WEAR PLANTS: Connecting People + Plants

Creative plant and ecology-based programing was one significant goal I accomplished as the Manager of Horticulture at Randall's Island Park Alliance. By introducing basic concepts of botany, the beauty and usefulness of flowers and the importance that butterflies, bees, birds and bats play in the pollination of flowers, I hoped to make staff and park visitors more aware of the importance of our jobs as horticulturists, gardeners and educators. Ultimately, creative and easily accessible ecological and horticulture-based programs increase our awareness of our connection to various organisms and make us think or care about the natural world and our impact on the environment. 

 

Weedy vines like, porcelain berry, and bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) vine are great in bouquets as well as in flower crowns and other wearable plant art. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) makes an excellent base for a ring of flowers too.

 

 Starting in the spring of 2022 we grew beds of dahlias, various species of amaranth, zinnias and other annuals, that were combined with common gardens weeds and native perennials to help park visitors create their own flower crowns. We made bouquets and distributed them to staff and park visitors during events. At pollinator festivals we swore and assisted patrons with making butterfly, bird and leaf masks. So much fun!!!

 

 

Dahlias  from tubers gifted by Grace, a farmer friend. Many tubers came from a  plant swap with a former student at NYBG. Many thanks for the bounty and beauty.

There are lots of opportunities for creativity with these masks, modeled by the artists. Can you identify the leaves and flowers used? I see cercis, sumac, maple, catalpa, cotinus, London planetree and goldenrod.

Paper flower poppies

Dahlias, zinnias, salvias, asters and porcelain vine

 

 

 

 

We hosted an anatomically correct paper-flower workshop that was a hit. Over several weeks we collected and pressed numerous flowers and leaves for a pressed plant workshop. Participants were enthusiastic and grateful for the guidance during these workshops. Working with flowers and plants always creates positive impacts and participants learn new and fun skills bits of ecology and botany. 

The Ruby-throated hummingbird mask required some wire-bending and paper marché but overall it was fun to create. It think we can reach and inspire people to care about plants, insects and birds if we make learning about them fun and interactive. Maybe more knowing will lead to more caring and to better outcomes for the future of our planet.