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Nature’s art

2009 September 10
Joe-pye-weed-stem

Sculptural Joe-Pye weed emerges proudly from a cascading border of “fireworks” goldenrod and woodferns. Photo by Ken Moore.

By Ken Moore

I enjoyed assisting artists place their sculptural art among the plants of the North Carolina Botanical Garden this past weekend.
In her quiet enthusiasm, Greensboro-area sculptor and horticulturist Carolyn Owen focused my attention with: “Now Ken, there’s a worthy sculpture right there.” She was referring to a single stemmed Joe-Pye weed, Eupatorium fistulosum, standing majestically along the entry walkway.

It made me reflect on past year’s sculpture shows; effective placements of the sculptures amongst the diverse vegetation encourages onlookers to become more aware of the plants. We begin to appreciate the sculptural and artistic qualities of the plants themselves. I so appreciated Carolyn’s channeling my attention to the art of nature during this day focused on human-created art.

I’ve always admired the artistic arching lines of the rough-leaf goldenrod cultivar, Solidago sempervirens, “fireworks.” This vigorous growing perennial usually presents itself as a cascading hedge-like border plant. Now and then, you’ll spot one that has escaped the crowd and is standing tall, simulating a single rocket-burst of fireworks for which this particular variety is aptly named. It stops me in my tracks every time I pass it.

fireworks-stem

A single stem of fireworks goldenrod draws attention to its spectacular aerial burst of tiny flowers. Photo by Ken Moore.

Another stop-in-your-tracks sculptural plant is woolgrass bulrush, Scirpus cyperinus. A sturdy clump will capture your eye as you walk along the coastal plain habitat boardwalk.

You will be well-rewarded if you visit the garden several times this season to admire the sculptures and to note how the character of each one changes as the plant surroundings change with fall’s progression. You’ll find as much to admire in the sculptural qualities of the plants as in the engaging sculptures sited throughout.

If you visit the garden this Saturday morning, the official beginning of the Sculpture in the Garden 2009: Celebrating Life Forces show, which runs through Nov. 15, you’ll have a double experience. The Botanical Garden also is hosting its annual fall plant sale on Saturday morning. Bird, butterfly and pollinator lovers will find this a Mecca of native species for planting during this traditional Fall Is for Planting season.

Butterfly lovers will find five species of milkweed and several lesser-known climbing milkweeds that are essential food plants for butterfly larva. There are more than 150 species of native perennials, trees, shrubs and ferns, and most of them provide the specific fruit, seed, nectar or leaves upon which our native insect pollinators and birds rely.

Bulrush,-woolgrass

Woolgrass bulrush is just one of many plants of sculptural proportions seeking attention at the N.C. Botanical Garden. Photos by Ken Moore

Two of my favorite plants continue to be cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis, and coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, because they attract hummingbirds. I have the coral honeysuckle on a trellis at the edge of my deck and cardinal flowers in pots sitting in trays of water, ensuring that hummingbirds fly in for close-up viewing, particularly now, as they are stocking up on nectar before their long early-fall migration.

Now is the perfect time to plant those special plants you will need for the bird and insect visitors you hope will return next year.

Don’t miss this year’s one-day biggest selection of native plants, and while doing it take your first of several nature art walks along the pathways to view the sculptural arts of humans and nature.

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