Notes from the artist Matthew Hilshorst: When asked to do the Endangered Species Print Project, it felt natural to choose flowers. Flowers have been a subject matter in my work as an artist for years. They have shown up in my paintings, drawings, as well as my sculptural work. The flowers I chose to paint for ESPP come from the two states I would consider my home states, the first being Minnesota. I was born in Ely, Minnesota and grew up in very small towns in the northeastern part of the state known as the "Iron Range". I spent a lot of time in or near the wilderness, whether it was on purpose or because our house was literally in the woods. My family and I would go wild berry picking, camping, cross-country skiing, and on canoe trip vacations. After living in Chicago, and the Twin Cities over the last 13 years, the silence up north seems immeasurable. My parents still live on a beautiful little lake up north where pretty much all you will hear at rush hour are loons.
During all our time outside, I always wanted to see a Showy Lady's Slipper (the Minnesota state flower), but it is very rare and hard to find. It was a secret goal of mine; I remember having pictures of it on my bulletin board growing up. The day I finally saw some, I was shocked to see how tiny and delicate they were. While the Showy Lady's Slipper is rare, it is considered secure as a species. On the other hand, The Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily is a critically endangered flower even more rare and declining. I have only been able to find a group of Lady Slippers once. I hate to think that one day I may never be able to find the lily, not due to its rarity and short life span, but because it no longer exists.
About The Center for Plant Conservation:
The Center for Plant Conservation is the only national organization dedicated solely to saving America's most at-risk plants. It is a nonprofit conservation organization with a network of 36 selected botanical institutions coordinated by the national office in St. Louis. By developing standards and protocols and conducting conservation programs in horticulture, research and restoration and raising awareness, CPC’s network is striving to save America’s rarest plants from being lost forever.
During all our time outside, I always wanted to see a Showy Lady's Slipper (the Minnesota state flower), but it is very rare and hard to find. It was a secret goal of mine; I remember having pictures of it on my bulletin board growing up. The day I finally saw some, I was shocked to see how tiny and delicate they were. While the Showy Lady's Slipper is rare, it is considered secure as a species. On the other hand, The Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily is a critically endangered flower even more rare and declining. I have only been able to find a group of Lady Slippers once. I hate to think that one day I may never be able to find the lily, not due to its rarity and short life span, but because it no longer exists.
About The Center for Plant Conservation:
The Center for Plant Conservation is the only national organization dedicated solely to saving America's most at-risk plants. It is a nonprofit conservation organization with a network of 36 selected botanical institutions coordinated by the national office in St. Louis. By developing standards and protocols and conducting conservation programs in horticulture, research and restoration and raising awareness, CPC’s network is striving to save America’s rarest plants from being lost forever.
ABOUT THE DWARF TROUT LILY
The Dwarf Trout Lily is a wildflower which grows exclusively in the forests of Minesota's Goodhue, Rice and Steele Counties. It lives and blooms on forest hillsides, 960-1000 feet up in the Cannon River and tributaries watersheds. Though most members of the lily family have 6 petals, the unique Dwarf Trout Lily can have 4, 5 or 6. This delicate lily is considered to be a "spring ephemeral" because it emerges and blooms before leaves have come out on the forest's deciduous trees. The Dwarf Trout Lily takes advantage of this precious short time of the year when it is both warm enough and light enough (before the trees' leaves have darkened the forest floor) to build precious reserves of energy.
Though the Dwarf Trout Lily flowers during this brief period, it rarely produces seed. Instead, the plant reproduces by offshoot runners bearing new bulbs. Only about one in ten plants creates a single offshoot each year, increasing the threat to this special spring flower.
Due to it's slow reproductive rate and limited habitat, the Dwarf Trout Lily has always been a rare plant, but today, its survival is threatened by human activities such as logging, housing developments, expanding agricultural operations and trampling by unwary hikers. Natural events too, such as flooding and erosion (which can be indirectly due to human activities), could also contribute to the Dwarf Trout Lily's extinction.
Luckily, about half of known populations of the Dwarf Trout Lily are within State Scientific and Natural Areas, State or County Parks or private preserves, such as those belonging to the Nature Conservancy. In the Nerstrand Woods State Park, boardwalks have been constructed, so that this lovely flower can be seen without its habitat being disturbed.
While endangered animals tend to be counted as individuals, endangered plants are measured by populations or groups of plants. There are currently only 14 known populations of the Dwarf Trout Lily, but with care and knowledge, this rare spring spectacle can be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The Dwarf Trout Lily is a wildflower which grows exclusively in the forests of Minesota's Goodhue, Rice and Steele Counties. It lives and blooms on forest hillsides, 960-1000 feet up in the Cannon River and tributaries watersheds. Though most members of the lily family have 6 petals, the unique Dwarf Trout Lily can have 4, 5 or 6. This delicate lily is considered to be a "spring ephemeral" because it emerges and blooms before leaves have come out on the forest's deciduous trees. The Dwarf Trout Lily takes advantage of this precious short time of the year when it is both warm enough and light enough (before the trees' leaves have darkened the forest floor) to build precious reserves of energy.
Though the Dwarf Trout Lily flowers during this brief period, it rarely produces seed. Instead, the plant reproduces by offshoot runners bearing new bulbs. Only about one in ten plants creates a single offshoot each year, increasing the threat to this special spring flower.
Due to it's slow reproductive rate and limited habitat, the Dwarf Trout Lily has always been a rare plant, but today, its survival is threatened by human activities such as logging, housing developments, expanding agricultural operations and trampling by unwary hikers. Natural events too, such as flooding and erosion (which can be indirectly due to human activities), could also contribute to the Dwarf Trout Lily's extinction.
Luckily, about half of known populations of the Dwarf Trout Lily are within State Scientific and Natural Areas, State or County Parks or private preserves, such as those belonging to the Nature Conservancy. In the Nerstrand Woods State Park, boardwalks have been constructed, so that this lovely flower can be seen without its habitat being disturbed.
While endangered animals tend to be counted as individuals, endangered plants are measured by populations or groups of plants. There are currently only 14 known populations of the Dwarf Trout Lily, but with care and knowledge, this rare spring spectacle can be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
