RIENZI Museum of Fine Arts: Project Overview & Challenges

This project began as part of a design competition to transform a museum garden space into a vibrant, immersive landscape. The inspiration came from a painting by Martin Johnson Heade, a 19th-century American artist known for his lush depictions of South American rainforests, hummingbirds, and orchids. Drawing on her background in art history and landscape painting, Amy Sullivan, the designer envisioned a garden that would feel like stepping into one of Heade’s rainforest scenes—a secret, steamy retreat nestled behind the museum ravine.

The design incorporated dense tropical plantings such as bromeliads, Brazilian tree ferns, elephant ears, bamboo, and philodendrons, many of which were sourced from South Florida due to their unavailability in Houston. Winding paths were laid out to create a sense of discovery, encouraging visitors to meander through hidden corridors and shaded clearings. Sculptural rebar “trees” and handcrafted hummingbird nests added artistic flourishes that echoed the original painting’s themes.

The team faced several major challenges. The first was a tight construction timeline: the entire garden needed to be installed and flourishing by late February to be ready for the museum’s Azalea Trail event in early March. Achieving this required close coordination between Amy at Hogue Landscape Services, the museum staff, and local nurseries. Plant materials had to be transported across states and installed within just four days—a demanding logistical feat.

The second challenge was working with delicate tropical plants in Houston’s unpredictable climate. Several plant species were vulnerable to cold weather, and the garden later experienced multiple freezes that damaged flowering plants like heliconia and birds of paradise. To address this, the team relocated some plants indoors temporarily and planned for sustainable reuse of materials. Hardy species such as sable miners and southern wood ferns were intentionally selected to allow relocation to other gardens once the installation concluded.

Finally, the project required balancing artistic vision with environmental realities. Amy at Hogue Landscape Services drew on her dual background in engineering and art to create a space that was both structurally sound and visually evocative. The result was a collaborative, fast-paced effort that successfully transformed a bare site into a lush, immersive rainforest garden in time for its grand opening.