Courier Mail Article

If you missed Saturday's Courier Mail, there was a lovely article by Suzanna Clarke about the Hide n' Seek Childrens Trail at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha, featuring an image of Calls from the Canopy.

New Growth in July

There is plenty of new growth to be seen in the Australian Plant Communities area this month. Emerging leaves form striking sculptural sprays on tree tops and branch ends throughout the canopy. The diversity of form is wonderful. Colours of soft pink red, golden copper and sunset orange create beautiful accents amongst lush shades of green.

Silvery Lichen Ruffles

Each month as part of my artist residency at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha, I take a walk around the Australian Plant Communities area to see what seasonal changes have occurred. I have found it interesting that my eye is often drawn to different plants or areas each time. Apart from the obvious changes of flower, fruiting, leaf fall and new growth; I think changing light throughout the year also draws attention to different species. In July, lichen smothering palm trunks appeared luminous in a silvery sheen of ruffled rosettes and patches.

Harvest...first carrot for Winter

Yes! It is a little strange to take a photo of a carrot, but I was so excited when I pulled the first one out of the ground today; I thought why not enjoy the visual beauty as well as the culinary delight. I love growing my own food, it is very satisfying. The seed was sown in April, with all the rain they didn't need much attention, and now I can enjoy the fresh sweet crispness.

Fruiting and Flowering in July.....

One of the Australian Plant Communities carpark areas has a median strip planted with wattles and various other species. At the moment the wattle branches droop in golden yellow full bloom, a stunning contrast to the silvery-green leaves. In the canopy areas several trees were highlighted with sprigs of delicate flowers on the ends of branches.

Flowering in July - Bumpy Satin Ash

On my July walk around the Australian Plant Communities area at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha, I was delighted to see a Bumpy Satin Ash laden with flower and fruit. It is very striking with huge 'balls' of flower hanging directly from the tree trunk in spectacular bouquet like clusters. Some large white fruit/seed pods had formed lower on the tree trunk. I find the diversity of form that plant growth comes in amazing.

Kids Big Day Out

The weather on Sunday was perfect for the Annual 'Kids Big Day Out' event at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha. A free event hosted by the gardens specifically for kids, with a range of fun activities including face painting, stilt walkers, meet the wildlife, clay play, mandala, ikebana and drawing activities, circus performers, fancy dress parade and so much more. It was fantastic to see so many kids and parents enjoying the beautiful surrounds of the gardens and having fun with the activities. Sunday also marked the official launch of the Hide 'n' Seek Childrens' Trail at the gardens; well worth a visit if you haven't seen it yet.

Some of the kids' drawings above from the canopy workshop I 'supervised' on the weekend. What a great day and lots of fun.

The Sanctuary Within

'The Sanctuary Within', ©2009. Nicola Moss. Acrylic on canvas. 60 x 60cm.

A few new works inspired by time I have spent in The Japanese Garden at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha, will be on show as part of the Winter 2009 Doggett Street Studio group exhibition. The show opens on Friday 17th July, 6 - 9pm, and continues until Saturday 8th August.

Path Patterns

There were some great patterns created on the paths around the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt.Coot-tha this month. Rain washed leaves and twigs in confetti like groupings and pools of golden colour. While the low winter sun cast sharp silhouettes across paths, like a stencil of vegetation design. Yum.

Little Treasures

I like observing the little details of a place. This delicate leaf skeleton caught my eye during a walk in the botanic gardens. I got quite excited when I saw it, like a little treasure I thought, the special find for the day. I have accumulated a collection of such findings - lizard skin and coolabah tree bark from west Quilpie, feathers from the emu that shouldn't have crossed the road near Charleville, leaves and pods and skulls and nests. Each has a story and memory of place.

These observation are an important part of my art process, woven as details into the layers of drawings and paintings. They hint at the diversity and scale of life forms that together make up the landscape whole we see. I feel I have accumulated enough layers of observation at the Botanic Gardens to begin developing more resolved works - it's an exciting time.

Looking Skyward

When I could take my eyes away from the amazing visual feast carpeting the ground to look skyward, I found more striking combinations of rich colour. Even where the trees were leafless and bare, the dark branches against a clear sky created beautiful silhouette forms. I love observing the seasonal change of plants, there is a continuous cycle, like the turning of the earth and sunrise each day. It has happenned for millenniums and will continue to do so I imagine. I find it interesting that one of the guaranteed constants in life is change.

Living Carpets

This month I took some time to visit the Temperate Region Plants area of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.Coot-tha. What a visual feast, with carpets of flowers, fallen leaves and fungi smothering the ground in rich Autumn colours. I am starting to think that even a year as artist in residence will not be long enough to explore all the areas of the gardens. There is so much to see, wonderful contrasts and seasonal changes. This is a place I now will visit for years to come.