Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants and Their Pollinators
About this Event
The Lone Star Botanical Artists is a statewide circle of the American Society of Botanical Artists, an organization “dedicated to providing a thriving, interactive community that perpetuates the tradition and contemporary practice of botanical art.”
Each piece in this exhibition grows out of that act of attention, and together they form Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants and Their Pollinators—a living story of connection. In the structure of a leaf, the brief life of a bloom, and the quiet resilience of a threatened species, we find both subject and story. Butterflies, bees, and birds move through these works as they do in the landscape, drawn to the plants that sustain them and, in turn, carrying pollen that allows these communities to endure.
At the opening reception, we are pleased to welcome Kyle Cheesborough, Director of Gardens and Collections at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. He will share insights into pollinators and their vital relationships with native plants, offering a deeper perspective on the living connections that inspire this exhibition.
About the Old Bakery & Emporium:
The Old Bakery & Emporium was built in 1876 by Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg. Midsummer, or Midsommar, is a traditional Swedish holiday celebrating the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. The Old Bakery hosts Midsummer as a tribute to the building’s Swedish-American heritage.
Click here to learn more about The Old Bakery & Emporium
More Info About Lone Star Botanical Artists:
Here in Texas, we’re a group of artists brought together by a shared love of plants and place. Our approaches vary—different media, styles, and backgrounds—but we’re united by close observation and a desire to translate what we see into art.
Much of our work is inspired by the Texas landscape: native plants, pollinators, and the ecosystems they inhabit. We’re drawn to their quiet details, their strength, and, in some cases, their fragility. Through our art, we hope to deepen appreciation, encourage learning, and spark care for the natural world—keeping botanical art alive as both a creative practice and a way of connecting people to the plants around them.
Through our work, we invite you to slow down, look closely, and notice these moments of exchange—small, essential acts that sustain life and connect us more deeply to the natural world around us.
The Lone Star Botanical Artists are open for new members. If you are an artist and interested in joining, please contact: (insert contact information here.) You can find further information on the American Society of Botanical Artists here: https://www.asba-art.org/ If you would like to explore the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, you can get more information here: https://www.wildflower.org/
About Speaker Kyle Cheesborough:
Gardening as a teenager with his grandmother in rural South Carolina, Kyle developed an early love for the catharsis of ornamental horticulture. After completing his bachelor’s degree in horticulture at the University of Georgia, Kyle spent time in commercial nursery production.
Quickly realizing a disdain for not seeing these plants grow, thrive, and become spectacular specimens, Kyle moved on to public gardens horticulture at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where he developed a passion for habitat-oriented horticulture, even participating in collections and conservation work in Russia!
From there, Kyle pursued an opportunity with Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum in St. Louis, blending history, arts, memorialization, and horticulture by developing the Cemetery’s first Horticulture Department. After nearly seven years, Kyle moved into the position of Horticulture & Site Work Manager at the St. Louis Zoo, a world-class institution offering a new set of challenges (no one wants to be the person who accidentally puts a toxic plant near a cute animal!).
The 2020 pandemic pushed Kyle to Southern California, where he served in the role of Director of Horticulture at Sherman Library & Gardens. Years of horticulture focused mostly on aesthetics became unfulfilling, and Kyle felt the need to serve his personal mission and passion for native plants and habitat-oriented horticulture.
The perfect next step was Director of Gardens & Collections at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, a premier public garden focused on conservation of native plants in Texas and beyond. Currently LOVING his role at LBJWC, Kyle plans to carve out an extensive and productive career in Austin, TX, and the BBQ and good beer are a nice bonus!
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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