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LEARNING ABOUT PLANTS


for the Flower Club International Online Conference (2026)

A demonstration that explored working with plants as a conversation, and an opportunity to learn. Rather than imposing form, we observe (and research) what each element is doing, consider why it is doing it, and respond to what it wants. The focus is on attuning to the plant’s life cycle, gestures, and timing, considering its life rather than human expectation
The focus was on process, and serendipity, a force that drives my practice. The demonstration began a discussion on Begonia ferox and its leaf morphology. The spikes on its leaves, known as bullae, have evolved to act as gutters that prevent water from pooling on the surface and causing rot, while also maximising the leaf's surface area for photosynthesis in the low-light understories of limestone karsts where the species naturally occurs.

The Calceolaria flower was then introduced, for its unusual mouth-like forms and how it bears similarities to encounters with Nemesias and Mimulus flowers; all species had been previously classified under the Scrophulariaceae family. These flowers were assembled into a tower using a homemade bamboo vessel. 

The demonstration finished on an exploration of the lotus leaf. Having always been fascinated by the hydrophobic qualities of the leaf surface, dry leaves were purchased from an Asian grocer and tested for their structural properties. A series of free-standing sculptures were created using bamboo, foraged logs and insulation tape. 
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