Inside the collection at the mn landscape arboretum

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:35:09 -0600

Hungering for a little greenery to brighten your winter landscape? Take a stroll to the Andersen Horticultural Library at the MN Landscape Arboretum to see “Wild Green Things.” an exhibit of works by acclaimed botanical artist Anne Ophelia Dowden, opening January 18 and running through May 2. The library also will host an “Inside the Collection” series of noontime presentations on various highlights of the library collection. Details below:
Inside the Collection: Wild Green Things--The Art of Anne Ophelia Dowden
Wednesday, January 18, Noon - 1 pm
Here's a rare opportunity to delve into the art of renowned botanical artist Anne Ophelia Dowden (1907-2007), whose works are the subject of the "Wild Green Things" exhibit opening the same day at the Arboretum. Spend an hour exploring dozens of her actual sketches and paintings on loan from the University of Minnesota's Kerlan Collection with Lucie Taylor, curator of the Dowden exhibit.

Inside the Collection: Gone to the Birds  Wednesday, Feb. 15, Noon - 1 p.m.  Andersen Horticultural Library has a surprising number of richly illustrated ornithological works on birds around the world. Delve into some of these works with library head Kathy Allen. Many have rarely been viewed, and this class offers an exclusive opportunity to get close to these treasures.
 Inside the Collection: A Passion for Fruit  Wednesday, March 21, Noon - 1 p.m. Explore rare botanical art books about fruit, plus other works from the mid-1800s, nursery catalogs and nurserymen's platebooks from the Andersen Horticultural Library with library head Kathy Allen.
 Inside the Collection: Wild About Wildflowers
Wednesday, April 18, Noon - 1 p.m. Wildflower books abound in the Andersen Horticultural Library's Rare Book Room. Enjoy an exclusive viewing of these treasures with librarian Kathy Allen.

Inside the Collection: Take Two Licorice Roots and Call Me in the Morning
Wednesday, May 16, Noon - 1 p.m. Herbal works from the 16th century show how important a knowledge of plants was in treating ailments. In this class, Andersen Horticultural Library's Kathy Allen will take you on a journey through these wonderfully illustrated volumes about medicinal plants.

Inside the Collection: Shaping the Land  Wednesday, June 20, Noon - 1 p.m. Learn how the scope and definition of landscape design has drastically evolved through the centuries with Andersen Horticulture Library director Kathy Allen.

The largest horticultural research library in the Upper Midwest, the Andersen library is a non-lending reference library specializing in plants, gardening, botanical art, landscape design, horticulture and natural history. The library and its collections were conceived and built through the support of the late Gov. Elmer L. Andersen and his wife Eleanor.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, comprising 1,137acres, is located in Chanhassen, Minn., on State Hwy 5, nine miles west of the intersection with I-494. The largest public garden in the Upper Midwest, the Arboretum is part of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science. Open 363 days a year, admission is $9 adults; free for members and ages 15 & under.

A Renewing experience

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Following the ASBA conference that was held in Boston in late October, I had the pleasure of taking a class taught by Carol Woodin. It was really fun and relaxing to be the student instead of the teacher, for a change! And it was doubly fun, as my roommate was Elaine Searle, who was also teaching a Master Class at the same time.

The class took place at Wentworth By The Sea, a lovely old hotel that sits on the coast of New Hampshire. The hotel was about two hours away from the conference and there had been a surprise snow storm the evening before. Everything was laden with a crisp blanket of white and the temperature was still fairly mild. Arriving at Wentworth, however, we were in for a hotel with no electricity! Well, actually, a generator pumped out enough to keep the halls partially lighted, but with no heat. Still, we bundled into the classroom and had a wonderful day of drawing and painting. Carol had brought a large bag of a variety of heritage fruits she had picked. As they tumbled out of the bag, the room smelled of sweet apples and by the end of the three-day class, it smelled of sweet apple cider.

Carol is a terrific teacher and I hope to bring her to MSBA at some future time.

