Florilegium Exhibition 2024 Opening

The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley Florilegium. A florilegium is a collection of illustrations featuring plants growing in a specific area such as a botanical garden.

Centuries before digital or analog photography was commonplace, people relied on detailed botanical illustrations to identify plants and flowers. This years’ participating artists are continuing this rich legacy. Through a range of media, the works on view capture the plant information from root to leaf tip, and more. Viewers enjoy the delicate beauty of each artwork, its subject painstakingly rendered; a testament to the artists’ technical skill and love of plants.

The project was conceived by renowned botanical illustrator and instructor, Catherine Watters, and developed with the support of staff and Advisory Board members Laura Sawczuk, Gina Baretta, and Katherine Greenberg. Advisory Board Member and former Director of Collections Chris Carmichael and Curator Holly Forbes developed the list of iconic plants from the collection for inclusion in the project.

We invite the public to explore The UCBG Florilegium - where art, history and science tangibly intersect. The exhibition is hosted this November, 2024