Fiestas, Art Exhibits & Cuisine examine the relationship between Plants & People

Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, Arizona
Tohono Chul Park will hold three events beginning in April that focus on ethnobotany. The Park, which was recently selected as one of the ten great botanical gardens in the world, will examine the relationship between plants and people beginning on April 24 with the opening of the art exhibit ‘Ethnobotany: the Nature & Culture of Plants’ followed by a sampler of food from Sonoran Desert plants on April 26. The final event is a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, tequila tasting and fundraiser to benefit Tohono Chul Park, Viva Tequila! to be held at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort on May 5.

May-June 10: Ethnobotany: the Nature & Culture of Plants: Ethnobotany is a rich subject for Tucson artists whose work is featured in this exhibit. Julia Andres is a sculptor who casts in bronze a bounty of three-dimensional fruits, seeds and vegetables that she details with polychromatic patinas. Botanical illustrator Margaret Pope’s work will include an image of Tohono O’odham squash that she observed in Tohono Chul Park’s Ethnobotanical Garden. Works in watercolor by Martha Burgess and Sharon Bertrand and colored pencil art by Joan McGann will depict significant and useful plants of the region such as devils’ claw, used by Native American basket makers to weave dark brown design elements, as well as cactus fruits, mesquite and corn used for food and ceremonial purposes. Held in the Tohono Chul Park Exhibit House. Free with admission to the Park

May 5: Viva Tequila! A fiesta, tequila tasting and fundraiser to benefit Tohono Chul Park. Celebrate the Mexican fiesta – Cinco de Mayo – with a private tequila-tasting at sunset on a lovely outdoor patio at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa! The Marriott’s tequila masters will pour samples of some of the finest tequilas, served with ice-cold margaritas and hearty tequila-inspired appetizers. This fundraiser benefits Tohono Chul Park. Pre-registration is required and all participants must be 21 years of age. Call (520) 742-6455 to register. Held on Monday, May 5, 6-8pm, at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort. Cost: General Public: $50/person or $95/couple; TCP Members: $45/person or $85/couple

Named one of the great botanical gardens in the world, Tohono Chul Park is the Southwest’s center where nature, art and culture connect. Educational programs, art, and cultural exhibits, nature trails, gardens, and special events offer the visitor the opportunity to experience the desert and all its treasurers.
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