Yesterday was my 3rd year teaching at Plant Camp for the University of Florida. What is Plant Camp? Plant Camp is all about teaching TEACHERS to teach children about INVASIVE Plants. 24 teachers from the State of Florida are picked every year to participate in Plant Camp. It is funded by a grant and is FREE! ( I was one of them in 2012!) Since 2012 I have been a part of Plant Camp demonstrating to the teachers how to introduce DRAWING and FIELD SKETCHING into their curriculum. Because of budget cuts, art classes are disappearing from the classroom. This is a way to get non-art teachers to get the students involved in the environment as well as get them to draw! For this year, I painted the Air Potato Vine and the Air Potato Beetle. The beetle is under a biological study at UFL to control the air potato in the wild without damaging other plants. The beetle was imported from Thailand and for the past 5 years it has been in a controlled environment and tested to see if it can control the invasive plant. So far it is doing great! The larva and the beetle don’t eat anything except the air potato vine! Hopefully it will pass all the tests and be released into the wild so it can chomp away!
Here is a brief description of Plant Camp:
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When a non-native plant species spreads on its own, causing environmental and/or economic harm, it is considered invasive. In Florida, invasive plant species are blocking flood control devices and bridges; causing navigation problems on lakes and rivers; harboring mosquitos; creating fire pathways to tree tops; tangling electrical lines; and covering valuable fish and wildlife habitat. Aside from being a nuisance, invasive plants can even be dangerous for boaters, swimmers, hikers and homeowners. Managing invasive plants is expensive, costing Florida taxpayers more than 80 million dollars a year.
Prevention and education are needed to protect our waters and natural areas. That’s why we are seeking the help of educators to bring this important topic to the classroom. Join us this summer to learn about the numerous invasive plant (and animal) species silently invading Florida’s natural areas and neighborhoods. Along the way, learn about the wild and wonderful native flora and fauna that make Florida a unique place to live and a world-famous travel destination.
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Do you know a teacher in the State of Florida that might be interested in attending Plant Camp next year? It is FREE, all expenses paid, including hotel etc…. Please forward this blog post or send them to the Plant Camp website for more information.
Sounds like a wonderful program Mindy.
I’m a biotechnician, researching biocontrol of the air potato. These beetles and plants are a joy to work with. I just had the pleasure of receiving your drawing via email and just had to stop by to share my appreciation for your work. It’s beautiful!
Thanks so much Natasha for visiting my website. I am glad you like the painting. Hopefully these beetles will work hard at eradicating the air potato vine!
Please notify me of new posts by email.
Wonderful paintings!!
Thanks Lynn for stopping by my blog. I will add you to the email list.
Nice to see you in Florida. Have always appreciated the wonderful classes you taught in Brookside. Nobody does it better!
Love the Air Potato – and the Plant Camp idea. High five for that one!
Thanks Paula! I appreciate your leaving me a comment. I am enjoying Florida and all the new Flora and Fauna to see and draw.
Mindy, loved your air potato drawing! I am wondering if reprints are available? I work for a small land trust here in the Florida Panhandle – we are looking forward to getting our first “order” of beetles to help combat the air potato problem on one of our Preserves. We’ve had some success hand pulling and picking…but some infested areas are nearly inaccessible. We have just become a acquainted with a teacher at the Science and Discovery Center here in Panama City who is using the beetles in the classroom – what a wonderful concept to mesh the science learning with art!
Hi Teresa, Thank you for contacting me about my air potato painting. I really enjoyed doing this painting as I work at the University of Florida and all the resources were so easily accessible. I do have reprints available of the painting. Here are the sizes and prices:
14 x 18- $75 + $7.95 shipping within the USA
11 x 14- $50 + $6.95
8 x 10- $35 + $4.95
The inks and paper I use are archival. The larger sizes come in a rolled tube and the smaller ones in a flat envelope with cardboard protection.They come without a mat or frame. The sizes are standard so framing and matting will not have to custom. If you are interested send me an email at: Mlighthipe@mac.com and I can send you an invoice payable via Paypal. Please specify the size so I know how much to make the invoice for. Thanks again Teresa and good luck with eradicating that nasty air potato vine! ~Mindy
This is a beautiful artwork and gorgeous in its many details including the bugs and cut up leaves. Fantastic work.
Thanks Shelley! I appreciate you stopping by my blog and leaving me such a nice comment. Not all people love bugs and chewed up leaves!
I was at plant camp 2013 and we did the rubbing/drawing of the leaves and I have incorporated that activity into my 3rd grade science lab. The kids love it.
Hi Becki! This is great news!!!!! I am so happy you have been able to incorporate what you learned at Plant Camp and bring it into your classroom. You are the future of helping our children learn how fragile ecosystems can be jeopardized by invasive species. Thank you for letting me know you are using the techniques. You made my day!!!!!
A very nice drawing I’d Mindy. Congratulations.
What medium are you using for this if I may ask?
Glad/inspiring to hear you’re “championing” art at Plant Camp by “…introducing DRAWING and FIELD SKETCHING into the curriculum”.
Bill Lathrop
Belleview
Hi Bill. Thanks for stopping by and reading my blogpost about the AirPotato Vine and beetle. I used a combination of graphite, watercolor and gouache to do this painting on 300lb hot press watercolor paper. I very often do a tonal graphite drawing and then paint over it to add the color. I really enjoy teaching at Plant Camp. Anyway I can get people outdoors to draw is my aim. I am a visual learner and found that I can remember and learn better by drawing. My hope is for others to access this skill which is so often pushed aside in the school systems. Cheers! Mindy