Incorporating Native American Plants into Landscape
When the Gorman Museum of Native American Art relocated to a space adjacent to the 嘿嘿视频 Arboretum and Public Garden in 2023, a seed was planted. Why not include Indigenous California plants outside the museum?
Veronica Passalacqua, the museum鈥檚 executive director, brought the idea to Arboretum leaders. They suggested involving the Learning by Leading program 鈥 student interns who gain hands-on skills related to garden design and general horticulture maintenance.
Native American herbs
Soon 15 students in the yearlong internship went to work. They planted herbs historically used by Native Americans: white sage, a food also used in religious ceremonies; yarrow, a medicinal herb; and western redbud, which adds color to Native American basketry, among others. On a recent fall day maintaining the garden, Ryan Deering, GATEways horticulturist, who leads the student team, urged the students to work 鈥 and experience.
Isabel Garcia stopped to smell sage.
Weeding, planting, design
Students cleared weeds, sowed plants and contributed to the garden design, which began last year. Sasha Rubeiz, with Dhriti Patil, right, pitched in, pulling out gigantic weeds.
The plants, when mature, will emulate the design of triangles on the pavilion outside the Gorman, which was created by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, professor of Native American studies and museum director. The designs memorialize Patwin language and cultural keeper Bertha Wright Mitchell.
Hands-on experience
Amelia Swanson, a sustainable environmental design major who interned in 2023, is now one of two student coordinators of the group. She walked among the plants, pointing out ones that need attention. She said students get great hands-on experience in the program.
鈥淚鈥檓 learning a lot about environmental design and how it works when you are putting a landscape together, and I鈥檝e learned a lot about California natives,鈥 she added. 鈥淎nd, I love the Arboretum community.鈥
Plant and wildlife conservation
The program attracts students from various fields of study. Ella Fodor, a second-year wildlife, fish and conservation biology major, said she grew up gardening, and the program is a good fit for her.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have an appreciation for animal life without having an appreciation for plant life,鈥 she said, working alongside Connor Essa as they planted. Bonus: She said she really appreciates learning more about Indigenous uses of plants in the internship. Essa has been studying sages.
Enriching
The students engage in every aspect: deadheading spent flowers, removing weeds and non-native species that sneak in seeds naturally 鈥 from birds or the wind blowing. Sprinkler overspray also often causes weeds to grow where they are not welcome.
Within a span of minutes, Dyanna Perez, a student coordinator, led students in weeding, digging large holes to accommodate new plants and making sure hard gray clay soil is broken up and enriched for optimal planting.
A teaching garden
While drought-tolerant plants are common in the Arboretum, only one other section there is devoted to Native American plants: The Native American Contemplative Garden.
Now, the once-empty lot at the Gorman entrance is a space that enriches the museum experience. The team has carefully curated the plant variety to make it both engaging and educational. 鈥淚 just love it; the students do a great job,鈥 said Passalacqua. 鈥We get great comments about the landscape from many who visit the museum.鈥