Rosetta Sarah Elkin, a garden designer turned landscape architect, is presenting her installation, “Tiny Taxonomy,” at the International Garden Festival of Les Jardins de Métis in Quebec. The piece focuses in on the “most inconspicuous and often ignored players” in nature — plants on the forest floor. The installation offers a partial inventory of some of these tiny, yet critical operators in forest ecoystems. “[By] elevating these species from their traditional position underfoot, it is hoped that their highly delicate and intricate nature will be made evident to visitors.”
Elkin chose 42 species for their different life-cycles, which she then planted in mirrored cylinders that reflect the surrounding forest. “Tiny unpacks and re-presents the garden, inviting the visitor to consider the beauty of each species,” says Elkin.
Since 2000, the International Garden Festival at Les Jardins de Métis has featured presentations of garden design, landscape, architecture, design and environmental art. Over 11 years, the festival has shown 80 gardens by 200 designers from 15 countries, attracting more than 800,000 visitors.
This year’s festival will be held until October 3, 2010.
Learn more about the Garden Festival and connect with Elkin.
Image credit: RSE
a very special piece of work i like the “metal” which has lifted the plants of the ground but still reflecting the ground BEAUTIFUL
A fantastic peice of work showcasing often underappreciated plants. Well done!