Zoom Talk
Thursday 23rd January 2025 at 7.30pm
‘My Family and Other Irises’ - a talk by Lucy Skellorn

Lucy Skellorn holds the National Collection of Irises introduced by her great-greatgrandfather Sir Michael Foster, known as the father of iris breeding. Her interest was sparked when she was training to be a gardener and discovered the work of her illustrious ancestor.

Lucy has made it her mission to find as many of Foster's irises as possible, her journey has led her to the Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners' World and work with the Garden Museum. Lucy trained in fine art and has been working as a researcher for the Benton End House and Garden Trust, the home of the late artist-plantsman Cedric Morris, who developed a range of irises commemorated in his paintings. Cedric’s garden was a collector's cabinet of rare and unusual plants, revered by botanists and known to the iris fraternity for the 90 cultivars of bearded irises that he bred, many of which carry the Benton prefix.

Hear about the history of the garden during Cedric's time and how it inspired artists and gardeners alike, going on to have a profound effect on 20th-century horticulture. The Garden Museum recently acquired the house and its grounds, intent on returning it to a place of study once more. Learn more about the history and future plans for this exciting project in Lucy's talk.

Free for BIS members or £5 for non-members
To book a place please email: info@britishirissociety.org.uk