A Florilegium Grows

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:12:07 -0500

On July 6th approximately twenty artists met to show their progress on paintings for the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Florilegium. The above painting by Linda Thorson is representative of the beautiful works that are being created for this important project. Linda has carefully observed how this plant grows, illustrating exactly how this lovely little flower is put together. Most people walking through our Minnesota forests would never even notice this flower, that grows at the base of the plant nestled on the earth, waiting for a beetle to wander by and pollinate it. Our job as botanical artists is to portray the detail of these beautiful subjects and bring them to the attention of others. Congratulations Linda on a beautiful work!

A Prairie in Full Bloom

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:45:51 -0500

Imagine you are a settler heading westward in a Prairie Schooner at this time of year. If you can’t see it in your mind’s eye, then take a stroll through he Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden prairie. It is glorious now with the plants 6 - 8’ tall and butterflies and bees busy moving from flower to flower drinking in their sweet nectar. I was there a couple of days ago and was again reminded about the importance of our documenting the plants that grow in this rare haven. Dedicated members of the School are currently working on more than 50 paintings. We hope to finish 200 works in five years. The Garden is certainly cooperating by offering up so many beautiful specimens for us to paint!

Teaching at Eureka Springs

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

I taught a week-long botanical watercolor workshop at the Eureka Springs School of the Arts in mid-July. Eureka Springs is a lovely town located in the northwest edge of the Ozarks. This historic town was visited by many at the turn of the century who came to “take the waters.” Throughout this hilly town there are natural springs and more than twenty miniature gardens. Humpty Dumpty sits on his wall tucked into one of the gardens looking down on passers-by. Teaching at the School was great fun and I am looking forward to a return visit in 2012.

Visiting Kate

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In June Peter and I traveled to Kingston, Arkansas to spend some time with Kate Nessler and her husband, Bill Horrell. They live at the top of a mountain and look out on a million dollar view. Bill is a poet, professor and great gardener. Their lavender was in full bloom and varieties of sunflowers were planted in rows by height. Beautiful! Kate’s studio, which is in the background of the above picture, is perfect. She designed and built it herself - she’s a woman of many talents! Inside she has areas arranged for painting, office space, storage for paintings, and supplies. She had two paintings in process, both on full-sized vellum skins, birds nests in branches. She is also working on minimalist charcoal drawings. Kate is an original. She continues to push the envelope of botanical art to its edges and I admire her greatly for her many accomplishments.

Art for a Great Cause

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:30:45 -0500

The first Art 4 Shelter benefit for Simpson Housing Services is an exhibit and sale of original artworks on paper by emerging and established artists. Each piece will sell for $30. The event will be held May 5 at Circa Gallery, 210 N. 1st Street, Minneapolis, and will feature over 1000 original works. Original artworks must be created on 5 x 7” heavy-weight paper.

For submission information, please go to art4shelter.org.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting this great cause by submitting artwork!

Art of Florilegia

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 12:44:41 -0600

Timeless Art of Florilegia: From the Personal to Prince Charles
10 a.m. – Noon
Wednesday, April 13
Snyder Building, Classroom 1
$10 members of the Arboretum and students of the Minnesota School of Botanical Art/$15 non- The members

One of the highest forms of botanical art is florilegia, where artists document the plants in particular gardens. The prints in these collections have always demanded the highest technique and sensitivity to the subject. Whether simple ink renderings of comely plants such as chamomile or stunning watercolors of a bearded iris, the appeal of this art form remains strong to this day. Spend a few hours with one of the world’s most talented botanical artists, ELAINE SEARLE*, of North Norfolk, England. She will share insights into florilegia of gardens, old and new, on both sides of “The Pond,” and talk about her work included in THE HIGHGROVE FLORILEGIUM. The University of Minnesota owns one of the few copies in this country of this limited edition two-volume set, commissioned by England’s Prince Charles. During the session, you will have the rare opportunity to look at this amazing work—each volume weighs almost 40 pounds, is filled with breathtaking art, and comes nestled in its own handmade felt blanket. Additionally, you will see examples of earlier florilegia from the Rare Books Collection of the Andersen Horticultural Library.

