Excited for my group Oregon Botanical Artists feature show, Wild & Luscious – The World of Heritage Plants this weekend, Friday- Sunday June 26-28, 2026, at Lakewood Center for the Arts!
This large exhibition during Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts is the culmination of over two years of planning to create a highly curated space with over 90 pieces of luminous botanical art celebrating wild ancestors of the foods that we eat. Through educational displays, featured presentations, culinary tastings and art demos, learn about the importance of preserving heirloom plants to diversify the world’s food supply. Each piece on display will include a story about its heritage, what inspired the artist and a sample recipe. I will also be leading two art demonstrations featuring the botanical art process on Saturday 6/27 from 10am – 12pm (outdoor pavilion) and Sunday 6/28 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm (inside the exhibit).
In this show, I am exhibiting five watercolor artworks. Each piece is framed in solid natural wood with archival matting, UV protective and non-glare glazing. All pieces are for sale, and docents will be staffing the exhibit throughout the weekend to answer any questions and handle purchasing.
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley (Petroselinum crispum ‘Neopolitanum’) is an old heirloom which was first grown over 2,000 years ago in the Mediterranean. Historically, it was initially used by the Greeks and Romans for medicinal, funeral, and ceremonial uses.This hardy plant is known to treat digestive issues and act as a diuretic. It’s strong flavor profile eventually made it popular in culinary use across Europe and the Middle East, and is especially prized by Italian chefs. It was then brought to the United States in the 17th century by colonists. Hardy to 10 degrees, this plant can be grown year round in the Pacific Northwest. Italian Parsley is also a preferred host for the Anise Swallowtail butterfly. It provides a safe, enticing environment for them to lay their eggs and a nutritious food source for caterpillars. As an heirloom, it is more fragrant and it’s flowers produce more nectar compared to mass produced parsley varieties.
I was first drawn to this beautiful Forelle pear (Pyrus communis ’Forelle’) while visiting the Home Orchard Education Center in Oregon City. It’s unique color and shape piqued my interest. Dating to the 1600s in Germany, this old heirloom was named after the German word for “trout” due to it’s coloring and speckles. Early American settlers then brought it to American in the 1800s. These small, crisp pears are typically eaten fresh, and have a unique sweet, tangy flavor with cinnamon notes. As they ripen, their coloring shifts from green to warm yellow with red accents.
Heirloom Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
Cherokee Purple: This spectacular tomato is an old heirloom passed down by the Cherokee people, grown for over 100 years in Tennessee. It was introduced to the broader seed market by Craig LeHoullier in the the 20th century through Seed Savers, a popular source for heirloom plants. It is know for it’s rich, sweet smoky flavor and deep red-purple coloring.
Dr. Wyche’s Yellow: Developed by Dr. John Wyche of Cherokee descent in the 20th centruy, this golden- orange beauty has a delicious sweet flavor and meaty texture. Dr. Wyche was passionate about growing heirlooms and saving Cherokee seed varieties. Similar in size to a beefsteak tomato, the plants produce reliable yields.
Brandywine: Dating to the 19th century, this well known heirloom beefsteak tomato variety is known for it’s robust flavor and abundant size. Originally, it was said to be cultivated by Amish farmers and it was named after Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania. It was re-introduced to the heirloom seed market in the 20th century and is excellent for cooking as well as eating fresh.
These palm-sized sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum-‘Sweet Pickle’) were cultivated in the United States during the mid-20th century as a high yielding plant for home gardeners, and quickly became a favorite. In contrast to mass produced varieties, they are delicious in flavor especially when grown organically. Ranging in color from deep yellow to red, they are popular for pickling due to their sweetness. Sometimes dubbed “Christmas tree lights”, they also carry the tradition of being grown for their ornamental value. During the 1950’s “pepper trees” became a popular indoor decoration because of this plant’s festive colors. Plants typically grow no more than 15” high and the peppers are 2.5”- 3” in size.
Native to Mexico and Central America, Dragonfruit (Selenicereus undatus) was first cultivated by indigenous people centuries ago. Native cultures used the fruit for hydration and medicinal purposes such as regulating blood sugar and digestion. Considered a berry, it is harvested from a climbing cactus and this plant has an air of mystery about it. It’s large white flowers are known as ‘Queen of the Night’ due to their fragrance and precious short bloom time which is just one night a year. In the mid 19th century, it was brought to Asia, where it was named ‘Dragonfruit’ reflecting mythological symbolism. It is also commonly called “Pitaya” or “Pitahaya” in Spanish, a name more closely connected to it’s native roots. Today, Dragonfruit is also grown in warm climates (zones 10-11) the United States in Florida, California and Hawaii.
And last but not least, I was featured on local TV station KGW last week promoting the show. Watch the broadcast!