Top of page

Want to add some greenery to your video conferences?

Posted by: Nate Smith

Share this post:

In this unprecedented time of working from home, it can be easy to forget what the outside world looks like.  As mentioned in previous posts that included images from Edison’s laboratory and machine shop  and images from the Adams Building, the Carol M. Highsmith Archive hosted by the Prints & Photographs Division of the Library of Congress is an absolute treasure trove of free-to-use images of all kinds, including botanical images like those below.  If you’re ready to spruce up your video conference calls and bring nature indoors, try these images as your background:

A luxurient field of bluebonnets, the state flower, near Marble Falls in the Texas Hill Country. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014633104/
An abundant Hydrangea paniculata bush of pink and white flowers, informally and affectionately known as “pinkie winkies,” in the garden at the Southeastern Vermont Welcome Center in Guilford. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017882357/
French quarter balcony with classic ironwork, New Orleans, Louisiana. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011633031/
Flowers at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011634320/
Flower farm in West Suffield, Connecticut. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012631009/

Clicking on the images will take you to the item record, where you can view and download them.  For curated images from the Library’s collection that are in the public domain, see the Free to Use and Reuse Sets where images vary from horses to antique maps to WPA posters and more.

Comments (2)

  1. Patricia. E. Rockwell says:

    Want to add background for Zoom

    • Nate Smith says:

      If you are asking about how to use Zoom and background images or to comply with the specifications of other video conferencing applications, please see their respective help pages.

Add a Comment

This blog is governed by the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You are fully responsible for everything that you post. The content of all comments is released into the public domain unless clearly stated otherwise. The Library of Congress does not control the content posted. Nevertheless, the Library of Congress may monitor any user-generated content as it chooses and reserves the right to remove content for any reason whatever, without consent. Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments. We further reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to remove a user's privilege to post content on the Library site. Read our Comment and Posting Policy.


Required fields are indicated with an * asterisk.