{"id":116799,"date":"2025-01-05T06:09:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T11:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=116799"},"modified":"2026-07-29T10:12:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:12:30","slug":"color-garden","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/magazine\/articles\/2025\/color-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"CFA in Bloom"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin magazine-block-editorial-leadin is-style-side-by-side has-media has-box has-media-focus-center-bottom has-primary-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-014.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Students planting and tending to the CFA Color Garden\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-014.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-014-424x636.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-014-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-014-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-014-667x1000.jpg 667w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Photos by Chris McIntosh and Dave Green<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">CFA Students<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCFA in Bloom\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">New on-campus color garden allows student-artists to sustainably grow their own pigments, dyes, and fibers<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar magazine-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">January 5, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/magazine\/authors\/sophie-yarin\/\">Sophie Yarin<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph magazine-block-editorial-introparagraph is-style-dropcap-dimensional has-dropcap has-dropcap-color-primary\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph-content\"><p>The process of making dye with flower petals has been around for centuries, dating back to ancient Rome and Egypt. It\u2019s sustainable: it uses no harmful chemicals and creates minimal waste. It\u2019s cost-friendly and accessible, requiring only seeds, soil, water, and sunlight. And it\u2019s a practice that CFA students can now try for themselves, at a color garden recently planted on campus.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Over the summer and fall of 2024, a team of School of Visual Arts (SVA) students-turned-gardeners took on the challenge of growing, planting, monitoring, and harvesting a host of vibrant plants\u2014coreopsis, indigo, aster, and chamomile\u2014at a sunny, 92-by-45-foot plot just east of the CFA building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay magazine-block-editorial-photoessay alignfull wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-thirds-2-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-2\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-029.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Students planting and tending to the CFA Color Garden\" class=\"wp-image-116805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-007.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-quaternary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-normal-font-size\">CFA\u2019s color garden features mainly native, drought-resistant perennials, as well as a few annuals that will be replanted seasonally. Part of its purpose is to introduce homegrown, natural dyes to the school\u2019s curriculum. Left: Students Lauren Boysa (from left), Anthony Venturi, and Julia Cheung (\u201925). Right: Nerissa Cooney, programming and media manager for the School of Visual Arts, mentored the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">\u201cWe really wanted to emphasize native plants, because they help to re-enliven the natural environment and natural ecosystem,\u201d says Natalie Seitz (\u201925, CAS\u201928). \u201cWe wanted to bring native pollinators to the garden, like bees and moths and butterflies, and we\u2019re seeing a lot of them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Seitz is the initiative\u2019s outreach coordinator and flora and fauna researcher. She\u2019s part of a five-person team of seniors who met weekly in the summer and fall to discuss signage installation, upcoming events, and coordination between the garden and the various parties who sought to use it. Each team member has a role to play, and all were expected to take turns visiting the garden for daily watering and upkeep. They had one setback\u2014some hungry bunnies, which they\u2019ve managed to keep out with rabbit-proof fencing. Otherwise, their oversight was quick to pay off\u2014in the form of ochre, magenta, violet, and crimson blooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay magazine-block-editorial-photoessay wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-117430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/11\/24-1397-GARDEN-036.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">The garden grows mainly native, drought-resistant perennials\u2014plus a few annuals that will be replanted seasonally\u2014and is meant to achieve multiple goals at once. It\u2019s designed to introduce homegrown, natural dyes to the school\u2019s curriculum; to create more serene green space on campus; to educate passersby about the plants and their uses; and, perhaps most important, to serve as a model of sustainability and self-sufficiency. While the project is still in its early phases, the color garden team will research and experiment with the dyes and hold community workshops where all are invited to share in the bounty. The garden has also been used by SVA classes for drawing exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">\u201cThe ethos is to slow down, and I think the natural dye process emulates that,\u201d says Lauren Boysa (\u201925, CAS\u201927), the color garden team\u2019s communications representative. \u201cThe reason we\u2019re choosing to create dyes this way is to slow down the process of buying materials, to learn that there\u2019s an origin to everything. It starts here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax magazine-block-editorial-parallax alignfull has-background-color-primary has-box-color-primary has-object-cover-left-middle is-style-content-right-split has-background-opacity-80\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-media\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-background-image\"><\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-figure js-block-editorial-parallax-active\" data-rellax-speed=\"-5\" data-rellax-percentage=\"0.5\"><picture class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-picture\"><source media=\"(max-height: 480px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-003-854x480.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-height: 720px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-003-1280x720.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-height: 768px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-003-1280x768.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1080\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-image has-background-opacity has-background-opacity-80 wp-image-116804\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-003-1280x1080.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-content-outer\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-content-inner\">\n<h3>How to grow a seedling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\"><strong>1: <\/strong>Select a small container with adequate depth and drainage. Fill with seed-starting soil that has been moistened until crumbly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\"><strong>2: <\/strong>Follow seed packet instructions for planting depth. Sow seeds, re-covering with a thin layer of soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\"><strong>3: <\/strong>Position somewhere warm with strong sunlight, like on the sill of a south-facing window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\"><strong>4: <\/strong>Keep moist with a spray bottle, allowing soil to completely dry between mistings.