research and process

Researching within the SA Seed Conservation Centre and the Botanic Gardens investigating the personal and environmental effects of losing vulnerable flora.

“1 in 4 (plants) has a state rating listed under schedule: rare/vulnerable/threatened”

“plants are our silent sister and the animals being the brothers”

Dear critically endangered plant, 

I am so deeply sorry for the ways in which we have misunderstood you, mistreated you. I wish my eyes and ears had been more open to you and your needs.  I promise to pay more attention to you, your friends and family so that you all remain as safe as possible now. 

All my love to you sweet little plant,

“I feel empathy for the native plants and the struggle they’ve got. They really are struggling a lot”

“most people worry about the mammals but they don’t worry about the plants. But if you don’t have the plants the mammals will die”

Dear critically endangered plant, 

I vow to do all I can to work with you in your natural habitat to acknowledge the damage created in the past and the risks to your future.  Together we will make a difference for you and your family.

Kind regards,

“i think you need a bit more intimacy with plants - get up close and personal (by drawing or photographing)”

“We’ve lost plants in the sense - they use to be on the road side, we know where they were and we’ve gone back and we can’t find them anymore. So I’ve lost them, but everyone else has lost them as well”

“how do people care about plants if they down know about them?”

“if people get to know them - they value them”

Dear threatened plant, 

Hang in there, the tide is turning. 

Plant lover

Dear vulnerable plant, 

I know you are scared right now.  It might feel like the ground is shifting under your roots and you are struggling to hold on.  

Rest assured, there are people in tiny rooms and big buildings that care about you. There are people that volunteer their time and entire organisations that are talking about you are caring for your future.  

Keep those roots strong.  Hang in there.