most of us would surely consider impossible! First was a driftwood commission on 40 x 60 inch, 300 lb cold press paper. The second was a 9 foot long (!) watercolor of a stone wall with a foreground of woodland plant silhouettes worked in masking fluid. Can you imagine fitting such a massive work in your studio? Then consider how you would maneuver yourself and your paints around to work on it!
Ann Swan completed a kiwi botanical in front of our eyes as just a portion of her wonderful segment of the Techniques Showcase. The seemingly magical techniques Ann demonstrated included: colored pencil layering strategies; exploiting colors that resist adhesion of subsequent layers (for example, creating veination); use of alcohol-based solvent or baby oil (actually not oil, but dilute paraffin) to blend and spread color; and embossing to create fine hairs for kiwi and pussy willows.
I’m told Ann’s blog is one to watch. She posted photos of the Chihuly glass sculpture exhibit currently at the Denver Botanic Gardens. http://annswan.wordpress.com
Finally Kelly Leahy Radding demonstrated the technique she used to paint the beautiful water lily she entered in the show’s Small Works exhibit. The water lily is painted with gouache on a dramatic black background. Kelley demonstrated her painting process with gourds. She shared a tip regarding both zinc white and the warmer titanium white. Both dry with a slight blue cast which can be counteracted by mixing in just a touch of yellow.
As a special additional treat to complete the Showcase, John Cogley, founder, President and CEO of Daniel Smith, spoke on the manufacture of pigment. The process involves fracturing/cleaving the crystalline materials rather than grinding them. It was great to see the actual mineral samples John brought including a beautiful, huge, piece of Lapis. John graciously answered audience questions: explaining that his company bought out all the Quinacridone close-out stock, so we will always be able to buy a consistent Quinacridone Gold; that we shouldn’t be concerned if Gum Arabic binder oozes from a newly opened tube, it’s just excess that rose to the top; and we should use distilled water in our painting work rather than introduce tap water impurities. Deb Shaw went to John’s lecture, and will include pictures in the next posting.
by Beth Stone, posted by Deb Shaw
Jesse Meyer, founder of Pergamena, the parchment production extension of his family’s centuries-old tanning and leather business, gave a fascinating talk on the Story of Vellum. Check out their web site at pergamena.net for history, process and product information. TV’s Mike Rowe brought his Dirty Jobs crew to Pergamena for not one but 2 episodes, see YouTube.
What a treat conference goers had today with the opportunity to leaf through and select vellum sheets for purchase…and with show discount prices!
By Bonnie Born Ash, posted by Deb Shaw
Mark your calendars for BAGSC 2014 Quarterly Meetings plus our annual holiday party! As you’ll notice, this year we’re alternating Saturday and Sunday meetings to accommodate the schedules of more of our members.
March 9 (Sunday)
May 3 (Saturday)
July 20 (Sunday)
September 6 (Saturday)
December 6 (Saturday) – Annual Holiday Party
Before each meeting, a detailed email blast will be sent to all members with host’s address, links to maps, and RSVP phone numbers. Each meeting will include a special program or demonstration. We will also have our usual creative potluck lunch and everyone is welcome to bring a sample of recent work to show!
Happy painting!
by Deb Shaw
There’s been a change in the meeting date for February. It will now be on February 9th, instead of February 2. A group email blast will be sent out shortly with details and the agenda for the meeting.
So, the BAGSC quarterly meetings for 2013 plus the holiday party are now as follows:
- February 9
- April 20
- June 29
- September 14
- and the December 7 Holiday Party (no meeting included, just eating, drinking, and enjoying ourselves)
Let us know of any workshops or presentations you would like to see at one of the meetings.
Keep your eyes peeled for blog and email announcements of classes, workshops, activities and exhibitions. Next year will start off with a lot happening in January, and lots more to come. It promises to be an exciting year!
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC is scheduling a full four quarterly meetings for 2013 plus the holiday party:
- February 2, (If “A Day of Art at Roger’s Gardens” is rained out, February 2 will be the alternate date. If that happens, BAGSC members will be notified and the meeting date will be moved — February 3 is a possibility)
- April 20,
- June 29,
- September 15,
- and the December 7 Holiday Party (no meeting included, just eating, drinking, and enjoying ourselves)
Would you like to host one of the meetings? Please contact Leslie. Also let us know of any workshops or presentations you would like to see at one of the meetings.
Keep your eyes peeled for blog and email announcements of classes, workshops, activities and exhibitions. Next year will start off with a lot happening in January, and lots more to come. It promises to be an exciting year!
by Leslie Walker
Join us for our quarterly meeting on May 21, 2011 at Norma’s house. RSVP to Norma and let her know what you will be bringing for our usual potluck lunch.
Coffee at 9:30 am
Meeting begins promptly at 10:00 am
AGENDA
I. Welcome
II. President’s Report
III. Secretary’s Report
IV. Treasurer’s Report
V.Membership Report
VI. Old Business
· Rancho Los Alamitos – Botanical Cards at gift shop
· Water Miser workshop
· Meet with Elaine Searle
· “A Brush with Blue” – Margaret Best
· Susan Frei-Nathan Workshop
VII. New Business
· Calligraphy Class
· “Browns and Pods” – Margaret Best
· Next Meeting will be Saturday, September 24, 2011 at Allison’s
· Other business
Break for lunch
Program: The Brush Lady – Judy Coyle
Judy will be bringing a carload of wonderful brushes for sale. Bring cash and/or your checkbook.
Also be sure to bring your latest work to show the group.
See you there!!