Native plants hold court at National Arboretum photographic exhibit

April 7, 7:04 PMDC Gardening ExaminerPolly Nell Jones

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Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
All Photos: Andrea Ottesen

Native plants are thematic at this time of year when trilliums, mayapples, bloodroot and wood poppies burst onto the scene.  The sixteen images of Andrea Ottesen displayed at the U.S. National Arboretum celebrate the delicacy and astounding complexity of design in our favorite natives.

Her dramatic, high contrast images have been featured on the covers of Science, The Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science  and The Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America.  As those credentials indicate, Ms. Ottesen is well connected with the academic world.  In her “real life” she is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Maryland working on issues that include agricultural microbial ecology, public health and food safety, sustainable agriculture and medical botany.
 

Dutchman's Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa)

“I fell in love with plants in my early twenties and they became a focus in my life.  I have always wanted to learn more about everything I am interested in, so I guess you just naturally have to drift back to academia at some point to get some of the training you need," said Ms. Ottesen, recently returned from Honduras where she gave her first lecture in Spanish during a training course focussed on good agricultural practices to local farmers.

When asked about her favorite natives she admits being crazy about the Araceae family especially Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) and Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum.)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Scientists often refer to the dynamics of the natural world as “elegant” and Ms. Ottesen’s images reflect that and as well as her botanical curiosity that has led to studies in medicinal plant use.  Her powerful images also carry a mystical drama and grace that is reminiscent of the exquisite paperweights by lampworking master, Paul Stankard.

Seeing the normally hidden bloodroot tuber in large format, underscores how much power lies unseen. Gardeners cultivate those depths.  The exhibit continues through May 29, 2009.