For LGBTQ+ History Month this February, Chelsea Physic Garden is celebrating diversity in people and plants. Historically, the LGBTQ+ community has been referred to as ‘unnatural’, however, the ‘natural’ world has many characteristics that do not fit societal norms and binaries. For example, trees are known to change sex throughout their lives, and animals have been found pairing up into same-sex couples. There are also cultural links between the LGBTQ+ community and the symbolism of flowering plants, which can be found in slurs like ‘pansy’, or ‘a dash of lavender’.

We invite you to visit Chelsea Physic Garden for a celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month and explore our trail, exhibition and programme of events. We will be hosting a poetry evening, sock dyeing workshop, talks, guided tours, and more!

As you explore the Garden and learn about the fascinating plants and animals in the Garden, we are encouraging visitors to challenge themselves to think about what we consider to be natural. We are all part of nature, and so nature is invariably Queer.

Upcoming Dash of Lavender events:

• Dash of Lavender Guided Tours – Wednesdays and Sundays throughout February, 11.30am & 2.30pm, included in admission price
• Queer Ecology Nature Tour – Sunday 4 February, 2pm – 3pm, £15
• Botanical Sock Dyeing Workshop – Sunday 11 February, 2pm – 4pm,  £15
• ‘Unnatural Selection’ Comedy Night – Friday 16 February, 7pm – 9pm, £15
• Botanical Poetry Reading – Friday 23 February, 7pm – 9pm, £15
• Rainbow Soap Making for Families – Sunday 25 February, 1pm – 3pm, £10 per child, £15 per accompanying adult.

Image: collage by Sixto-Juan Zavala.