Queer botany

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I know this was touched on a few months ago in relation to an exhibition at Kew, and I didn't understand it then either. Recently we went to the National Trust Tudor property Sutton House in Homerton (well worth a visit, btw). The adjacent tiny parcel of land was donated to the NT on condition that this former scrapyard was turned into a garden, which was done a couple of years ago. Very nice it looks too. However, it is apparently an example of queer botany. Why? Can anyone explain this to me in extremely simple terms? Does it simply mean that some of the people involved in designing and planting it identify as queer and a few of the plants have assocation with gay icons? It surely isn't implying anything about sexual reproduction, is it?

https://www.queerbotany.com/projects/platinum-garden

Nah just more virtue signalling.

There's a link on that page to Queer Botany that explains it. I just read it.
No, I didn't understand it, it's word salad. Ooo - salad, botany, wet lettuce - am I getting closer? No? Ah well. 😂It's an amusing read.

I looked at the home page of Queer Botany. There were words there. They didn't seem to work together to impart meaning in the way that I'm used to seeing.

Queer Botany is an ecocritical project that studies and affirms connections between queerness and nature. The project emerges from the theoretical lens of queer ecology, which brings together queer theory and eco-criticism. Queer Botany particularly focuses on the LGBTQ+ community and connecting to plant life. The project aims to share marginalised perspectives and support more diverse representations in the environmental movement and the outdoors.

????????????????????

"However, it is apparently an example of queer botany. Why? Can anyone explain this to me in extremely simple terms?"

Queer Botany is the name of the artists collective who were commissioned.

Does it simply mean that some of the people involved in designing and planting it identify as queer?

Yes.
and there is a link to the approach Derek Jarman took in creating planting in an inhospitable landscape. An art historical reference if you will

It surely isn't implying anything about sexual reproduction, is it? No.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4926008-kew-gardens-yes-kew-gardens-says-plants-have-gender-not-sex

So it seems to be saying.... 'people need nature in their lives' in amongst the longest bit of drivel I've ever read

As it happens there is nothing queer about nature, it is as it happens amazing.

Perhaps they need reminding that nature has a sex, she is called mother lol

I think it is about promoting diversity within horticulture, which is important because it is a very white, straight, male space. Whilst this may not seem to be a huge advancement, recognising that non straight, white males have had an influence in horticulture is progress. I look forwards to the promotion of lady gardens which I am sure will follow...

Jeez, get with the programme. Queer botany is so last year-the hip thing now is trans archeology. (as per the late mayor of Bangor. No, me neither)

Botanist here. Followed the link. Example of queerness seems to be in the image of the label for Achillea millefolium. Achilles is, apparently, a queer icon because of his steadfast friendship / partnership with Patroclus.Okay. yeah. Right. Fine. Not different from finding astrological significance in the number of petals in individual flowers or some damn thing. Whatever floats your boat.They've missed a real opportunity though because plants have all sorts of interesting reproductive arrangements unavailable to us mammals. Unlike fungi, which can have multiple mating strains, they do just have two sexes. But almost all the visible plants you see around you don't actually have a sex. They don't produce sex cells. They produce little tiny plants (pollen, for instance, is a little tiny plant) which then produce the actual egg and sperm which turn into the big plants you see.It would be as if we didn't produce eggs and sperm but instead individually produced little offspring that run around until they're ready to mate and then that's what produces more people like us. I mean, mega-queer, right??Has nothing to do with sexist stereotypes, though, so boring and not brave, I guess.

(Good grief. It destroyed all my paragraph spacing. Sorry for the wall of text.)

It was a fascinating wall of text!

'Queer' is a buzzword that can attract funding. it's also an offensive slur to many LGB people, but eh, too bad.

Is it really white and straight? My contact with horticulture largely comes from watching Gardeners' World when I stay with my Mum and at least half the presenters there seem to be women. Beechgrove Garden, ditto. My next door neighbour has a jobbing gardener who comes in to tidy things up every so often - woman. Old schoolfriend who retrained as a landscape gardener - woman. Vita Sackville-West, Sissinghurst - woman.

(Admittedly, there was also my beloved Grandpa, who was a gardener working in private houses, but he'd be 120 if he was still alive.)

The key line here is "the theoretical lens of queer ecology, which brings together queer theory and eco-criticism"

Does everyone/anyone actually know what queer theory is/espouses and how it relates to ecology? I mean I am struggling a bit with eco-criticism, even - I think they may mean something like critical ecology (I am guessing that is a thing) or is it different again? Quite often I think of that quote from The Princess Bride...

Obfuscation like this does no one any favours. If they want to disrupt the male, white, colonialist history and approach to botany - good, fine, say that, but all this pseudo/misapplied theoretical language without context is just pointless. More fantastic information in @quixote9's post that disrupts our narrow assumptions and understanding through explanation and information than in the whole exhibition, I suspect. Pollen is tiny plants?! Brain blown!

Just for the record - please no one explain queer theory to me - I do actually know and have read a fair amount what it says and key debates, applications, criticism etc!

Queer woman, Vita, as it goes

I can't see anything to object to in the garden-making and projects the OP mentions

I don't think it's particularly complicated to understand - it's artists using gardening as expression not the other way around. Looks super interesting - what's not to like about Derek Jarman fgs!

So does that mean I won't need to worry just after Christmas this winter because the hazels won't be pumping out all the male gamete delivery powder as in previous years? My airways thank them.

The young ones come to mind…. We sow the seed…. Dont know how to post it if someone else can oblige….

Queer Botany is an ecocritical project that studies and affirms connections between queerness and nature. The project emerges from the theoretical lens of queer ecology, which brings together queer theory and eco-criticism. Queer Botany particularly focuses on the LGBTQ+ community and connecting to plant life. The project aims to share marginalised perspectives and support more diverse representations in the environmental movement and the outdoors.

'PARKLIFE!'😂

😁

It's OK if you don't personally connect to a particular exhibition or project. Not everyone connects/ relates to everything. Just leave the people who do connect with it to enjoy it.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Thanks that pretty much nails it.