Transplants

Mobile Pollination Unit

Three semi-circular raised beds were installed in Elm Park in Worcester, Massachusetts as part of the juried bi-annual outdoor sculpture exhibition, "Interludes" Art in the Park. The artwork remained in the park from June to September 2019.

Transplants is a mobile pollinator garden created to attract bees, butterflies, and birds to Worcester's Elm Park. Local and native plants were grown by students at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School and transplanted in the raised beds made of woven shopping bags. The intention of this project is in reference to the original gardens in found on a postcard of Elm Park from 1930-45. This revisioned contemporary adaptation uses plants that benefit the larger environment in Worcester and the ecosystems of the park by attracting pollinators.

Elm Park, Worcester, Mass [1930–1945], Postcard Collection,Boston Public Library

Proposed gesture and location

Our garden is composed of Zinnias, Echinacea, Borage, Coreopsis, Lantana, Cosmos, Lacy Phacelia, Cleome, Nasturtium, Yarrow, and other local or native pollinators. Pollinators include hummingbirds, moths, butterflies and solitary bees (such as mason bees) that do not sting, as well as honey bees.

The raised beds are constructed by weaving over 800 single use shopping bags onto wire fencing. The beds are filled with composted soil and populated according to student developed landscape plans. Plants will be kept watered by creating reservoirs of plastic water containers with cotton wicks; and Terrasorb, biodegradable water holding crystals mixed with the soil.

See more about our process by navigating our site:

Weaving

Repurposing Waste

Plastic Flowers

Using our Scraps

Designing our Garden

Working with a Guest Artist

A GIANT thanks to Donna Rudek of Gardens by Design in Shrewsbury, MA for all of her help with planning, trouble shooting and providing valuable guidance over the course of this project. The Art in the Park planning committee juried this exhibition and arranged for our guest artist.

Google Sites

Report abuse