During the years 1886-1942, a small staff of professional botanical artists was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Division of Pomology to support the agricultural initiatives of the Division. The artists’ impressive body of work, known today as the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection, consists of more than 7,700 watercolor paintings, pen and ink drawings, and wax models of fruit specimens. Most of this work was produced by ten botanical artists during the years 1886 – 1920, although as many as fifty artists are known to have worked there. Pat Harrington will speak at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden on Tuesday, September 19, beginning at 1:30 pm, and will explore the origins, nature and scope of the work: why, where, and how it was done, and the artists themselves. Co-sponsored with the New England Society of Botanical Artists. Sponsor members free, nonmembers $10. Register at wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu, or call 781-283-3094.