Over the past year, SUBG has been working with some of South Africa's best botanical artists to create a permanent botanical art collection to be housed in the SUBG Gallery. Now we are excited to announce that this florilegium will officially launch next weekend!
The James and Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection focuses on rare and threatened species in SUBG's collections, many of which have never been documented as artworks before. Many of these are unlikely to be seen by most people in their natural habitat, and can only be seen when visiting this garden. Many of these plants are also dormant in summer, and will look drab or may even completely disappear underground for several months. The artworks in the James & Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection will be a powerful reminder of the seasonal beauty of these plants.
Artists worked closely with SUBG staff and botanical experts while creating these works, and had access to living material of these rare plants. This opportunity has allowed SUBG to establish the only formal scientific institutional home for botanical art in South Africa, as far as we are aware.
Be sure to follow our social media over the coming weeks for more on this collection, and make sure to visit the gallery on your next visit to SUBG.
This project is made possible through the donation and support of the James & Shirley Sherwood Foundation.
The next few days are going to be warm and sunny - perfect to visit our Oxalis collection which is in its peak flowering season at the moment. It's one of the highlights of SUBG's calendar - don't miss it!
A closer look at Agathosma orbicularis 🔍
While working on this painting, I spent a lot of time moving back and forth between the whole plant and its tiniest details. Under the magnifying glass, the flowers suddenly reveal an entire hidden world of textures, structures and colours that are almost impossible to notice with the naked eye.
And yet, when you step back, the plant itself is incredibly delicate. Thin stems, tiny rounded leaves, small flowers scattered lightly along the branches. Quiet, understated, easy to overlook… which somehow makes its rarity feel even more fragile.
With fewer than 140 individuals left in the wild, this species carries an enormous conservation story inside a very small plant.
This was still very much a work in progress, but I wanted to share a glimpse of that process: the observation, the patience, and the constant shift between science and art that botanical painting invites. @subotgarden@baasabotanicalart.cape #botanicalart #conservationproject
The JSS Botanical Art Collection works in tandem with our physical plant collection to highlight the beauty of some of SUBG's special threatened plant species. Oxalis levis is a perfect example of this - the stunning artwork magnifies every little detail, displaying the plant in peak condition, and raises awareness about this criticality endangered species.
Oxalis season is one of the highlights of SUBG's calendar and is an event that we eagerly anticipate every year. 🌈🌸 It provides a rainbow of colour in an otherwise quiet time of the year in the garden.
#Oxalis #botanicalgardens
Our eagerly anticipated James and Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection officially launched today. This exhibition showcases many rare and threatened species that are held in SUBG's conservation collection and gives the public a chance to appreciate them up close even when they are not in flower in the garden. They tell an important story of often overlooked and underappreciated species that have just as much beauty and value as more well-known local species.
Our Gladiolus recurvus is usually one of the first to herald spring's arrival, but this year we have them flowering especially early. We think it smells like Earl Grey tea or bergamot - do you agree ? 🫖☕
Exciting things are happening in our bulbs section 🪻 Our Pineapple lilies, a couple of early flowers and a variety of fascinating leaf shapes have emerged. 🌿☘️
Our Oxalis collection is a rainbow of colour at the moment. 🌈They are just starting to enter their peak flowering period and are worth a visit when the sun is out 🌤️ Don't miss the show!
Each year, SUBG has the privilege of welcoming a small group of interns into our team. During their time with us, they gain hands-on experience in conservation horticulture, plant databasing, science communication and other essential skills while building valuable networks and finding their unique niches in the field.
While it’s never easy to say goodbye at the end of their time at SUBG, it is always rewarding to see them grow and thrive in their careers.
Here are the stories of just a few of our past SUBG interns.
We are happy to announce our first Sunset Seminar at the Old Conservatory! Join NT Moolman for a brief introduction to the Bruniaceae, South Africa’s largest endemic plant family. Expect an accessible and visually stunning look at one of South Africa’s most remarkable, but lesser known plant lineages, with a few stories from the field and the historical puzzle of taxonomic confusion that we are only starting to unravel today, and why this matters for understanding and conserving these plants. We will explore where they grow, how they have diversified across the Cape, and what makes them unique.
Entry is free for both the garden and the talk, just be sure to make a booking beforehand by emailing [email protected].
Do you want to learn more about the natural world? Join us for our series of public talks presented by experts in fields across the natural sciences, including botany, marine biology, botanical art, and more!
Sunset Seminars will be hosted once or twice a month on a weekday evening to make it convenient for you to attend after work without interfering with your weekend plans. Talks will be free to attend, as long as you book beforehand so we know how many people to expect.
Join us to learn what crabs can teach us about life on Earth, how the beautiful Oxalis group innovates to survive in the Cape, how reimagining our urban landscapes can influence environmental protection, how environmental DNA can help us decode the diversity of life, and much more! More details about topics, dates and bookings will be announced soon.
