You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Resources’ category.
by The Natural History Institute, posted by Deb Shaw
Artwork by Melanie Campbell-Carter, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, Christmas Cholla, © 2019.
Melanie Campbell-Carter will give a botanical talk at the Natural History Institute on Thursday, February 6th at 7 pm (Mountain Standard Time, MST). Entitled Passion, Devotion, Intimacy: Art and Natural History, Melanie will explore the strong connection between art and natural history. She will also share some of the stories behind Arizona Originals: Native Plants of Arizona, an exhibition by the Southwest Society of Botanical Artists on display from from January 24 – April 10, 2020 in the gallery at The Natural History Institute.
Melanie Campbell-Carter
Everyone is invited to join Melanie and other artists from the Southwest Society chapter for an evening of fresh ideas about a cherished tradition belonging to both art and natural history. This event is free to the public and will also be available via livestream for those who can’t attend. To watch the livestream lecture, click here. It will be livestreamed at 7 pm MST Thursday, February 6, then archived at the same link for future viewing.
For more information about these events, or to register for the field workshop, contact the Natural History Institute: info@naturalhistoryinstitute.org ~ (928) 863-3232. The Natural History Institute is located at 126 N. Marina Street, Prescott, Arizona, 86301.
Two other events will take place around the Arizona Originals exhbition. The first is an opening reception, which will take place on Friday, January 24th, from 5 – 7:30 pm MST. This free kickoff event is open to the public and is part of Prescott’s 4th Friday Art Walk.
The second and final event takes place on Saturday, March 7th, 1-5 pm MST. From Eye to Paper: Artists’ Insights, is a field workshop led by the Southwest Society of Botanical Artists and naturalist Bob Ellis.
The workshop will begin at the Natural History Institute, then move to a nearby field location where a team of artists and naturalists will guide participants in a direct experience of observation and drawing. The registration fee is $25. Space is limited to 12 participants.
The Southwest Society of Botanical Artists (SWSBA) is the Arizona chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the tradition of botanical art which combines science and art.
by Janice Hoiberg
Dr. Matt Ritter, author, botanist, and professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Dr. Matt Ritter, professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, presented a lecture, guided walk and book signing on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
“California Plants, A Guide to our Iconic Flora” is Matt’s latest book, a richly illustrated field guide to our State’s spectacular native plants. There are more than 5,000 native species in California—one in five of which are now rare or endangered. Illustrated with Matt’s beautiful photos, the book draws on his insights into California’s native flora, underscored with his unique humor, .
In his forward to the book Governor Jerry Brown writes:
Matt Ritter teaches us to better understand how our future is linked to that of all other living things: our soil, our microbiota, and our wonderful and indomitable native plants.
For anyone interested in California’s flora, Matt’s book is an informative reference and a joy to browse through.
“California Plants,” by Dr. Matt Ritter, book cover.
“California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora” is available in paperback from Amazon.com. Support BAGSC when shopping on Amazon by first clicking on the AmazonSmile button at the bottom of BAGSC’s home page or on the BAGSC Resources page and follow the instructions.
“California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora” also can be ordered through Pacific Street Publishing, with free shipping on orders of two or more books. A portion of the proceeds from each book supports the California Native Plant Society and The Wildlands Conservancy, to protect and preserve our natural lands and open spaces.
by Deb Shaw
Melanie Campbell-Carter will be giving a presentation at the Natural History Institute entitled, “Scallywags, Gloryhounds, Visionaries and Conservationists: Stories from the Arader Collection” on March 21, 2019 at 7 pm (Arizona time).
The presentation is free and open to the public. Everyone can attend, since the presentation will be livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/i9StvWYxCk4
Images by Mark Catesby, one of the artists featured in the Josephine Michell Arader Natural History Print Collection.
Melanie will share little-known histories about the fascinating people behind the Josephine Michell Arader Natural History Print Collection images currently on display in the Natural History Institute Art Gallery.
Her talk explores the larger-than-life personalities represented in the Natural History Institute’s art exhibit. “I kept finding plenty of scallywags,” Melanie reports, “and had to dig really deep to find conservationists!”
