Whiteleaf manzanitas are an integral part of the forest landscape around our southern Oregon home! They are important fodder for pollinators since they bloom when there are few other blossoms available. The berries resemble little apples, which is what manzanita means in Spanish, and were historically used by Native Americans for cider, jelly, and medicine. The plant has come to represent resilience, in part because its seeds require the heat from fire to stimulate germination. 🔥🍂🍃
Larkin makes these sterling silver manzanita leaves using leaves from the forest floor around our home as models. They cut and texture the leaves from sheet metal, then finish them with a dusting of powdered silver to mimic the surface of the real leaves. The necklaces are double-sided, while the clothing pins have one smooth face to lay against fabric.
