Story behind the art of Keiko Nibu Tarver

28th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art & Garden Center

Franklinia at Bartram's Garden

Franklinia alatamaha

When I lived in Philadelphia, Bartram’s Garden was one of my favorite places. There, you can see the house and its gardens and nurseries along the Delaware River which John Bartram (1699-1777) built in 1728 and where he lived with his family. There, he developed and grew many kinds of vegetables and plants which he and his son, William, brought back from several expeditions. Their plant-collecting expeditions explored various areas from New York to Florida between 1735 and 1777.

In the garden, I was most interested in the Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha), because of its beautiful, elegant flowers and its history. John observed Franklin trees during his trip along the Altamaha River in Georgia and wrote in his journal that he “observed severall [sic] shrubs” in 1765. William shared his father’s interest and brought its seeds back from that area in 1777. Later, he gave the scientific name after its native place and his father’s close friend, Ben Franklin. William was not only a botanist but also a good botanical artist. I was very interested in his painting of a Franklin tree on a postcard at the store in the Garden. Franklin trees became extinct in their native habitat, but the Franklin tree in Bartram’s Garden ensured its survival. The Franklin trees which we see now are all descendants of that tree. So, I wanted to paint it as a memento of my time in Philadelphia.

 When I visited the garden in late summer, the Franklin tree was in full bloom, and I enjoyed sketching the flowers while listening to the buzzing sounds of bees. It was challenging but rewarding to paint the white flowers with frilly edged petals on the white background of watercolor paper. I decided to express the elegant white petals by painting the intricate shadows on the petals. I observed many colors in the shadows, including green, yellow, ochre, blue, and gray. The leaves surrounding the flower also help to emphasize the graceful appeal of the flower. Their green colors make the flower pop and their thick parchment-like texture contrasts with the soft texture of the flower.

The fruit of Franklin trees mature one year after pollination, so, you can see the mature fruits on the tree at the same time as flowering. The seed capsule is very hard with a dark brown color, and it contains several seeds.

I wish to thank the late Joel Fry, former curator of Bartram’s Garden, for sharing his immense knowledge about the Franklin tree.

I was surprised to learn that Franklin trees are now available for sale in Japan, though I have never seen one around my place. There are several Japanese names, including Franklin tree, Franklin camellia, and American camellia. They are the descendants of the first tree at Bartram’s Garden. I hope to see one of them in my neighborhood or the nearby botanical garden in the future.

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Read more about this artist's work: 25th Annual