“One was a draft-dodger; one’s spouse was guillotined; quite a few were rebels; and it’s fair to say most of them were very, very stubborn. The more I learned about these people, the more I wanted to know! I am delighted to share a few stories and appreciate the art in a deeper context.”
The Natural History Institute is located at 126 N. Marina St., Prescott, AZ 86301, (928) 863-3232, info@naturalhistoryinstitute.org, naturalhistoryinstitute.org
Melanie Campbell-Carter
About the presenter:
After retiring as a family practice physician in Texas, Melanie Campbell-Carter discovered her passion for botanical art and moved to southern California. Still a BAGSC member, Melanie moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2017, where she quickly became enamored of the plants of the Sonoran Desert.
Melanie’s art has been displayed in numerous exhibitions, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and St Petersburg, Russia to name a few. Her paintings are in permanent collections at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Kauai, Hawaii, and at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, Brody Educational Center in San Marino, California.
Melanie has recently begun a two-year group art project based on the life and botanical art of Sara Plummer Lemmon. (Mt. Lemmon in Tucson is named for Sara Plummer Lemmon.)
by Deb Shaw
Li’l Stinky decided not to bloom after all, but provided a wonderful dissection opportunity! The Huntington team and the public got to see what’s inside!
We were all disappointed when Li’l Stinker, Amorphophallus titanum, or “Corpse Flower” failed to bloom last week at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. The failed bloom, however, gave Jim Folsom, John Trager, and Brandon Tam the opportunity to dissect the bloom on Facebook Live to create an herbarium sheet (watch the dissection here on Facebook Live.
Then, lo and behold, not one but THREE more Corpse Flowers stepped up to the plate. Quickly dubbed the #TitanTriplets! All three plants, “Stink,” “Stank,” and “Stunk,” #CorpseFlowers can be seen in the Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science at The Huntington, along with a corm and a plant with a leaf. Daily updates, photos, and FAQs are being shared on The Huntington’s website.
“Stink” suddenly decided to bloom today! See it during public hours: 10 am – 5 pm. The two other #CorpseFlowers, “Stank,” and “Stunk” look like they have a few more days to go. But who knows…they might change their minds and bloom any time.
For more stinky resources (from The Huntington) #StinkyatTheH:
- Watch: the Botanical team dissect the last Corpse Flower, Li’l Stinker on Facebook Live
- Read: The Secret Life of Stinky
- Read: A Stinky Family Tree
- Watch: Corpse Flower’s 2014 bloom Timelapse
The Corpse Flower inspires creativity. Lindsay Brennan made (delicious!) Corpse Flower Cake Pops and brought them to Jim Folsom’s Orchid Lecture for BAGSC members.
The bloom (and smell) only lasts a day or so. If you’re coming to The Huntington this weekend to see and smell, be sure to stop by the Brody Botanical Center, Flora-Legium Gallery to see “Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens,” The Third New York Botanical Garden Triennial, American Society of Botanical Artists, and “Amazing Trees,” the adjunct exhibition by the Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California (BAGSC). BAGSC artists will be on hand all weekend with drop in family activities and botanical art demonstrations. The exhibitions go through to August 27, 2018.
Another view of the chocolate Corpse Flower Cake Pops.
Deborah Shaw (L) and Tania Norris (R) took a few minutes to sketch Li’l Stinky.
BAGSC member Tania Norris with her Li’l Stinky sketch.
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
Please be aware that when you deliver artwork to a local BAGSC exhibition, the BAGSC members who are hanging the exhibition will be collecting everything together and transporting artwork to the exhibition location. This is usually done by one or two people who will be carrying the art into the location.
Mitsuko Schultz’s packing box showing the interior box and artwork. Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2018.
To do this efficiently—and safely for the artwork—it is best to have all the art in portfolios with good carrying handles, clearly labeled with the artist’s name and contact information.
Facilities where we hang art often do not have convenient places to pack and unpack art. Therefore, delivery in a portfolio allows the art to be simply slipped out of the portfolio or slipped back in.
Art in the portfolio can be protected with Foam-Core or cardboard. Plexiglass is notorious for scratching easily. Foam-Core or cardboard across the front that does not touch the surface of the plexi will help protect it. Please see the sample photos of Mitsuko Schultz‘s portfolio to the left which contains an interior box made of cardboard to support and protect the framed artwork.
