State flowers grace D.C. tree

WASHINGTON - In the shadow of the National Christmas Tree, Arkansas wildflowers bloom - at least until the end of the month.

Part of a project to decorate a “Pathway of Peace” in Washington, D.C., the flowers rest inside plastic ornaments and join ornaments from each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and a handful of territories, on trees lining a walkway surrounding the National Christmas Tree.

The Arkansas Arts Council and the National Park Foundation asked 105 fourth grade students at the Northwest Environmental Studies Academy in El Dorado to design and build an ornament to represent Arkansas at the display.

Artist Gay Bechtelheimer of El Dorado, who has taught art at the school for eight years, led the project.

The wildflower ornaments were inspired by the book Wildflowers of Arkansas by Carl Hunter, Bechtelheimer said. She said she thought of the book because she used it as inspiration while creating tablecloths for Bill Clinton’s second inauguration as governor.

“I immediately thought of the wildflowers and how beautiful they would be,” Bechtelheimer said. “I just love flowers. It was just a natural thing to go to.”

Bechtelheimer said the students researched and discussed state wildflowers and used water bottles and paint to create Arkansas blanket flowers, black-eyed susans, blackberry lilies and dog’s tooth violets. The 24 flowers were inserted into clear plastic globes provided by the Park Foundation. Bechtelheimer said she wasn’t told what will happen to the ornaments after the holidays.

Many students from the El Dorado school took part in the project. “All fourth-graders touched them in some way,” she said of the ornaments. “They are so proud of them, and they really hate to see them just go away.”

The trees are near the Ellipse, across the street from the White House. Thousands of tourists stream by each December to admire the displays as carols play and an elaborate toy train circles the base of the National Christmas Tree. The Pathway of Peace is lighted nightly until Jan. 1.

The ritual of the president lighting a National Christmas Tree in the Ellipse began with Calvin Coolidge in 1923 after first lady Grace Coolidge gave the District of Columbia Public Schools permission to erect a tree there, according to the Parks Foundation.

The small trees representing the Pathway of Peace were first lighted in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Once a local artist and group of children are selected, the Parks Foundation sends them 24 clear, 5.

5-inch diameter plastic globes that they can either decorate or use to protect an ornament placed inside, foundation spokesman Alanna Sobel said.

She said the groups can use whatever materials they want to create the ornaments, but the groups are asked to consider the weather the ornaments may be exposed to.

“We encourage each group to choose a theme that reflects the holiday season in their state or territory, which leaves a lot of room for creativity. And we always encourage everyone to incorporate America’s national parks,” Sobel said.

After the holidays, the ornaments are donated to hospitals and nursing homes.

Each state chooses a different theme for its ornaments. Georgia’s ornaments held tiny packets of peanuts, Florida’s had beach scenes painted on the globes, and Connecticut’s ornaments contained folded origami squares.

Arkansas Arts Council Executive Director Joy Pennington said the council doesn’t use an official method to pick which school or nonprofit gets to design the ornaments.

“We’ve basically just tried to move it around the state a little bit,” she said. “They thought they could fit it into their curriculum, so we thought it would be a really good choice.”

In 2012, students at Rockefeller Elementary School in Little Rock decorated the ornaments. In 2011, children at Arkansas Children’s Hospital participated.