December 3, 2018 – Three talented botanical artists, Carol Ashton-Hergenhan, Deborah Keyser Dion, and Susan Mintun (Jenkins Board Member), have partnered with Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens to complete a florilegium comprised of approximately 36 artworks. Over the next two or three years, the artists will individually create paintings or drawings from the flora in Jenkins’ plant collection. The Florilegium will have many benefits: it will document the history of the garden, can serve as reference material for education purposes, and can even help to raise funds through the sale of reproductions. We will celebrate the completion of the project with a gallery exhibition in the John J. Willaman Education Center.
A florilegium is a collection of paintings or illustrations that serve as a permanent record of plants in a specific garden or geographic area. It doesn’t include each specimen growing in an area, but should include some of the key plants that are representative of the plant community. A florilegium depicts plants that make up the unique botanical significance, or the “essence”, of the garden. The Jenkins Florilegium Project will feature plants that make up the “essence” of Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens.
Be sure to follow along on social media for progress updates during the project and for the announcement of a date for a gallery exhibition at the completion of the project.
Carolina Jessamine is a 10 to 20-foot-long, twining evergreen vine native to the southeastern United States. As it is a southern species, in southeastern Pennsylvania it is best to use the cold-hardy variety called ‘Margarita’ and plant it in a location where it will be protected from harsh winter winds.
This vine will grow best, and will flower most profusely in moist, well-drained soils and full, bright sun. It is highly deer resistant and looks wonderful grown on a trellis, arbor, pergola, fence or wall and even makes a good porch cover. If desired, prune immediately after flowering to control its height.
Black Chokeberry is an underused deciduous native shrub, but one that is gaining in popularity for a number of reasons. Growing from about 2’ to about 6’ in height, depending on cultivar, it is a very tough plant able to grow in a wide range of garden conditions. It tolerates pollution, salt, drought, insects, diseases, sun, shade, and even deer.
In addition to being tough, it is also quite attractive with all-season interest. In spring, clusters of showy white flowers cover the shrub; in late summer, the flowers make way for clusters of glossy black fruits that dangle from the branches at around the time the leaves have begun transitioning for a fine fall show of red and burgundy; and in winter, after the leaves have fallen, the fruits persist and attract a variety of overwintering songbirds. These blueberry-sized fruits are also edible for humans and though they are very tart and astringent when raw, they have been processed into a variety of anti-oxidant rich drinks and dietary supplements all around the world.
Black Chokeberry grows with an open, rounded habit with glossy, bright green leaves covering only the top 2/3 of the plant. Knowing this, it is suggested to plant it in masses and in combination with other plants that will fill in the voids near the base of the plants.
Southern Magnolia will grow in full sun to full shade, but will perform best in part sun with moist, rich, well-draining soils. In our climate, it is best to plant in a location where it can be protected from harsh winter winds. Like all magnolias, there are no major pests and it is highly deer resistant, though bucks may rub their antlers on the smooth trunks.
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