(äp′i dən) of a town; urban         (ver·dure) flourishing greenery

Oppidan Verdure is a self-published quarterly plant guide that I distribute for free at coffee shops and bookstores. Original illustrations are created on paper with machine embroidery and pen/ink. Words are mine unless otherwise stated.

I conceived of Oppidan Verdure while living in brooklyn, ny, in order to unify my art- making and gardening. As I visit new places and move through seasons, spending time with plants is a way for me to deepen my sense of place and align myself with nature’s cycles.

This is a very personal project that I made public in order to connect with the overwhelmingly large crowds of strangers I encountered daily in the city. It is my hope that by dispersing droppings of these booklets, I will engage in an anonymous dialogue about urban greenery and enhance the plant consciousness of my community.

May we cherish this land and help ensure its vitality.

Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)

These are the 150-240 foot giants that once dominated the forests of the east coast.  Upturned branches spiral around a central straight trunk. 3-5inch needles form bundles of 5. Male pinecones perch like rice-crispies, along with new growth on the tip of each branch.

The architectural infrastructure of colonial amerika was built with lumber from the white pine. The british military also coveted the tree for ship masts and declared the tallest ones property of the king. The settlers resisted, declared war and chose the emblem of the white pine for the first revolutionary war flag.