This September, I had the honor of being part of the Botanical Art Festival here in Charlottesville, Virginia — both as an exhibiting artist in the group show and as a workshop instructor, all in support of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont (BGP). It was a full-circle kind of month, and I wanted to share the whole story with you here.
A Painting with Deep Roots
One of the pieces I'm proudest to have shared this year is "Lenten Roses for Granny" — a 28"x35" watercolor framed in solid maple, inspired by a flower, and a person, that shaped my whole relationship with gardening.
These flowers are called Hellebores, or Lenten Roses, because they bloom in early spring around the time of Lent. My granny loved them and planted them in the shady borders of her garden, right across the street from where I grew up. I spent countless afternoons running barefoot over to her house, winding along her narrow garden paths, the cold stones under my feet. She's the reason I love flowers and gardening at all. I remember watching her start seeds, kneeling beside her in the dirt, and borrowing her red garden clogs that were always far too big for my feet.
When my husband and I bought our first home, Granny told me to go dig up as many of her Lenten roses as I wanted for my own garden. Years later, when she was in hospice, those same Lenten roses were in bloom, so I clipped a few and brought them to her bedside. They've since multiplied in my garden, and every spring they bloom as a reminder of her warmth and everything we grew together.
If you have a flower that carries a memory like this for you, I'd love to hear about it! It's a reminder of just how tightly flowers and memory are woven together.
On Exhibit at the Botanical Art Show
"Lenten Roses for Granny" was featured in the Botanical Art Show, the Festival's group art exhibit at McGuffey Art Center in downtown Charlottesville, running throughout September alongside work from dozens of other local artists. The show supported the development of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont - a future public garden that will give the whole community, especially those in the city, easier everyday access to beautiful natural space. I believe deeply in that mission, and it meant a lot to have this particular painting be part of supporting it.
Teaching a Botanical Watercolor Workshop for the Festival
Alongside the exhibit, I was also honored to teach an official Botanical Watercolor Workshop as part of the Festival's programming, held at McGuffey Art Center toward the end of September. Students were a wonderful mix of beginners and more experienced painters, all there to spend an afternoon learning botanical watercolor techniques in support of the Garden.
We covered the fundamentals of watercolor: mixing botanically accurate color, building up petals and foliage in layers, and capturing the delicate translucency that makes watercolor such a perfect medium for flowers. As always, my favorite part was watching a room full of people who weren't sure they could paint leave with something they were proud of.
Being able to combine teaching with supporting the future of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont made this one of the most meaningful events I've been part of all year.
Bring a Piece of the Garden Home
If this painting's story resonated with you, or you simply love Hellebores as much as I do, I'd be honored for it to find a home with you. "Lenten Roses for Granny" is available to purchase and ready to become part of your story now, too.