Botanical Art

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by Lorraine Marie Haddock©

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Ginkgo Biloba

 Ginkgo biloba, one of the oldest living tree species in the world, dates back 200 million years. Native to Southeast Asia, also known as Maidenhair tree, it has many uses such as food, medicine, furniture and shade. Named by Linnaeus in 1771, the tree symbolizes hope, peace, longevity and resilience. Introduced into the United States in 1784, the Ginkgo biloba thrives in urban environments from coast to coast.

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Specimen leaves used in this botanical art were collected locally along the city streets of Millville, New Jersey, by the artist. The green distinct fan shaped leaves of the Ginkgo biloba change to yellow in autumn. Elegant and beautiful, the foliage has become a popular motif in art, appearing in paintings, jewelry, sculpture and literature. These compositions, created using actual Ginkgo-biloba leaves, represent our own strength, resilience and endurance. As an artist, Lorraine focuses her attention on the simplicity of a single leaf, to stress the importance of our human connection to the natural world.