The box is sufficiently wide to accept at least two pieces of art. An additional sheet of cardboard could be used between the frames if two were inserted into the box. This kind of a system makes it extremely easy (and safe) to unpack and repack art.
Mitsuko Schultz’s packing portfolio showing the interior box and artwork. Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2018.
We ask that all BAGSC members exhibiting use a similar system to make it easy for those who are hanging and taking down exhibitions.
Of course it is expected that people mailing art will do so in a suitable mailing container instead of a portfolio!
We thank everyone for their attention to these important details.
by Susan Eubank, Arboretum Librarian, Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, and Deb Shaw
Party in the Stacks!
Please join The Arboretum library and other plant and garden aficionados for a beautiful evening celebrating the Arboretum Library. The Arboretum Library is distinct among libraries as a comprehensive and very special collection of more than 20,000 books on botany, botanical illustration, gardening, California native plants, landscape design, gardens around the world, agriculture, and more.
For one night only, there will be merriment in the Arboretum Library stacks, twilight music in the Arboretum, outside viewing of mid-century travel slides, and inside viewing of mid-century library landscape materials, various nerdy library things, a little nosh and a no host bar. View a wonderful art exhibit, with personal artist tours of the exhibit “The naturalist’s desk: language and landscape” And of course a book sale too!
Consider spending an evening with your fellow BAGSC colleagues supporting the Arboretum Library. All proceeds from the event support Arboretum Library programs.
For one night only, there will be revelry in the Arboretum Library stacks and music in the Arboretum twilight!
Arboretum Library Benefit and Book Sale
Proceeds fund Arboretum Library programs
Friday, May 4, 2017, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
There will also be…
- Light refreshments and a No Host bar featuring wine, beer, and literary spirits,
- Projections of Sunset magazine’s photographer, William Aplin’s mid-century travel slides,
- Displays of mid-century modern gardening and landscape architecture books,
- Pamela Burgess will give tours of her exhibit the naturalist’s desk: landscape + language, and
- First chance to purchase at the used book sale. Specialty books ready for their new owners.
You are invited!
Advanced Tickets: General Public $20, Members $15. Call 626-821-4623.
At the Door: General Public $25, Members $20
Members include:
BAGSC Members
Members of the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation
All plant, garden and landscape societies, all library organizations, and all botanic gardens and arboreta.
Questions? Contact Susan Eubank, 626-821-3213.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is located at: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
arboretum.org
by Tania Norris, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC handouts for “Portraits of Bonsai from The Huntington Collection.” Cover image, Ficus retusa, watercolor on paper, © 2018 Anna Suprunenko. Brochure and photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2018.
The Botanical Center at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, is the location for the BAGSC exhibition ‘“Portraits of Bonsai from The Huntington Collection.” The paintings received many admiring comments from the public and participants at The Huntington’s Bonsai-a-Thon held the weekend of February 24 – 25, 2018.
Demonstrations during the two-day event were given by Olga Ryabtsova, Mitsuko Schultz and Tania Norris. The questions and comments from the viewers were many and varied. They ranged from ‘how do you?’, ‘I could never do that’, ‘are they for sale?’ and ‘where do I find classes?’ etc. People were really interested and appreciative of our participation.
Amazing Bonsais everywhere! Photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2018.
The wonderful and patient Bonsai master, Ted Matson, gave a long plug for BAGSC before he started the auction of bonsai for the attendees. He mentioned how BAGSC members had come weekly to paint The Huntington Collection. Ted also mentioned the upcoming ASBA “Out of the Woods” art show at the Brody Center (May 18, 2018 to August 27, 2018) and was most complimentary about the BAGSC paintings.
Olga Ryabtsova (L) and Mitsuko Schultz (R) demonstrate in front of the BAGSC wall of Bonsai Portraits. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
It was also wonderful to see many BAGSC members attending the event. A few additional BAGSC demonstrators or BAGSC members who could answer questions would have been appreciated. Don’t be shy — all levels of expertise are appreciated at our outreach events, and seasoned BAGSC participants are always on hand to lend a hand.
Jude Wiesenfeld with her painting Juniperus californica, © 2018. Photo by Mitsuko Schultz, © 2018.
