Story behind the art of Linda Powers

Botanical Art Worldwide 2025-A More Abundant Future:

Diversity in Garden, Farm, and Field

American Society of Botanical Artists at the Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO

Three-cornered Garlic

Allium triquetrum

Foraging is at its core, hunting and gathering.

When one thinks about modern-day foraging plants for food, mushrooms are the first that come to mind. But, thanks to inventive chefs and organic farmers, we have become familiar with other items such as ramps, dandelions, fiddlehead ferns, acorns, crab apples, numerous berries, and wild onions.

My favorite farmers market for local products is the Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis, located next to the Guthrie Theater along the Mississippi River. This is where I spotted a beautiful display of fresh-foraged greens with both flowers and bulbs intact. How could I not paint this lovely, fairy-like plant with soft-white, bell-shaped flowers, striped with a rib of green as they emerge from their sheath, an unusual triangular stem, and a complex tangle of roots extending from the bulb?



As I examined my purchase and did research, I discovered three-cornered garlic, Allium triquetrum, was a rare find for Minnesota. It is native to the Mediterranean and was introduced to the United Kingdom in the mid-eighteenth century. It has since become common and is now listed in the UK as a non-native invasive plant. Despite this designation, it is embraced by many foragers and gardeners as all parts are edible - flowers, leaves, and bulbs; they taste like a garlicky spring onion. Bulbs can be purchased from farms and garden shops from Connecticut to California. They are also listed as part of contained gardens, including the Missouri Botanical Gardens herb garden collection.

Capturing white flowers on a white background is an interesting challenge for most artists. Fortunately, the white coating on the Kelmscott vellum substrate provides a smooth surface for delicate and detailed painting. I started with very pale washes of yellows, pinks, and blues to block in the shadow areas. I then continued with drybrush strokes of colors to build up those shadows and added touches of green to create both structure details and reflected light. I painted the garlic bulb similarly, with multiple tea washes and drybrush but with a different color palette, largely quinacridone gold. Another challenge here was capturing the translucency of the drying sheath around the bulb. I found the process of untangling the roots a meditative study that required patience and a steady hand.

I look forward to next spring’s crop of gifts from the foragers.

Next Story

Back to List

Read more about this artist's work: Curious Allies