Story behind the art of Jean Emmons

 

27th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and the Society of Illustrators

 

Dahlia 'Sonic Bloom'

 

When I moved into my house, I was excited to have a garden over which I had total control. I envisioned a highly-curated garden of perfect monocolored passages of flowers, winding their way through a sea of golden and dark foliage.

 

But as painting began to take more and more of my time, my priorities changed. I cared less and less about very defined color sweeps and more about shoehorning in as many different plant species as possible, just in case I might need to paint one of those species. The “one of everything” approach doesn’t make for good garden design and I have ended up with a “floral pizza.”

 

Within the floral pizza, I’ve grown at least 200 dahlias and “weeded out” most of them. These days, I opt for strong growers with bicolor flowers and black or bronze foliage. To remain in my garden, my dahlias are required to flourish under conditions of general neglect, very little water, and no staking. If they get mildew, they’re out.

 

Dahlia ‘Sonic Bloom’ fits the bill. It carries a profusion of bicolor flowers of peach with purple reverses. Then the flowers age to buff and raspberry. All these colors look good against the bronze foliage.

 

My garden may be a “hot mess” but it’s gorgeous in its way and provides a peaceful escape from the struggles of painting.

 

 

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Read more about this artist's work: Curious Allies