Thank you to Ted Matson and The Huntington for this wonderful opportunity; and kudos to all BAGSC papticipants!
by Janice Sharp and Deborah Shaw
The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) is a global consortium of natural history and botanical libraries that cooperate to digitize their collections of natural history, botanical, and research libraries for use by the public all over the world. The BHL has digitized millions of pages, including: 134,030 titles, 221,383 volumes, 53,893,194 pages.
Do you use the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) to teach, inform or inspire your artwork?
If so, BHL has an opportunity for you to share your artwork with the biodiversity community and talk about BHL’s impact on your work.
BHL is looking for artists in the Southern California area to be featured in the BHL User blog series and/or potentially speak at the 2018 BHL Annual Meeting, to be hosted at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on 13 March 2018.
More details about each are below. If you are interested in participating in one or both of these opportunities, please contact Grace Costantino.
Participate at the BHL Annual Meeting
BHL is looking for an artist from the Los Angeles area to speak about their work and use of BHL as part of a panel of BHL users at the 2018 BHL Annual Meeting.
When? 13 March 2018
Where? Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
BHL User Blog Series
“BHL and Our Users” is a monthly blog series on the BHL blog in which we interview BHL users about their work and use of BHL. The series offers an opportunity to showcase your work to a wide audience.
Explore the series on the blog here: https://s.si.edu/BHLUsers
Learn more about participating in the series here: https://s.si.edu/BHLUserSubmission
by Kat Powell and Deb Shaw
The year 2017 isn’t over just yet, which means there is still time to join the copyright community in asking your Congressional Representative to cosponsor H.R. 3945, the CASE Act of 2017. This bipartisan bill (how rare is THAT these days!!) was introduced on October 4, 2017 by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Tom Marino (R-PA), Doug Collins (R-GA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA). H.R. 3945 will create a Copyright Claims Board, which, similar to Small Claims Court, will provide a simple, quick and less expensive forum for copyright owners (we artists!) to enforce our copyrights.
For many botanical artists, artists, photographers, illustrators, authors, songwriters, filmmakers and other creators who own copyrighted works, enforcing our rights is simply not feasible. Litigation is expensive and, even when it’s undeniable that our copyrights have been violated, frequently, we simply can’t afford to go to court. In effect, the U.S. copyright system currently provides creators with rights but no effective remedies.
The majority of copyright owners that are affected by piracy and theft are independent creators with small copyright infringement claims. The CCB will establish an alternative forum to the Federal District Court for copyright owners to protect their work from infringement.
It’s important that Congress hear from creators like us on the importance of protecting our rights and creating a small claims court.
The Copyright Alliance has made it easy to contact your Representative to ask him/her to support H.R. 3945 by asking them to cosponsor the bill. The Copyright Alliance has a quick and easy tool on their website to help you find all of your Representatives. They also have provided a sample letter you can email or send, but it is easy to modify it or use your own if you prefer. The important thing is to let your voice be heard on this critical issue.
To send your letter, please click here.
Information about H.R.3945, and links that answer questions can be found here. You can join the Copyright Alliance—it’s free, and they do not sell or give away members’ information.
by Ted Tegart, Education Manager at the LA Arboretum and Deb Shaw
In May, 2018, BAGSC will be exhibiting an adjunct exhibition of trees in public places, in conjunction with the exhibition of “Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens: The Third New York Botanical Garden Triennial.”
Trees at the LA Arboretum. © 2016, LA Arboretum.
If you are currently working on a tree painting, Dr. Jerrold Turney, plant pathologist, certified arborist, and general tree wizard will be giving a lecture and tour about “Tree Identification” at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden on:
Saturday, December 9th, 2017
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
$25 Members / $35 Non-Members (includes Arboretum admission)
To Register please call the Education Department at 626.821.4623 or pay at the class
Familiarize yourself with one of the most diverse urban forests in the United States. Get to know the trees of Southern California! Get to know your local trees! This two hour lecture covers 15 – 20 popular tree species, and is followed by a walk in the Arboretum to meet the trees you’ve just learned about.
Dr. Turney will cover how to identify trees, their growth habit, their native country, how they should be cared for, any common diseases or insect pests that attack them, and the best place in the Southern California garden to plant them.
