“I sit beneath a wild cherry tree in the cool not-yet-spring sunshine in my local park; the buds are just beginning to open themselves up to the world. They are hermaphrodite, containing “male” and “female” reproductive parts in the same flower. In this I find a deep reassurance; the possibility of containing multiple genders. Following many dark winters of slowly slipping out the gender I was assigned to at birth, I think like the cherry; I am finally ready to bloom.”

For my Master’s Thesis in Landscape Architecture I have been researching how we can queer planting design and practices. As Landscape Architecture is rooted in troubled beginnings, I ask how might we interrogate, practice different and care better for our lands? I weave together personal poetry with Hiliary Harkness’ paintings, research on planting design practices as well as the work of queer artists, gardeners and communities.

Taking queer as a landscape methodology and not just an identity, I uncover how turning towards working with planting communities, investing in longer term care through valuing gardeners, and activating places with local communities could point the way forwards to common and cared-for landscapes. 

I wrote an article for Radicle which you can read here and you can access the full pdf here