Posted in general botany, Learning Opportunities on December 16, 2010|
New Weekend Workshop at
Classes Near You > Florida!
Florida Society of Botanical Artists
Center for the Arts & Humanity, Sarasota
Plant Morphology with Dick Rauh
Ferns: Friday, January 28, 2011
Flowers: Saturday, January 29, 2011
Leaves: Sunday, January 30, 2011
Fee: $75 per day or $200 for all three days (members); $85 per day or $225 for all three days (non-members).
Time: 10 AM – 4 PM, daily
Other: Bring lunch and a microscope.
Register: Contact Charlotte Thomas
Posted in botanical art, general botany, Learning Opportunities on December 13, 2010|
Now at Classes Near You > California:
University of California, Riverside
UCR Extension
Friday (8 PM – 10 PM), Saturday (8 AM – 5 PM), Sunday (8 AM – 4 PM). Learn illustration techniques that will help you understand the form, function, and identification of California’s desert flora. Students will work in graphite, pen, and watercolor. This field study class will be held at the Desert Studies Center at Soda Springs (aka Zzyzx). Cost: $325. Register Here
Posted in botanical art, general botany, Learning Opportunities on December 6, 2010|
The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley announces an updated course schedule at Classes Near You > California.
University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/
This 34-acre garden was established in 1890 and is now a non-profit research garden and museum. The botanical art classes below are taught by Lee McCaffree and Catherine Watters . Download a detailed schedule for October 2010 – January 2011 here.
Posted in ArtPlantae Books, Education, general botany, Special Announcements, Special Articles & Interviews, Special Events on December 1, 2010|
What is a gymnosperm?
The word gymnosperm literally means “naked seed” (gymno=naked, sperm=seed). Gymnosperms have their seeds exposed unlike flowering plants, the angiosperms, which have their seeds enclosed in an ovary (i.e., fruit). The word angiosperm derives its meaning from angio=vessel, sperm=seed.
Pine trees are the most often cited example of a gymnosperm. But what about the other gymnosperms? How do we know when we see one? Do all gymnosperms have cones?
These questions and many others are answered in Gymnosperms of the United States & Canada. This user-friendly reference was written by Dr. Elray S. Nixon and illustrated by Bruce Lyndon Cunningham.
Lavishly illustrated, this guide is a welcome balance of botanical terminology and descriptive illustrations. Dr. Nixon’s jargon-free text is supported by Bruce’s informative illustrations. Dr. Nixon begins his book explaining what gymnosperms are and where they can be found. He then provides clear instruction on how to use identification keys and teaches readers how to begin thinking about cones, leaves, and bark — the three characteristics which are the focus of this book. Dr. Nixon focuses on these characters because they are observable throughout the year.
If you have used identification keys before, you are all too familiar with how easy it is to make a wrong turn while working through a dichotomous key. Fortunately in Gymnosperms of the United States & Canada, the likelihood of you going astray has been minimized by Bruce’s illustrations. If you ever doubt your progress working through any of the keys, all you need to do is refer to one of the 115 botanical plates Bruce created. Each plate includes a sketch of a mature plant and illustrations of leaves, cones, arils, seeds, and bark. A range map showing the distribution of each species is also included.
Dr. Nixon and Bruce describe 115 species of gymnosperms growing in coniferous gymnosperm forests, gymnosperm foothill (pinyon-juniper) forests, and gymnosperm (Ephedra) shrubland. The divisions, families and genera featured in this book are:
Abundant illustrations, easy-to-follow keys, 
and clear descriptive text make this guide a great resource to use when learning about the gymnosperms in your area. This guide also serves as a gentle introduction to dichotomous keys. If you have avoided plant keys because of the botanical terminology they contain, you might want to try the keys in this book. Dr. Nixon provides concise definitions to the botanical terms you need to know and Bruce provides an illustration for each term. This all-inclusive resource is sure to be a welcome companion on your next trip to your local forest or national park.
