by John Keesey, posted by Deb Shaw
“Dutchman’s Pipevine with Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies” (Aristolochia californica with Battus philenor), watercolor by Joan Keesey, © 2015, all rights reserved.
A watercolor painting of “Dutchman’s Pipevine with Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies” (Aristolochia californica with Battus philenor) by BAGSC member Joan Keesey has been accepted into the 18th Annual International Show of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) at the HORT Gallery of The Horticultural Society of New York in mid-town Manhattan, September through November 2015. This seems fitting to me, because Joan first saw these butterflies and their caterpillars on pipevine during our first hike along Big Chico Creek in Upper Bidwell Park, Chico, a few years ago. In January 2015 we moved to Chico, and have discovered Pipevine and its inhabitants on our very own property. Recently two caterpillars (black with orange spikes) have each formed a chrysalis (what is the plural?) in a jar in our kitchen, and then soon emerged as beautiful Pipevine butterflies (black + iridescent blue with orange spots)! Truly miraculous!
The stress of moving was mitigated somewhat by learning that Joan’s “Hummingbird Sage” (Salvia spathacea) watercolor painting had been awarded First Place at the Botanical Art Exhibition of the California Native Plant Society’s 2015 Conservation Conference in San Jose, California, in January 2015. Then in March 2015, Joan’s watercolor painting of Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) won the Roth Award “for distinction with an emphasis on traditional botanical art presentation” at the 17th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition at Filoli in Woodside, California.
Whooeee!!! Is it any wonder that I am proud of her? Thanks for letting me toot her horn!
from Deb: Congratulations Joan!
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