Tropaeolum majus
Jewel-hued edible flowers adorn 3' long trailing vines.
In the 18th Century, during his massive botanical naming project, Carl Linnaeus learned that his daughter, Elizabeth, saw flashing when she looked at nasturtium flowers in the evening. Scientists of the day theorized about electricity, phosphorescence, and the paranormal. Linnaeus was content to dub it “The Elizabeth Linnaeus Phenomenon” and leave it at that. You, too, can observe it: it’s an optical illusion caused by the interaction of green and orange in the pale light of dusk.
The Package
Each year, Hudson Valley Seeds commissions contemporary artists from around the United States to tell the story of a particular seed variety. That art and those seeds combine to create an Art Pack, a unique celebration of the diverse stories of seeds and their stewards.
The Artist
Artwork by Suzanne Fortin. In order to highlight the way these nasturtiums capture and reflect light and color, artist Suzanne Fortin used hand-cut glass mosaic pieces to create a tile that glows, shines, and dims with the natural light of the morning, afternoon, and evening.
