Where Plants and Museums Come Together

Orchid art from “Unearthed” (photo credit: Joelle Renstrom)

For six weeks, from mid-May until the end of June, I work in London. Maison Green takes fantastic care of my plants while I’m away, so I can fully immerse myself in city—particularly its staggering greenery. Over 20% of London is comprised of public green space; it’s quite literally an urban jungle, and the parks are often referred to as the “lungs” of London. With 16 hours of sunlight and humid weather, the city bursts with blooms (and with pollen—allergy sufferers will likely not appreciate this as much as I do).

Last year I wrote about the incredible orchid collection at Kew Gardens, one of the world’s biggest gardens and the site of important work about climate change, biodiversity, natural resilience, fungi, and more. Kew might boast the most impressive collection of plants, trees, and flowers, but London also embraces horticulture through its many museums, galleries, and exhibitions. Why should the natural history and science museums have all the fun, right?

Information plaque in “Unearthed” at the British Library (photo credit: Joelle Renstrom)

Two fantastic horticultural exhibitions highlighted my time in London this summer. The first was at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, which brought back the annual Royal Horticulture Society botanical art and photograph show and featured a temporary exhibition on flora in art and culture. The second was an installation at the British Library called “Unearthed: The Power of Gardening.” I don’t need much encouragement when it comes to getting excited about growing plants, but I came away more inspired than ever, thanks particularly to the sense that I’m participating in a centuries-old relationship between people and nature.

An old book called Orchid Hunter (Cattleya orchid on the left page) from “Unearthed” (photo credit: Joelle Renstrom)

Given their abundance, variety, and beauty, orchids featured heavily in these shows. Some exhibits focused on botanical colonialism and how fervently sought after orchids were for European horticulturists and plant enthusiasts. “Unearthed” highlighted the ingenuity of early gardeners and botanists. Long before we could stock up on pots and other accessories at Mahoney’s or online, orchid enthusiasts had to engineer their own set-ups. One of the most impressive is an early orchid “pot,” which looks a bit like a small telescope.

Early orchid pot from “Unearthed” (Photo credit: Joelle Renstrom)

This clay orchid set-up ingeniously combines a pot and a growing mount. The horizontal part across the top looks like the cholla wood I use to mount some of my orchids. One would set the orchid on that horizontal bit, ideally nestled in some sphagnum moss and secured with twine or clips. The roots can dangle and/or wrap around the vertical trunk of the pot, absorbing moisture from inside of it and from the pool at the bottom. Many exhibits simply showcased the beauty of flowers, especially orchids. While the serious botanical artists rendered drawings so detailed they resemble photos, other artists took more creative liberties to show off their love of plants.

Upside-down phalaenopsis at the Saatchi Gallery (photo credit: Joelle Renstrom)

Yes, this is a real orchid. I was assured that it’s happy and healthy, and it does look that way. It’s never occurred to me to stand an orchid on its head (though some orchids do grow upside-down). I guess that’s why I’m not an artist—and why I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to see exhibits like this every year.