Garden Art Weekly is a seasonal (generally winter) art blog that offers creative projects inspired by the Alaska Botanical Garden plant collection and grounds. Inspired by nature walks and gardening, these introductory art activities are appropriate for learners of all ages and stages. Each project can be self-guided on location at the Garden or completed remotely.

We also have adult and kid art kits that can be checked out at admissions and used within the Garden. Art prompts displayed around the Garden paths are meant to be used with the art kits to help facilitate discussion and creativity. Check out our educator guide to see what’s inside the kits and how to use them.


Betany Porter is a local artist, curator and interdisciplinary museum educator. She received her MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing.

October 2023

BOOtanical Sketches

June 2023

Clay Sunflowers

May 2023

Painted Paper Garden Collage

April 2023

Branch Bloom Drawing

April 2023

Painted Eggs

March 2023

Seed Packets

March 2023

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

February 2023

Botanical Valentines

January 2023

Night Sky with Trees

December 2022

Crabapple Watercolor

November 2022

Mushroom Colored Pencil

May 2022

Clay Flower Dish

May 2022

Painted Newspaper Butterflies

April 2022

Botanical Egg Painting

April 2022

Nasturtium Watercolor Collage

March 2022

Origami Seed Packets

March 2022

Pussy Willows Pastel Drawing

March 2022

Spruce Cones Ink Drawing

March 2022

Common Redpolls

February 2022

Acrylic & Graphite, Birch Studies

2021 Archived Projects