Matthaei Botanical Gardens is hosting our annual winter exhibit, this year titled EAT! Did you know that 40% of all the plants in the conservatory are edible?  Coming from all across the globe, these food plants have rich stories and recipes that connect to our community. EAT! It is an exploration and celebration of what it means to be connected to the natural world through food, and also to each other.  

As a team of botanical professionals, we have many plant fun facts up our sleeves. And you’ll see some of these in the exhibit! But what makes this exhibit unique is the collaboration and storytelling from our community that explores how we all find shared meaning and connection to the diverse collection of plants in our conservatory. 

In September, we placed journals and signs in the conservatory near key food plants, including the banana plant, the vanilla vine, the coffee and cacao trees, and the prickly pear cactus. We asked community members to share a recipe or a story about food plants in our collection. We also included signs with QR codes that linked to a short online survey. 

We received a wide variety of contributions, bridging the fascinating, the funny, the sweet, and the soulful. And so many recipes! For the banana plant alone, community members shared over 15 recipes, including a meat-and-banana stew, banana cookies, and six different banana bread recipes.  You can view all of the recipes here.

Visit EAT! At the conservatory until January 25, and enjoy a sampling of these stories dispersed on signs through the conservatory, pick up recipe cards throughout the three houses, and visit this site for programming happening throughout the exhibit’s run. If you are able, consider bringing some food to share- in conjunction with the exhibit, we are hosting a food drive for Maize and Blue Cupboard and Food Gatherers. Everybody needs to EAT!