For the Love of Plants

Check-in as early as 9:15 a.m. at The Guardhouse & join artist Kija Lucas for an artist talk at 9:30 a.m.

After hearing about Kija's temporary art installation inside The Guardhouse, make your way to Black Point Historic Gardens for an introduction to the site thanks to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) staff, who will equip you to engage in a hands-on service project starting at 10:30 a.m. (you will help the Parks Conservancy with weeding to make way for new plants)!

This important service project will ensure that the soil is prepared for the planting of seedlings propagated by the Presidio Nursery staff (who facilitated Kija's access to handle the threatened, rare & endangered botanical specimens that are the subject of her recent work at The Guardhouse).

We'll take a short break at 11:45 a.m.

After the break, at 12 p.m., dig back into it, choose between a plant observation activity & an art-making activity with Kija Lucas, or do it all for the love of plants...

What to bring, what to wear, & other details:

Parks Conservancy staff will provide gardening gloves, tools & knee pads for your physical comfort, but please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes & clothes for gardening.

Parks Conservancy staff will provide water & snacks.

Not everyone will be up for more than one hour spent physically engaged in a service project, so after the break, you will have different activity options:

• Continue with the service project;

• Use plant material & other natural objects to create your own temporary art (& photograph what you make against backgrounds similar to those that artist Kija Lucas uses when making her work); 

• Follow a series of prompts designed to support you observing plants & considering their origins, giving thought to your own evolving relationships to plants (Parks Conservancy staff will read a passage from Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez, PhD to prompt your thinking & get you inspired for this activity).