# Illustrating American Wildflowers: Ink, Paint, and the Art of Botany

Join Ashley Rose Young and Dianne Choie at the Library of Congress as they explore how people have recorded and illustrated wildflowers over time. From an 1847 edition of American Flora to hand-colored Victorian books and rare, hand-painted editions, this video highlights the beauty and variety of botanical art. Along the way, you’ll discover how artists combined science, poetry, and creativity—capturing not just how flowers look, but what they mean. Learn about the “language of flowers,” where blooms like lily of the valley and dahlia carried special messages, and see how different books reflect different ways of understanding nature. The journey continues with a modern artist who uses historic printmaking techniques to create her own flower illustrations. Whether you love art, nature, or history, this video will inspire you to look closely at the plants around you—and maybe even create your own botanical artwork.

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2026
- Runtime: 5 min
- By: Rose Young, Ashley
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/video-11933/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/video-11933?play=1)