‘Spring Awakening’
Spring is a time for awakening and rebirth that provides a plethora of opportunity and subject material for botanical artists. Our theme of “Spring Awakenings” broadly covers botanical renderings of anything that starts to bloom and emerge in the spring.
There are many spring ephemeral wildflowers that start to emerge in spring, sometimes even as early as February. Buds on trees and shrubs become apparent. Some fruits and vegetables and fungi are also associated with spring and are all acceptable subjects for our upcoming exhibit. Below are suggestions of subjects associated with spring to “awaken” your creative juices.
Flowers: Hellebores, bulbs such as narcissus, hyacinth, forsythia, and tulips; bleeding hearts. pansies, Willow buds . ( such as pussy willows), Iris. lilies
Wild ephemerals and wildflowers: Trout Lily, marsh marigolds, wild columbine, trilliums (red and white), skunk cabbage, snowdrops, nettles, violets, spring spirantthes orchids and slipper orchids.
Flowering trees and shrubs: Lilac, magnolia, cherry, apple, pear, quince blossom
Fungi: morels, false morels, Dryad’s saddle,
Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, radishes, peas
Fruits: Strawberries, and apricots.
There are many more and these are just suggestions. Grocery stores, farm markets, and florists often showcase flowers and produce associated with spring as early as January and February.
In addition, New England Botanic Garden (NEBG) has listings of plants in bloom there during March, April and May. Bearing in mind the show will run April – May your work could have a natural tie-in to what visitors will see in the garden.
What will be in bloom at NEBG?