Love Is A Rose! Celebrating the Art & Birthday of Mrs. Louise Cochrane
by Helen Wallace MacDonald, Board Liaison & Major Gifts Assistant, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Virginia Opera tenor Michael Kuhn serenades Mrs. Cochrane with “Only A Rose” in honor of her 98th birthday.
Turning 98 years old is a noteworthy accomplishment, never mind painting 40+ pieces of beautiful artwork in one year. So goes the life of Mrs. Louise Cochrane. An incredibly practiced artist, our graceful friend once again outdid herself not only with a supreme showing of this past year’s work, but also with a gathering of celebrants at a beautiful January soiree. The weather held up, though quite cold, and everyone came to toast Mrs. Cochrane and her husband while enjoying three harpists, a pianist and a very special tenor by the name of Michael Kuhn from the Virginia Opera. He sang, “Only A Rose” from operetta “The Vagabond King” because one of Mrs. Cochrane’s paintings is titled as such. She loves the song, and of course, the flower.
Harwood and Louise Cochrane with their “Cakes By Graham”, custom made from the artist’s paintings
Her artwork is truly masterful, and should be seen. On display in Ginter Gallery II and the Robins Library in the Education and Library Complex until March 2nd, these paintings convey a thriving relationship to gardens with the woman who lives life like a plenary bloom.
Michael Kuhn presents Louise Cochrane with a single birthday rose
Please come to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and see what is remarkably more than only a rose…