Plan Your Weekend: Honoring Black History Month

Posted in Programs and Events on February 13 2009, by Plant Talk

Multiple Events on Tap for Weeklong Celebration

Gayle Schmidt is Manger of Public Education.

Each year at this time the nation highlights African Americans who have had a great influence on society through innovative inventions and revolutionary ideas. This year, we are even making history while celebrating it!

During the coming week, which is a vacation week for many schools, the Garden is offering family programming to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of science and horticulture as well as in social affairs. The programs expose the strong will and determination of creative people to succeed beyond imposed limitations.

The Life and Work of George Washington Carver is this season’s exhibition in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Dr. Carver was entirely self-motivated to get an education and to get ahead in life, which is most remarkable since he grew up in the time of slavery. In the Adventure Garden, young scientists-to-be can put on a lab coat and be a “plant doctor,” diagnosing a thirst for water or need for sunshine, and conduct simple experiments as well.

Elsewhere in the Garden, we will be showing films that tell the story of other garden lovers: the self-made topiary artist Pearl Fryer, pictured at right,  and poet Anne Spencer. Fryer entered a Lawn of the Year contest and quickly got caught up in the excitement of trimming his hedges, bushes, and trees. He, too, was a “plant doctor” of sorts, often using discarded seedlings from a local nursery to add to his own collection. Fryer visited the Garden this past summer and showed off some of his pruning skills and finesse on an Alberta spruce.

Spencer, who died in 1975, created a sanctuary at her home where she could reflect and write poetry that spoke to many. She hosted many renowned friends, including George Washington Carver, W.E.B. DuBois, Mary McLeod Bethune, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Thurgood Marshall, in her lush and fruitful garden. Imagine the conversations caught in the breeze!

In addition to these events, we will be hosting live musical performances. A full schedule can be found on our online calendar.

We celebrate history to learn from it and to be inspired by its role models. Come spend time at the Botanical Garden this coming week to hear the stories of those who helped shape the history of America.

Check out all of Saturday’s programming
Check out all of Sunday’s programming