Vashon artist Jean Emmons wins gold again . . .

Vashon artist wins gold again

For the second time, Jean Emmons has won a gold medal at the world's most competitive botanical art show. The Royal Horticultural Society's Botanical Art Exhibition in London honored her for 12 meticulous renditions of mushrooms foraged near her Vashon Island home. "Fungi aren't even considered plants, so I was pushing it," says Emmons, who won gold in 2005 for paintings of Pacific Coast iris.

This year, an exacting panel of judges also awarded Emmons "Best Painting" for her centerpiece work that included mushrooms with names like "Sulphur Tuft," "Orange Fairy Cup" and the more recognizable "Pacific Golden Chanterelle."

"My biggest challenge has been how to paint the viscid layers (slime) convincingly, which is much harder than it sounds," says Emmons. The judges, obviously, were convinced.UW Botanic Gardens grows its own

Sarah Reichard, author and plant conservationist, is the new Orin and Althea Soest director at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Rather than staging an international search this go-round, the UW appointed one of its own. Finally, the Center for Urban Horticulture, Union Bay Gardens and the Washington Park Arboretum (known collectively as UWBG) have a leader who is both a respected academic and a passionate gardener.

Reichard has the academic chops for the job, earning her Ph.D. at the UW and returning as faculty in 1997. She's a proven fundraiser, and internationally known for her research and publications on plants invasive and rare.

"My greatest challenge will be to move toward a more sustainable funding model," says Reichard. "We need a greater mix of gifts, grants, endowments and revenues to supplement university funds." The Botanic Gardens is now part of the new College of the Environment, and facing severe state budget cuts.

Despite the looming financial crisis, Reichard brings an optimistic tone to her tenure. She plans to enhance visitor experiences at the Arboretum, horticulture center and Union Bay, while emphasizing how important these outdoor spaces are for public health and individual well-being.

Fresh from farm to florist

Have you noticed a more intriguing selection of fresh flowers around town? The Seattle Wholesale Growers Market celebrated its grand opening May 18 at the original Rainier Brewery Building in Georgetown.

The brainchild of Diane Szukovathy of Jell-O Mold Farm in Mount Vernon, the market includes flower farmers from Oregon, Alaska and all around our state, specializing in everything from bulbs to peonies. Szukovathy says this year the market is wholesale only — concentrating on florists, shop owners and event planners — but by next spring they hope to open to the public, too. See www.seattlewholesalegrowersmarket.com for fresh sheets and farmer bios.

Gabion walls rise to new heights

A sturdy solution to slope retention is on display in a new park unlike any other in Seattle. The Thomas C. Wales Park is named after neighborhood activist and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Wales, whose 2001 slaying at his Queen Anne home remains unsolved.

The park, designed by Site Workshop, is a steep 1.3 acres that was a gravel pit until 1997. Now the slope is retained by gabion walls, paths wind up the hillside and split-faced logs cross a bog. The aesthetic is an earthy, practical palette of native plants, wire, wood and rocks. The struggling plants need nurturing and time to fill in, but eventually their green softness will play off the monochrome hardscaping.

Portland artist Adam Kuby, in consultation with the Seattle Audubon Society, designed five commanding sculptures of caged stone circles held aloft on three legs for a tripod effect. These "quarry rings" distinguish the park, commemorate its gravely past, and provide nesting cavities for birds and bats. In the midst of this gritty park on an intensely urban site, habitat for wildlife hasn't been forgotten.

Thomas C. Wales Park is at the base of Queen Anne Hill above Dexter Avenue North at 2401 Sixth Ave.

Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer and author of "The New Low-Maintenance Garden." Check out her blog at www.valeaston.com.