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Photos: Nasturtiums return to the Gardner Museum

Nasturtium plants hang down from the windows in the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, during the annual Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Nasturtium plants hang down from the windows in the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, during the annual Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

The nasturtiums have returned to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The display of foliage is an annual tradition that began in 1904 in celebration of Gardner's birthday.

Nasturtiums (pronounced nuh-stur-shm) are often used as a trap crop to lure pests away from nutritious produce. The plants also attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and, in this case, museum visitors.

The museum's greenhouse begins prepping Nasturtium vines (Tropaeolum majus) from seeds in June. They get planted in late summer and are trained in the Museum’s greenhouses through winter.

The vines grow up to 20 feet with the help of greenhouse staff, and installation requires up to 10 workers. The result is a cascade of flowering vines that leave visitors amazed and inspired.

The team that hangs these giant plants isn't just staff. Volunteers have the opportunity in contributing to this long-standing tradition as well.

Erika Rumbley became the Director of Horticulture at the Isabella Stewart Gardbner Museum in 2019. The hanging of the nasturtiums marks the time when her staff and volunteers get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Her team will begin the process all over again in less than three months.

A 20-foot long nasturtium plant lies on the floor of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, waiting to be moved into the courtyard for the annual Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
A 20-foot long nasturtium plant lies on the floor of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, waiting to be moved into the courtyard for the annual Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Nasturtium plants hang down from the windows in the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, during the annual Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Nasturtium plants hang down from the windows in the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, during the annual Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Horticulture Director Erika Rumbley (left) and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum horticultural staff and volunteers feed a 20-foot long nasturtium out of a window of the Titian Room and into the courtyard, for the Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Horticulture Director Erika Rumbley (left) and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum horticultural staff and volunteers feed a 20-foot long nasturtium out of a window of the Titian Room and into the courtyard, for the Hanging Nasturtiums installation. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Horticulture Director Erika Rumbley carefully lowers nasturtiums out of a window into the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Horticulture Director Erika Rumbley carefully lowers nasturtiums out of a window into the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

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