Castor and Pollux

These paintings trace the quiet life of Domitian’s Pool at New England Botanic Garden through the changing seasons. At the center are Castor and Pollux, bronze Eastern Box Turtle fountains whose enduring forms have become beloved companions to generations of visitors, young and old.

From the first stirrings of spring to the stillness of winter, Castor and Pollux remain quietly rooted in place. There is a sense that the turtles are waiting— waiting for the return of their dear friends, for curious faces and small hands gathered around the water, for the laughter that brings the garden to life. Their popularity with children gives the fountains a special tenderness; they are more than sculptural forms, they are familiar figures within childhood memories and enduring touchstones of a community space that is ever growing and changing.