Florilegia/gardens included in the talk: Chelsea Physic Garden, Hampton Court, Eden Project and Sheffield for the UK, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Filoli, and Virginia Robinson Gardens LA.

* Elaine has a degree in graphic design and graduated with Distinction from the Diploma Course in Botanical Illustration at The English Gardening School, London. She has studied with many eminent tutors and botanical artists including Anne Marie Evans, Pandora Sellars, and Jean Emmons. Her work is included in The Highgrove Florilegium, the 12th International Exhibition and the collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, PA, and private collections. Elaine holds a Silver Gilt medal from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Elaine will be teaching a Master Class at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art (MSBA) (www.minnesotaschoolofbotanicalart.com) April 14-16.

Seed catalog art on exhibit

Sat, 8 Jan 2011 13:39:13 -0600

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum takes a trip down memory lane with "Seed Stories: Catalogs of Life and Gardens in America," an exhibit of historic seed catalog covers opening Jan. 7, 2011, and continuing through April 3 in the Reedy Gallery and Snyder Building.

The exhibit comprises nearly 150 catalog covers, pages and plates, culled from the Andersen Horticultural Library's extensive collection of over 57,000 historic seed and nursery catalogs.

Seed catalogs were once a staple on everyone's parlor tables. Brimming with folk art, exquisite plant portraits, whimsical fairies and gnomes or fair maidens in the garden, they highlight rural society's desires and interests, enterprises and passions. One will find advertisements for hunting dogs, pigs, chickens, pleasure boats, farm implements, porcelain vases and heal-all tonics.

"The cover images alone make this collection worth perusing. It's exciting to share them with the public," says Kathy Allen, head librarian of the Andersen Horticultural Library, which is part of the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is housed in the Arboretum's Snyder Building.

Many Midwestern companies are represented, including Lippincott seeds, Northrup King, both originally of Minneapolis, and Farmer Seed of Faribault, among others. (Northrup King is now a division of Syngenta corporation.)

Of special note are three seedhouses owned and run by women, quite an unusual feat in the early 1900s. These include Mrs. Jessie Prior, Miss Emma V. White and Miss Carrie Lippincott.

Another company, the Oscar Will seed company, "sprouted" in Bismarck, N.D., in 1881. It was that area's first-ever seedhouse and had the distinction of introducing several Native American seeds into the trade, including those from the Mandan, Arikara and Hidatsa cultures.

The stories behind the scenes, including Minneapolis seedswomen, regional pioneers and colonial innovators, give a more intimate look at the life and gardens surrounding these catalogs. Themes such as patriotism and marketing occur across companies and time. The attractive and engaging period artwork decorating these covers is alone worth a visit - especially for those visitors who fondly recall eagerly thumbing through the well-worn catalog pages.
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SIDEBAR INFO: Seed Stories: Catalogs of Life and Gardens in America, January 7 – April 3, 2011. Seed and nursery catalogs have long used beautiful images to entice customers. Dozens of covers and letters from Andersen Horticultural Library’s rich collection of 57,000 catalogs are a testament to their research value as well as their beauty. Stories of local characters, including Minneapolis seedswomen, regional pioneers, and colonial innovators give a more intimate look at the life and gardens surrounding these publications. Reedy Gallery of Oswald Visitor Center and Andersen Horticultural Library, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Florilegium Update

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Today several artists who are working on paintings for the Eloise Butler Wildflower Florilegium met to see our work and give each other encouragement. We shared initial sketches, research sources, and composition ideas. There were a few finished paintings, including Linda Thorson’s Silphium perfoliatum and Betsy Cole’s Viburnumopulus var. americanum, and Chamaecrista fasciculata. Paintings for the first round are due by February 8 for the February 15 review process.