In celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month, Chelsea Physic Garden honours diversity in both people and nature. This year, we’re excited to present an exciting line-up of events, including a unique trail that delves into the intriguing connections between LGBTQ+ themes and our living collections, as well as an exclusive display of Florilegium art prints from our archive.

Historically, the LGBTQ+ community has been labelled “unnatural,” yet the natural world is full of characteristics that defy societal norms and binaries. While societal norms often impose binary sex and gender onto nature, plant reproduction is far more complex and fluid, challenging simple male/female distinctions. We invite you to explore the Garden and challenge yourself to reconsider what is “unnatural”. We are all part of nature, and nature, in all its diversity, is undeniably queer.

This year’s trail, curated by Connor Butler, invites you to discover the fascinating connections between queer ecology and the natural world, featuring the likes of fungi, slugs, and prickly pears. On Fridays and Sundays throughout February our tour guides will be delivering special Dash of Lavender tours to delve deeper into queer ecology.

Image: collage by Sixto-Juan Zavala.