The first reviews are in for Nature's Gallery, a UC Davis mosaic mural in the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.

"Thank you all for creating such an amazing art and plant wall for our National Garden," Executive Director Holly Shimizu said in an e-mail. "It is such a huge success both aesthetically and for its interpretive value."

The mural comprises 148 ceramic tiles depicting plants and insects found in the Storer Garden in the UC Davis Arboretum. Entomology professor Diane Ullman and artist Donna Billick led the creative effort as part of their Art-Science Fusion Program. Students, staff and community members made the tiles.

Christine Flanagan, public programs manager at the U.S. Botanic Garden, said by e-mail: "Our entire staff is raving at how beautiful the tiles are — my only complaint is that I can't keep people at their jobs," explaining that employees kept returning to the mosaic to see the tiles as they were installed.

Flanagan added: "You may never get them back."

The mosaic display at the U.S. Botanic Garden is set to run through this summer. Then the tiles are due to be returned for permament installation near the Storer Garden.