"When the Gorman Museum of Native American Art relocated to a new space, campus partners and students worked to make the grounds nearby home to the types of plants traditionally used by Indigenous cultures, such as white sage, a food also used in religious ceremonies, and yarrow, a medicinal herb."
So begins a newly published "In Focus" feature in UC Davis Dateline. And it continues: "Veronica Passalacqua, the museum's executive director, brought the idea to Arboretum leaders. They suggested involving the Learning by Leading program — student interns who gain hands-on skills related to garden design and general horticulture maintenance."
"Soon 15 students in the yearlong internship went to work. They planted herbs historically used by Native Americans: white sage, a food also used in religious ceremonies; yarrow, a medicinal herb; and western redbud, which adds color to Native American basketry, among others. On a recent fall day maintaining the garden, Ryan Deering, GATEways horticulturist, who leads the student team, urged the students to work — and experience."
You'll want to read the rest of the piece.
The 100-acre UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden devotes one section to Native American plants, the Native American Contemplative Garden. which was dedicated in November 2011. "This project began several years ago after the discovery of Patwin remains during the construction of the Mondavi Center catalyzed the desire to educate the UC Davis community about the first inhabitants of this land," according to the website. "A committee of UC Davis faculty, staff and students, including members of the campus Native American community, consulted with Patwin elder Bill Wright and engaged Far Western Anthropological Research Group to develop concepts for a series of honoring sites across campus."
Admission to the Arboretum is free, but parking on campus is not.
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