Two of the artists taking part in the three-day exhibition are Susan Bracher and Theo Wood.
Susan Bracher is a lifelong painter and lover of the countryside, wild life and gardens and enjoys nothing more than to be immersed in trees, grasses and flowers. Often painting out of doors, using gouache, she enjoys capturing the ever-changing freshness of nature.
Theo Wood, a member of Bristol’s Spike Print Studio, was the Botanic Garden’s first artist-in-residence. During Theo’s six-month residence last year she placed haikus in the garden, which are a series of texts laser cut onto bendable plywood.
Nick Wray, Curator of the Botanic Garden, said: “This year’s event has moved from Easter to the August Bank Holiday weekend for entries to reflect the vibrant colours of summer.
“Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the exotic glasshouses for a journey to the Amazon rainforest, the high veld in South Africa, the world’s cloud forests and a magical display of tropical food and medicinal plants. We look forward to welcoming everyone during the weekend.”
The Botanic Garden has a strong evolutionary theme and cultivates over 4,500 plant species forming four core collections that illustrate plant evolution, plants from Mediterranean climates, useful plants and rare and threatened native plants to the Bristol area.
Star attractions include an amazing ‘Evolutionary Dell’ demonstrating the evolution of land plants including the dinosaurs’ favourite plants - ginkgos, cycads, tree ferns, monkey puzzles and a Wollemi Pine. Other delights include the Chinese and Western herb gardens and an inspiring display of plants illustrating floral diversity.
The Friends’ art exhibition and sale at the University of Bristol's Botanic Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday [25 August] until Bank Holiday Monday [27 August]. Light refreshments will be available.
Entry to the Botanic Garden and exhibition is £3.50 adults; free to University staff and retired staff, Friends of the Botanic Garden, students and children under 16.