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>Breaking Ground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Before the students began germinating their seeds, before they got a location approved, before they began fundraising, there was an idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/about\/contact-directions\/directory\/dana-clancy\/\">Dana Clancy<\/a> (\u201999), an associate professor of painting, was faculty mentor for a 2021\u20132022 Campus Climate Lab (CCL) grant proposal from graduate students Emily Manning-Mingle (\u201909,\u201922) and Sohyoung Park (\u201923). The grant didn\u2019t pan out that year, but after Manning-Mingle graduated, she and Clancy held on to the notion that the color garden could one day be a reality. In fall of 2023, they approached Boysa and Anthony Venturi (\u201925, CAS\u201925), the group\u2019s primary groundskeeper and landscape planner, because of their shared interest in \u201cenvironmentally oriented\u201d art.\u201cWe jumped at it, and slowly we recruited our friends,\u201d Boysa says with a laugh, \u201cbecause that\u2019s what you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay magazine-block-editorial-photoessay alignwide wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-009.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Clancy mentored the students throughout the year, helping secure the site, and submitted another proposal to CCL that linked its mission statement to the BU Climate Action Plan\u2019s pledge to add more campus green space. Students also received lots of faculty support, from E. Tubergen, an assistant professor of sculpture; Rebecca Bourgault, an associate professor of art education; Richard Ryan, an associate professor of painting; Nathan Phillips, a College of Arts &amp; Sciences professor of Earth and environment; and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/about\/contact-directions\/directory\/nerissa-cooney\/\"> Nerissa Cooney<\/a> (\u201908), SVA\u2019s programming and media manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">The student team was responsible for outlining an ecologically conscious mission to underscore the garden\u2019s artistic aims, which netted them a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/research\/campus-climate-lab\/\">Campus Climate Lab grant<\/a> in the spring of 2024. (The Campus Climate Lab is led by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/\">Institute for Global Sustainability<\/a>, in collaboration with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sustainability\/\">BU Sustainability<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/\">Office of Research<\/a>.) Students got a big assist from Greg Limerick, the University\u2019s trucking and grounds manager, who helped them prepare the garden\u2019s home between CFA and the foot of the BU Bridge and advised them on which native plants were likely to thrive in the area. They also consulted with Emmanuel Didier, a Colorado-based landscape architect and an acquaintance of Clancy\u2019s, to vet the designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax magazine-block-editorial-parallax alignfull has-content-box has-background-color-quaternary has-box-color-quaternary has-object-cover-left-middle is-style-content-left-split has-background-opacity-80\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-media\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-background-image\"><\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-figure js-block-editorial-parallax-active\" data-rellax-speed=\"-5\" data-rellax-percentage=\"0.5\"><picture class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-picture\"><source media=\"(max-height: 480px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-021-800x480.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-height: 720px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-021-800x720.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-height: 768px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-021-800x768.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"1080\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-image has-background-opacity has-background-opacity-80 wp-image-116808\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1397-GARDEN-021-800x1080.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-content-outer\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-content-inner\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\">How to keep a plant alive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">1: Water at least once a week, taking care not to over- or under-water the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">2: Check for signs of pests and rot. Weed your garden frequently. Prune and deadhead as necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">3: Feed your soil with mulch, compost, worm castings, or other nutritious fertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">4: Support your garden by protecting it from animals, staking plants, and planting companion plants to encourage more growth.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">\u201cWhen he met with us, we talked through all these things we had no idea about, like drip lines and tree canopies,\u201d says Boysa. \u201cWe became cognizant that we\u2019d have to understand the sun\u2019s pattern and know where it hits at certain times in the day. There was a lot of preplanning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">In early April, a crew led by Limerick helped prepare the garden bed and secured its first plantings. Later in the month, on Earth Day, students, faculty, and a number of project supporters completed their first planting: sunny marigolds, a symbol of new beginnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Perennial Favorite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-151.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">After the growing season comes the harvest. Next to the marigolds went sunny asters, purple black-eyed Susans, and a riot of other&nbsp;colors; when the plants were ready, the garden team organized a program of fall and winter events for the BU community, including do-it-yourself dyeing workshops. Each event began by dyeing fabric squares in vats of plant pigment, a roughly 45-minute process. In the intervening time, the team facilitated activities like flower ink painting and community education sessions. When 45 minutes was up, the dyed fabric was collected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">\u201cOur idea was to turn these dyed fabric squares into a book, which will be a record of the certain species we used at a community event, the process we did,\u201d says Boysa. \u201cThe [fabric from] community events will be in the pages alongside our own group research, and as this garden grows older, we\u2019ll see the progression of our skills and methodology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax magazine-block-editorial-parallax alignfull has-background-color-tertiary has-box-color-tertiary has-object-cover-center-middle is-style-content-right-split has-background-opacity-80\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-media\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-background-image\"><\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-figure js-block-editorial-parallax-active\" data-rellax-speed=\"-5\" data-rellax-percentage=\"0.5\"><picture class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-picture\"><source media=\"(max-height: 480px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-854x480.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-height: 720px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-1200x720.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(max-height: 768px)\" srcset=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-1200x768.