About Dr. Jerrold Turney
Dr. Turney has served as the curator of the camellia gardens at the Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens, a research horticulturist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and is currently the plant pathologist for the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures for the County of Los Angeles.
The LA Arboretum is located at: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007, 626.821.3222.
by Tania Marien and Deb Shaw
Invitation to “Afternoon tea and the serigraphs of Henry R. Mockel,” a lecture by Tania Marien.
This past year, Tania Marien had the opportunity to learn more about Henry R. Mockel, an East Coast artist known for his serigraphs of California desert plants and wildflowers. She had the opportunity to speak with people who knew Henry, as well as opportunities to tell Henry’s story in a presentation for the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park and to write a journal article for the Twentynine Palms Historical Society.
On Saturday, December 9, from 3 – 5 pm, Tania will share Henry’s story again, this time over afternoon tea.
This presentation is one of several events celebrating the 65th anniversary of the 29 Palms Art Gallery. Henry was an early member of the Gallery and Tania is looking forward to sharing Henry’s story with a new audience, as well as with those who may have known him.
Everyone is invited for an afternoon of tea and botanical art at the 29 Palms Art Gallery this coming Saturday. The event is free. Donations to the non-profit gallery are suggested.
The historic adobe 29 Palms Art Gallery is located at 74055 Cottonwood Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277, 760.367.7819. Learn more about the Gallery at www.29palmsartgallery.com.
by Beth Stone, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC members might like these two upcoming events at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens:
Lecture – Cochineal in the History of Art and Global Trade
Sunday, 12/10/17 at 2:30 pm
Garden Talk & Sale – California “Super Bloom” 2017
Thursday, 12/14/17 at 2:30 pm
by guest writer Lisa Reynolds, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, San Diego Botanic Garden, posted by Deb Shaw
Amorphophallus titanium (Corpse Flower) getting ready to bloom at the San Diego Botanic Garden.
Photo Credit: Lisa Reynolds, © 2017.
If you have always wanted to see, smell, draw or paint an Amorphophallus titanium, and will be in the San Diego area the weekend of September 16 – 17, 2017, now is your chance! The San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) is expecting their Amorphophallus to bloom this coming weekend.
Here is the information sent to us by Lisa Reynolds:
Deathly-smelling Corpse Flower Blooming THIS WEEKEND at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas
This stinky wonder will emit its noxious odor for just over a week. Come and see (and smell) this rare and unusual bloom before it’s gone!!
High-resolution images available at: http://www.sdbgarden.org/media.htm
Characterized by a scent Morticia Addams might use as an intoxicating perfume, the deathly-smelling Amorphophallus titanium, also known as Titan Arum, is expected to be in bloom THIS WEEKEND at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. The plant will be on public display in SDBG’s Bamboo Garden during regular business hours from 9 am – 5 pm daily. Admission prices are $14 for adults, $10 for students/seniors/military, $8 for children, and no admission charge for children under 2 years of age.
“If there is any plant that creates a stir when in flower, it certainly is the Titan Arum,” says SDBG President & CEO Julian Duval. “One cannot predict when it will bloom. Individual plants only bloom about every 5 to 10 years and from start to finish this amazing plant usually goes through the whole bloom cycle, producing its huge inflorescence in less than 30 days.
“It (Titus Arum bloom) changes almost hourly, so you need to see it in all its stages. Yes, it stinks. But it is also other-worldly beautiful.”
Due to its odor, which smells like a rotting corpse or carcass, the Titan Arum is characterized as a carrion flower. It is best known by its more common name as the ‘Corpse Flower.’ This plant grows in the rainforests of Sumatra. This is a climate that will be replicated at the Garden once our Dickinson Family Education Conservatory is erected in late Spring/early Summer 2018, where the Garden hopes to have the titan arum as part of our permanent display.
Once this plant is in full bloom possibly this Saturday or Sunday, the Corpse Flower will be approximately 4 feet tall and emit its unique stench for only 2 days, so plan ahead because you don’t want to miss it! Today, through the end of this week, the flower will continue to grow approximately 3 inches per day until attaining its peak bloom height and then finally open up to display its full glory.
