Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Christina Hanson's paper botanicals at the Miller Library

Before leaving for my recent trip up to the Seattle/Bellevue area I'd heard about an exhibit of paper botanical sculptures at the Miller Library (part of the UW Center for Urban Horticulture), so I decided to check it out.

I took photos of the pieces that really appealed to me, being not so flower focused there were a few that I just walked on by. The information that accompanies each piece below is from the artist's signage.

Peacock Orchid Kusamono, Pleione sp., modeled after a plant purchased from the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. April, 2023.

Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, August 2023. ($400)

Paphiopedilum 'Maudiae', September 2023.


A Neglected Pot of Scarlet Masdevallia, Greenhouse grown Masdevallia coccinea, in need of repotting. January 2023. ($500)


Lepanthopsis acetabulum, the cup-shaped Lepanthopsis. This is the first, and only, species in a project of making miniscule orchids 10x their normal size. I collected many of these tiny pleurothallid orchids back in the day, they're neat but it can be frustratingly small to see their details. I may do more like this with just the flowers, I didn't anticipate how long the stems would end up being and therefor fairly difficult to display. June 2023.



Southeast Asian Suspended Epiphyte Branch. We used to keep tropical fish. I never was that good at or dedicated to the hobby and last year dismantled my last aquarium, which at that point was just plants. The tank sat empty in the dining room until I decided to make this. This is the second iteration of this piece as I added and replaced some plants.

Flowering plant list: Nepenthes sp., Rhododendron sp., Begonia dinhdui, Bulbophyllum contortisepalum, Bulbophyllum lasiochilum, Dendrobium cuthbertsonii, Begonia malachosticta, Agapetes 'Ludgvan Cross'. June 2023.







Decaying Log Diorama, Washington State Forest in the Autumn. Monotropa uniflora, Russula sp., Mahonia nervosa, Vaccinium parvifolium, Polypodium scouleri, Lycopodium clavatum. March 2023.


Miniature Desk Terrarium. This was my first attempt at a paper terrarium, the branch is many layers of paper over wire, which made attaching the plants very difficult, Later branches are paper over foam so the plants can be more easily pinned. April 2023.



Halloween scene in a grassy field, October 2023. 


April Wildflower Meadow, February 2023.

Rhododendron moupinense, One of our earliest rhododendrons to bloom, this one begins in our garden in late January, which is quite welcome that time of the winter. February, 2023.


Meconopsis betonicifolia, June 2023.


A Summer Chorus. Potted bog plants, July 2023.


The moths are Exyra semicrocea (pitcher plant mining moth). They live and lay their eggs in a few species of pitcher plants, managing not to get consumed. The caterpillars feed on the traps leaving windowed holes.

Forest Edge Diorama with Cypripedium montanum, April 2024.

(back to my commentary not the artists) I really enjoyed this exhibit and the workmanship was extraordinary. There were a few times I felt the man-made color of the paper used got in the way of the realism of the piece, but you're seeing them further processed by my camera and your monitor/screen so who knows what you're seeing. I cannot imagine the hours that must have gone in to this work. Some of them were offered for sale (price noted), my favorite was the Southeast Asian Suspended Epiphyte Branch which was not for sale, thus I wasn't even tempted. If you're in the area the exhibit runs thru this Saturday.

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Monday, September 23, 2024

Halstead/Robinson Garden, first stop of the 2024 Fling

The first morning of the Puget Sound Garden Fling both buses boarded the Pt Defiance / Tahlequah ferry for the trip to Vashon Island. I've learned there are two kinds of people when it comes to a ferry trip; those that stay in their vehicle, and those that get out to experience the wind in their hair, smell the air, and generally make the most of it. Here Denise of A Growing Obsession and Tamara of Chickadee Gardens are sharing a moment. I love this photo of two of my favorite Garden Bloggers.

More bloggers on the upper level of the ferry.

So the other bus went to the Carhart Garden first (I've yet to write about that one) and the first stop for my bus was the Halstead/Robinson Garden.

I was immediately drawn to this combination of Hebe buxifolia, heuchera (the flowers I think) and Persicaria ‘Brushstrokes’. 

I don't know why exactly it spoke to me so loudly, as none of these plants are ones I particularly care for on their own. It was definitely a case of the sum being more than the value of the parts. I felt better when Jerry also called out the combination in his blog post on the garden, here.

This half acre garden is in the historic town of Dockton on Quartermaster on Maury Island (connected to Vashon), a harbor where WW1 ships were built. The home was constructed in 1908 and the gardener, Anita, moved here in 2000. The garden description in our Fling booklet notes that "twenty plants were lost to the 10 degree weather this past winter" I feel your pain Anita, I really do.

There was a labyrinth...

And a chess board...

I was most taken with the view of the water. I wonder if they also own the lot across the street (to keep their view intact)?

Another angle on the chess board.

Contrasting acanthus foliage.

I love it when a painted fern looks this good! 

Gritting my teeth, walking on by (bishops weed, my nemesis).

Great restraint on the deck. Yes, I would have needed to add more containers.

Sexy dark sweet peas.



Back out front now and other shot of the driveway topiary, without as many people.

I wonder how many of my fellow Flingers spotted this large twiggy bird's nest? It was out near the street and easily missed.

Back towards the house.


Walking back to the bus (for some reason it didn't drive down the street to the garden, we had to hoof it a couple blocks) we passed what seemed to be part neighborhood park, part eccentric garden, and maybe a restaurant? This truck with it's custom hood ornament was parked out front.



And just like that we were off to the next garden! (which was wonderful and I'll write about someday)

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.