By Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators
© Pat Field, Lilium tigrinum (Tiger Lily). All rights reserved
The Highlands in Fort Washington, PA celebrates the many plants and flowers found in its historic Sinkler Garden. The two-acre formal garden was first created in 1840 and expanded in the 1920s by Caroline Sinkler. The list of specimens in the Garden covers nearly 20 densely packed pages. From this extensive list, the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators (PSBI) selected 35 specimens to honor in their paintings. Paintings were created on paper, vellum and mylar using watercolor, acrylic and colored pencil.
Featured in the exhibition is the tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum) by Pat Field, shown above. This is only one of the 13 lilies grown in the 1920 Sinkler Garden. Pat Field also painted a red iris (Iris germanica, one of 28 varieties in the Garden). Other featured paintings include the parrot tulip (Tulipa sp.) by Linda Kneeland; the red hot poker
(Kniphofia uvaria) by Joan Frain; and Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa siehei) by Carol Ashton-Hergenhan.
The gardens and grounds of The Highlands are open to the public from dawn to dusk throughout the year. Admission is free. The PSBI exhibition will be on view inside the historic mansion May 22-29, 2014.
Hours: 11 AM – 3 PM weekdays; 1-4 PM weekends and Memorial Day
Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children
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