Edward Read, Manager of the Biology Greenhouse Complex at CSUF, brought this wonderful specimen down to the Garden in his Vanagon! Photo Credit: Megan Andersen, © 2017.
This plant is currently on loan from California State University Fullerton (CSUF). Edward Read, Manager of the Biology Greenhouse Complex at CSUF, brought this wonderful specimen down to the Garden – in his Vanagon! – for display at SDBG’s Gala in the Garden that occurred on Saturday, Sept. 9th.
This specimen was grown from seed planted in 2017. The seed was obtained as a collaboration between SDBG, CSUF, Fullerton Arboretum, and community member James Boohman. Mr. Boohman lent his Corpose Flower for display at the garden in 2006. It was pollinated by the staff from Fullerton and Mr. Boohman shared this sAeed with the pollen donors. This is the 12th plant to bloom from seed planted in 2007 by Mr. Read.
Come see – and smell! – this rare and unusual bloom TODAY at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas.
About San Diego Botanic Garden
The San Diego Botanic Garden is a beautiful urban retreat nestled on 37-acres in the midst of Encinitas. Visitors enjoy restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms, and the nation’s largest bamboo collection. Thanks to our mild Southern California climate, plants from all over the world thrive here. Our diverse topography provides a wide variety of microclimates giving visitors the sensation of strolling through a tropical rainforest to hiking in the desert. Four miles of trails wind through 29 uniquely themed gardens including the acclaimed Hamilton Children’s Garden. In addition, the Garden regularly offers classes covering many topics including water conservation, fire-safe landscaping, hands-on flower and plant arranging, art in various media, and healthy cooking. Visitors and members also participate in frequent special weekend events and Docent-led tours.
posted by Deb Shaw
The Los Angeles Times has an article on this Father’s Day by Matt Ritter in the California Journal section, entitled The case of the leaning pine tree: A natural history mystery unfolds on the Central Coast. The story highlights Matt’s research about Cook pine trees, which he discovered all lean towards the equator, no matter where in the world they grow.
Matt is an engaging lecturer and the author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us. Matt will be our keynote speaker at BAGSC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Los Angeles Arboretum on August 26, 2017. Come join us for his presentation, our exhibition, and our celebration!
by Lisa Reynolds, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, San Diego Botanic Gardens and Deb Shaw
Cork oak trunk at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
This Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 11 am, the San Diego Botanic Garden will present a rare demonstration by Matt Ritter on how to harvest cork from a live cork oak tree in the grove at the San Diego Botanic Garden.
The cork oak is one of the world’s most interesting and iconic tree species. Commercial cork comes from the thick, spongy, outer bark which is harvested in the tree’s native range in Spain and Portugal. The outer bark of each tree is skillfully and harmlessly stripped off the trunk once every decade, allowing new bark to regrow. Cork oaks are widely grown in California as ornamental trees, but the bark is rarely harvested. The San Diego Botanical Garden has a beautiful grove of cork oak trees that is a perfect place to host this demonstration.
Cork oak branch at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
Botany Professor Matt Ritter will show how the outer bark of the cork oak is carefully harvested so as to not damage the tree. Using special tools and the same techniques employed by cork harvesters in Portugal, he will demonstrate how this amazing renewable resource can be sustainably harvested. Come see this rare opportunity right here in California!
The San Diego Botanic Gardens are located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, in Encinitas. Open from 9 am – 5 pm daily; adult admission is $14; seniors, students and active military are $10; children 3 – 18 are $8; and children 2 and under are free. Parking is $2, except for members and for electric vehicles, which are free.
Cork oak trunk at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
About Matt Ritter
Matt Ritter is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the “Jepson Manual,” “The Flora of North America Project,” and a “Natural History Guide to San Luis Obispo’s Native Plants.” He is also the author of “A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us,” the state’s most popular natural history guide to the urban forest. He is the California Coordinator of the American Forests Big Tree Registry, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. He is an avid woodworker and gardener, and spent part of a recent sabbatical in Portugal, the cork oak capital of the world.
And if you would like more Matt Ritter…
Matt Ritter will be the keynote presenter at the 20th Anniversary Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California celebration dinner in August at the Los Angeles County Botanical Gardens & Arboretum. All are invited and we hope to see you there!
BAGSC News 