Paintsites Blog: Cummins Iris Garden, Scotts Valley

Many thanks to Irene and Jim Cummins for allowing us to paint in their wonderful iris garden at their private property in Scotts Valley. Their adventure began in 1984 with 6 rhizomes and today their garden is home to more than 800 varieties of iris. In addition to the garden there is an endless collection of curiosities, including bird houses, farm machinery, gardening equipment; and also, a barn, sheds, and a little creek running across the property with a small bridge. It's just delightful! The property was once a stage stop between Santa Cruz and San Jose where the stages changed to a fresh team of horses to go over the hill. The old house dates back to the late 1840’s and has stood during two major earthquakes, 1906 and 1989.

For an interesting article about the Cummins and their irises see:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20100807/they-only-have-eyes-for-iris-scotts-valley-couple-share-garden-blooms-at-sale

May Paintsites: There are 5 paintsites this month featuring more flowers in bloom than we'll see the rest of the year! So if you like flowers, you'll love these Paintsites -- come smell the roses with us. See the SCVWS website or the May Newsletters for details:

Thursday, May 3, 2018: San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, San Jose.
Thursday, May 10, 2018: CharMarron Peony Gardens, San Jose
Thursday, May 17, 2018: To be determined
Thursday, May 24, 2018: Cooper-Garrod Vineyards, Saratoga (actually here you can smell the horses)
Thursday, May 31, 2018: Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton

Shows and Exhibits:

Closes May 1, 2018: SCVWS 50th Annual Member's Show - Truly not to be missed! Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Centre of Silicon Valley in Los Gatos. See the SCVWS website for details.
Tanvi Buch has a one woman show at the Red Berry Coffee Bar, 145 Main St., Los Altos. In May she'll have 16 watercolors on the ground floor, in June, another exhibit on the mezzanine. Go for the artwork and while there enjoy a coffee and a pastry (or two - that's what I'll do) as this is an establishment that supports local artists.
Annie Haines's Point Reyes Lighthouse painting is an Associate Award winner at the Art Between Lines show of the California Art Club San Francisco Bay Chapter. Location: Peninsula Art Museum, Burlingame. Sunday April 29 - July 8, 2018.

Silicon Valley Open Studios: ( Official website with dates, locations and artists ). If you follow this blog you've seen many of our Paintsites artists' fine plein air work. This is a great chance to meet them and see their excellent studio artwork. Note: Typically they share a venue with "studio" artists so there will be more than just the artists named below at each venue. Also, unfortunately, altho' most venues offer "light" refreshments, they don't specify what they're serving so there's no way to plan which to visit on the basis of what's to eat --- you'll just have to visit all of them and find out for yourself.