Helen Durand

 Today is the birthday of the Belgium botanical illustrator, Helen Durand, who was born on this day in 1883.

After taking classes in art and botany, Durand worked full-time in the garden of the Royal Belgian Institute.
Durand was meticulous and her work as an artist.
Once, she spent more than 105 hours drawing the cone of the Abies nobilis - commonly called the red fir, noble fir, or Christmas Tree.