Workshop | A Time for Stitches: Embroidering Linnaeus’ Floral Clock

Linnaeus of course was a champion observer of plants, and one of the outcomes of his keen scrutiny was the curious 'Floral Clock'.

Over many years, he observed that the flowers of many plants opened and closed periodically, which varied among species. Arranged in sequence of flowering over the day, Linnaeus' clock made a kind of floral clock or Horologium Florae as Linnaeus called it in his Philisophia Botanica. You can read more about it , or watch a quick video .

During the first half of the 19th century, botanic gardens tried to construct floral clocks, but without great success since many of the plants listed by Linnaeus do not flower at the same season, or in the same region.

We will sit in the beautiful and historical library of the Linnean Society and stitch a dozen flowers from Linnaeus' list of flowers (real or imagined!) around a clock face. You will go home with your own finished embroidery hoop, or finish it at home.

This workshop is suitable for beginners or intermediate embroiderers. We will be using basic stitches creatively to work around the hoop, and many, many colours! Tea/coffee will also be at hand, though we need to avoid spills.

All workshop materials, and embroidery design will be provided. The workshop is led by Padma Ghosh and Alex Milne, both of whom work for the Linnean Society but are also bonded by a love of fabric and threads.

The library is currently hosting the exhibition 'Still Life', an exhibition on the techniques devised to capture nature on paper from the 16th century to today.

Floral Clock design by Edie Brent.

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