Crazy Plant Ladies: Radical Naturalists and Environmental Preservation

As a team comprised of plant collectors and nature lovers, many in the Kale Tree studio are no stranger to the phrase "crazy plant lady." Crazy plant lady has been re-contextualized among plant enthusiasts to describe some of the most influential and admirable environmentalists, naturalists, and plant lovers. Many adopt the term as a point of pride. In the design field, "crazy plant ladies" have paved the way for advances in sustainability with far-reaching effects, including an influence on biophilic and eco-friendly interior design practices. To celebrate a few of these historic figures, we hope to share some information and appreciation for a few notable women.

Diana Beresford-Kroeger

Diana Beresford-Kroger is a medical biochemist, botanist, and author, who uses her range of knowledge to educate and promote environmental preservation. Beresford-Kroeger has advocated for and educated around the medicinal benefits of trees and plant life, sharing information on the benefits and effects of various vegetation for health. To fight climate change, she developed a "bioplan" with tree planting at its foundation, aiming for everyone on earth to plant six native trees over six years in their communities.

Her home arboretum boasts a vast collection of various hardy and rare tree specimens. She is known for freely gifting seeds and saplings to help spread and replant these trees, many of which were used for a range of benefits by indigenous communities before being demolished through colonization.

Some of the more unique theories from her work have foundations in the Celtic belief system she was raised with, and many of the medicinal benefits of plants she has studied are rooted in Celtic traditions, which may also contribute to her profound respect and appreciation for trees. One of her more intriguing beliefs, while disputed, is that the healing benefits of trees are released through their aerosols, offering curative properties when inhaled. Beresford-Kroger often touts the healing benefits of time spent in forests, which she in part attributes to these aerosols. While some desire more support for these claims, many of the benefits of time among trees are widely documented. Her all-encompassing perspective, and impressive scientific research, have made her a widely celebrated figure, offering an expansive view of the power of nature.

Lorrie Otto

Lorrie Otto was an environmentalist, speaker, and author. She advocated against the use of pesticides after being alarmed by dead birds near her Milwaukee home, which paved the way for the nationwide ban on DDTA. 

Otto was a proponent of natural landscaping and biodiversity, speaking against the water waste of lawns and encouraging people to transform their yard spaces that conserve wildlife and their natural habitats.

Her messaging inspired the organization "Wild Ones," a group that promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly landscaping. Nine people founded the group after they attended one of Otto's lectures. As a result, natural landscaping has seen a progressive increase in popularity, making its way to the rule and not the exception in many personal garden spaces. The widespread normalcy and embrace of natural landscaping and its far-reaching positive effects on the environment may often be attributed to Otto's advocacy efforts. 

Beatrix Farrand

Beatrix Farrand was a founding member of the American Society of Landscape architects and the only woman in the original group. In addition to being the first female landscape architect in America, her renowned landscapes appeared in private residences, the White House, and a range of parks, botanic gardens, and campuses.

She advocated for the importance of nature to improve personal well-fare and spoke about the value of public garden spaces. Her work was known for considering the relationship between natural and built spaces, using landscaping techniques to improve aesthetics in architecture. In addition, she was known for her engineering ability, creating intricately designed gardens and often focused on native plantings. Farrand's visionary approach and widely celebrated landscapes helped pave the way for many women in the field.

While countless women have contributed to environmental preservation through their love of nature, these are a few who greatly inspire our studio. Their innovative approach to preserving, celebrating, and sharing nature encourages out-of-the-box thinking and emphasizes the importance of education. A common understanding between these and most "crazy plant ladies" is that we are participating members of our natural environments. Nature is something to be shared, cherished, and preserved. We hope to carry these themes in our studio and share our passion for nature throughout our designs.