By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN CITY — With the annual Iris Festival and Art Show set for its 13th celebration next week, the Downtown Bordentown Association is looking for the normally unlucky number to be an auspicious one.
“I hope it will be a lucky year,” said festival co-chairwoman Jackie Reed. “It looks like the weather’s turning around, and it looks like we’ll have plenty of irises.”
Guests will have the chance to see the work of internationally renowned artists, enter the yearly flower competitions and enjoy al fresco dining in the city’s downtown at the festival, which will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9, and is sponsored by the DBA.
The festival honors the horticultural contributions of late city resident Franklin Carr, who died in 1993. Mr. Carr became famous for his iris hybrids. He succeeded in expanding the spectrum of blue and purple to peach and gold hues in irises, and his flowers have graced the grounds of Buckingham Palace and the gardens of the late Princess Grace of Monaco.
Some of Mr. Carr’s hybrids will be available at the festival for $9 each.
For the first time in the festival’s history, student artists also will be allowed to show their works.
“I thought, we have some talent, and it might be a nice real-world experience for them to see what it’s like to meet the public, see how people react to their artwork and have a real business transaction,” said festival founder Eric Gibbons.
Mr. Gibbons teaches art at Northern Burlington County Regional High School and also owns the Firehouse Gallery, on Walnut Street.
A few students have signed up so far, he said, but others have a few days before the festival to sign up. They must be in either an advanced placement or equivalent high school art class or a college class and can sign up by contacting Mr. Gibbons at 609-298-3742 or [email protected].
As usual, professional artists also will be in attendance. While there may not be as many artists as there have been in years past, festival co-chairwoman C.J. Mugavero said she would classify six of them as “internationally acclaimed.”
That includes Hanneke de Neve, who also shows at Ms. Mugavero’s local gallery, The Artful Deposit, on Farnsworth Avenue. Ms. Mugavero said Michael Budden, of Chesterfield, who has had shows throughout the country and has work at her gallery, also will be attending the festival.
Ms. Mugavero said about 5,000 people usually show up for the day, and attendance shouldn’t suffer because of the economy since admission is free.
“If it’s nice out, I think it’s going to be very, very well-attended,” she said. “Not only is it beautiful and fun, but it’s a seasonal thing to do.”
Should it rain, the only event which still will be held is the Iris Growers’ Competition, which will run from noon to 4 p.m. in the Friends Meeting House, on Farnsworth Avenue.
Locals are invited to enter into iris and flower arranging competitions, the latter of which must include an iris. Ms. Reed said the contest has seen as many as 100 submissions, though the number varies with the weather. Martha and William Griner of Chesterfield, professional iris judges, will choose the winners.

