Branching Out 2024 Recap

As the Vancouver Pride Festival approaches, UBC Botanical Garden hosted a sold-out, adult only evening event designed to bring nature lovers in the LGBTQ2S+ community together to celebrate pride, hang out on the Greenheart TreeWalk, and learn about plants in the garden with our lovely horticultural staff. The event was entirely free for guests, with donations this year going to CampOUT. UBC Botanical Garden aimed to provide an inclusive, accessible, and friendly event.  

The evening was a beautiful celebration of pride and plants, fostering connections while creating a safe and welcoming space. With the help of 20 generous volunteers, UBC Botanical Garden provided a range of snacks, baked goods, and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) which were available for purchase. As the sun peeked through the trees in the evening, colourful and cozy blankets were spread under the tree, inviting attendees to relax and enjoy the sunset. Attendees were able to fully immerse themselves in nature, unwind with others in a stress-free setting, explore educational displays, and participate guided garden tours. The efforts of our dedicated volunteers along with the vibrant, inclusive atmosphere made the evening truly special. 

 

Icebreaker & Educational Displays 

As visitors trickled into the event, they were greeted by an icebreaker table filled with mystery plant facts about garden species such as ginkgo, rhododendrons, kiwi vines, and others. This interactive setup fostered a lively and engaging atmosphere, making it easy for attendees to connect with one another through plants. 

 

Further up the stairs, two interpretive displays provided an opportunity for visitors to deepen their understanding of various plant species. One display featured sassy facts about the trees in the garden, complete with three creative posters presenting trees as contestants in the “Treepaulsdragrace,” guided by a volunteer from the Education team with samples. The Botanical Reclamation Station offered information on queered flowers – flowers that have been used to symbolize queer communities, some in derogatory and others in positive ways, with the hope of helping participants reclaim harmful terms and embrace the history of the positive symbols. These engaging and educational stations blended fun and learning seamlessly.  

 

Tours 

Three themed garden tours were led by our knowledgeable horticulturists, each offering a unique exploration of the garden. Additionally, volunteers from the Education team guided a tour of the Greenheart TreeWalk. The Rainbow Tour, led by our vibrant host Scott highlighted flowers and plants displaying the full spectrum of colors. Whitney led the “What even is a Fruit? Frutty Tutty Tour” focuses on the botanical nature of fruits and how flowers transform into fruits. The Mother Tour, guided by Kelvin, provided an up-close look at the nurse logs and stumps that act as platforms or germination grounds for baby trees. Jacob’s “Family Resemblance Tour” showed the visitors interesting and unexpectedly related plants. Sadie’s “Throwing Shade Tour” guided visitors on shade-loving plants, highlighting evolutionary strategies plants use to survive with limited light. Finally, the Greenheart Treewalk provided a thrilling, yet bonding experience for the visitors up in the tree top suspension bridges.  

As the sun set, it was heartwarming to witness the joy on many faces as attendees bonded over their shared interest in both plants and Pride. We are filled with joy to receive positive feedback from attendees, who shared that they thoroughly enjoyed the event and look forward to next year. They expressed how much they learned about plants while also connecting with others, and spending quality time with their community.  

We had another successful event this year and thank you to all the attendees and volunteers for coming to the event. All donations will be going to UBC CampOUT this year.  

Written by Melody Hou, Marketing and Communications Assistant