Learn How Bruce Creates Illustrations for Field Guides
Join us for Ask The Artist with Bruce Lyndon Cunningham on Monday December 13, 2010 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (PST). Bruce has illustrated many field guides and during this live online event, he will discuss how he worked with Dr. Nixon to create the illustrations for this new book. This event is FREE. To join in on this conversation, register here. Event Closed
Gymnosperms of the United States & Canada can be purchased at www.forester-artist.com.
Posted in botanical art, botany, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities on November 2, 2010|
Now at Classes Near You > California:
The Gardens at Heather Farm
Walnut Creek
www.gardenshf.org
The Gardens at Heather Farm are comprised of twenty demonstration gardens. This six-acre garden is also an outdoor classroom. The garden offers many classes and has its own florilegium. The florilegium project is managed by botanical artist, Catherine Watters.
Posted in book review, botany, general botany, Reference on October 18, 2010|
The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms
Hickey, Michael and Clive King. 2002. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780521794015
We know that being able to draw plant subjects as accurately as possible is critical. Most of us have at least one glossary of plant terminology in our libraries (e.g., Plant Identification Terminology – An Illustrated Glossary by James G. Harris & Melinda Woolf Harris). Harris & Harris’ book is invaluable when trying to decipher detailed information about a plant specimen. When we reach for this book, it is because we are presented with terminology we do not understand. The illustrations accompanying each term in Harris & Harris help us see what we have never before noticed. But what do you do if you have only your plant specimen in front of you, lack the words to describe what you see, and therefore cannot look anything up?
You turn to Hickey & King’s illustrated glossary. Descriptive illustrations get top billing in this book. Most of this book is dedicated to labeled illustrations. A glossary of botanical terminology is provided for you to decipher unfamiliar terms. The illustrations in this book are very helpful, as is the way they are organized. Illustrations are organized in the following way: Roots, Storage Organs and Vegetative Reproduction; Seeds and Seedlings; Growth and Life Forms; General Features of Flowering Plants; Plant Features and Responses; Leaf-like Structures & Other Vegetative Features; Leaves; Hairs and Scales; Floral Features; Flower Structures; Features of Certain Plant Families; Fruits; Conifers and Conifer Allies; Ferns and Fern Allies.
The authors of this book express their hope “that readers at all levels of understanding, both amateur and professional, will find (this book) helpful in their chosen area of study, especially plant science, horticulture, field studies and botanical illustration.”
Buy this book and Harris & Harris (2001) from your local independent bookstore.
Posted in gardening, general botany on October 18, 2010|
Now at Classes Near You > California:
Around the World in 127 Acres: Meet the Arboretum’s Plant Collections
Saturday Walking Tours
10 – 11:30 am
The Arboretum’s collection of over 18,000 accessioned plants is roughly divided into five geographic sections, two greenhouses, and several other specialty collections and exhibits. Botanical information consultant Frank McDonough will take you out onto the grounds to learn more about these fascinating & extensive collections. Be sure to wear comfortable, rugged shoes, a hat and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty – and bring drinking water.
October 23 – World Wide Weavers: An introduction to the uses, history and anthropology of the fabric producing plants that grow at the Arboretum.
November 13 – Pyromaniac Plants: A look at fire ecology and what plants do to survive and thrive in areas that are prone to frequent conflagrations.
November 20 – World Wide Wood: Discover the many timber-producing trees from around the world that are in the Arboretum’s collection.
December 4 – How low can they go? A look at plants at the Arboretum that use the least amount of water.
December 18 – ‘Frankenplants’: Manipulating the genetics of plants hasn’t always been as sophisticated as it is today, but the consequences of making a mistake have always been great. We’ll look at the history and consequences of mankind’s genetic manipulation of the plants around him as represented by specimens at the Arboretum, and examine the history of agriculture as it relates to you, the food you eat, and the plants you put in your garden.
To register, call (626) 821-4623 to register or you may pay at the class.
Cost: $5 member/$7 non-member per class
These classes are held in the garden and require some walking throughout the collections. Classes meet rain or shine. Meet in the Arboretum Library.
Visit the L.A. Arboretum website to learn more about this wonderful resource.
Botanists and illustrators strive to document conifers around the world.
ArtPlantae Today 