This tree-like sculpture stands near two upright snags—dead trees that are vital habitats for insects, fungi, and other flora and fauna. Inspired by these “homes,” Venetia Dale asked deCordova staff, volunteers, and families of the on-campus Lincoln Nursery School to donate clippings of their favorite houseplants. She created molds of each plant and cast them in pewter many times over. She connected these leaves together to create the sculpture’s compositions. Within Time carries the stories and forms of the donated plants and reassembles them into a collective expression of those who care for deCordova and its living beings. She was additionally inspired by the ornate, floral furnishings in the home of Julian and Elizabeth Dana de Cordova during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Perspective of an Enviromental Caretaker
Snag—a standing dead tree or an unexpected obstacle. As an ecologist, sometimes I find myself explaining what “good,” yet seemingly “ugly,” things are in our landscapes. Snags may appear to be ugly and not useful compared to a living tree, but nature has a place for both. Snags provide food, homes, and beauty to all manner of flora and fauna, and even human visitors. Woodpeckers excavate nesting holes which will be used by other birds and squirrels. Insects, fungi, and even bats will find homes under bark that is slowly loosening from the trunk. Have you ever seen the intricate patterns of roots, fungi, and galleries (carved out tunnels made by insects) that are revealed when bark falls away? All the creatures using snags as their homes become food for others—whether it’s a woodpecker going after grubs under the bark or a red squirrel eating the mushroom that was growing off the side of a branch. Maybe a snag should not be defined as a “standing dead tree” but rather as a home, a pantry, and a local hang-out. That sounds like the place I want to be.
- Julie Richburg is the Lead Inland Ecologist for The Trustees