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-image has-background-opacity has-background-opacity-80 wp-image-116813\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-118-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-content-outer\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-parallax-content-inner\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left\">How to Make Dye with Flower Petals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">1: Gather a large handful of colorful flowers, discarding stems and leaves, in a coffee mug or other small, heat-resistant container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">2: Pour boiling water over petals, until just covered. Using a stick, mash petals to release pigments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">3: Acids and bases, such as lemon juice and baking soda, will lighten or darken the color, respectively. Add if desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left is-style-default has-medium-font-size\">4: Steep for at least half an hour; the longer you steep, the more vivid the color will be.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">The School of Theatre costume department has also expressed interest in using the plants for fabric dyeing and potentially growing their own fibers. \u201cSo this will truly be a CFA garden,\u201d Clancy says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Although the five seniors who make up the garden team will graduate in the spring, they want the space\u2019s oversight and upkeep to be as sustainable as the garden itself. Seitz says that they\u2019re looking for rising juniors and first-semester MFA students to take over; that would give the newcomers two full years to get their hands dirty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay magazine-block-editorial-photoessay alignwide wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-fourths-2-1-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-2\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-031.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-064-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-064-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-064-424x636.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-064-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-064-667x1000.jpg 667w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-064.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/12\/24-1602-COLORGARDEN-011.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-secondary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-normal-font-size\">In October 2024, the garden team held a DIY dyeing workshop. Participants dyed fabric squares with flowers from the garden and made small paintings using flower ink. The event was also an opportunity to educate attendees about the garden and its goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important things for future gardeners to keep in mind, says Boysa, is that while the color garden is designed to be used by BU artists, it\u2019s meant for anyone to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The founding team considers the garden an outdoor community classroom. \u201cThat means two things,\u201d says Boysa. \u201cThe first is a literal classroom for students to sit, observe, and draw,\u201d she explains. \u201cThe second is a more abstract, community classroom, where anyone passing by can go in and learn something. Our garden is a piece of art, and everyone is contributing to it, whether they know it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories is-style-card has-three magazine-block-editorial-relatedstories\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-title\">Related<\/h3>\n\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1068\" height=\"1335\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/04\/seed-grant-leadin.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/04\/seed-grant-leadin.jpeg 1068w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/04\/seed-grant-leadin-509x636.jpeg 509w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/04\/seed-grant-leadin-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/04\/seed-grant-leadin-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/04\/seed-grant-leadin-800x1000.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1068px) 100vw, 1068px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>CFA Students<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2023\/seed-grants-fund-ideas-from-textbook-lending-to-reducing-dental-waste\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">Seed Grants Fund Ideas From Textbook Lending To Reducing Dental Waste<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">April 25, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share wp-prepress-component-article-share-sharedby-news\"><span class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share-label\">Shared from<\/span> <span class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share-source\"><div class=\"editorial-branding editorial-branding-news bu-prepress-branding-type-text\"><div class=\"editorial-branding-wrap\">News<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/01\/Megan-Kwan-thumbnail.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/01\/Megan-Kwan-thumbnail.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/01\/Megan-Kwan-thumbnail-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>Visual Arts<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2024\/beyond-the-classroom-megan-kwan\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">Beyond the Classroom: Megan Kwan (CFA&#8217;27)<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">January 10, 2024<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share wp-prepress-component-article-share-sharedby-news\"><span class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share-label\">Shared from<\/span> <span class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share-source\"><div class=\"editorial-branding editorial-branding-news bu-prepress-branding-type-text\"><div class=\"editorial-branding-wrap\">News<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-636x425.jpeg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-1498x1000.jpeg 1498w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-900x600.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-450x300.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2024\/05\/cfa-cardboard-feat-24-1244-SCULPTURES-001-1-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>Visual Arts<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2024\/the-art-of-reuse\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">The Art of Reuse<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">May 30, 2024<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share wp-prepress-component-article-share-sharedby-news\"><span class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share-label\">Shared from<\/span> <span class=\"wp-prepress-component-article-share-source\"><div class=\"editorial-branding editorial-branding-news bu-prepress-branding-type-text\"><div class=\"editorial-branding-wrap\">News<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the summer and fall of 2024, a team of School of Visual Arts (SVA) students-turned-gardeners took on the challenge of growing, planting, monitoring, and harvesting a host of vibrant plants\u2014coreopsis, indigo, aster, and chamomile\u2014at a sunny, 92-by-45-foot plot just east of the CFA building. CFA\u2019s color garden features mainly native, drought-resistant perennials, as well [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14125,"featured_media":117430,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[],"bu-publication":[191],"magazine-article-category":[373,374,379],"magazine-topic":[460],"news-article-category":[],"news-topic":[],"bu_edition":[443],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/116799"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116799"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/116799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132352,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/116799\/revisions\/132352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine-article-category?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine-topic?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"news-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-article-category?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"news-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topic?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=116799"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=116799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}