Wild Medicine Eco Mural 21: Bartram’s Garden
Location: Bartram's Garden, 56th Street Gateway, Philadelphia, PA.
Artist: Designed, illustrated, and painted by Hagopian Arts
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A Celebration of Ecology, Heritage, and Community
As part of the multi-year transformation of the 56th Street Corridor, Wild Medicine Eco Mural 21: Bartram’s Garden celebrates the essential roles of local pollinators and medicinal plants, many of which were traditionally used by the Lenni Lenape people. This Eco Mural Project consists of eight free-standing mini murals located at the 56th Street Gateway, where Lindbergh Boulevard meets 56th Street near the lower entrance to Bartram’s Garden. Each mural is meticulously hand-painted and mounted on custom-fabricated structures that complement the artwork’s unique shapes and borders, offering a dynamic visual experience.
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This project was developed in collaboration with the Philadelphia Housing Authority, Empowered CDC, and Bartram’s Garden, with additional contributions by Laura Lyn Stern, whose mosaic planters enhance the connection between art, nature, and community with the theme ‘what nourishes.’
Community-Driven Design and Historical Inspiration
At the heart of Hagopian Arts’ public art projects is a focus on community engagement, which played a vital role in the creation of Eco Mural 21. Feedback from a community meeting shaped the mural’s theme, centering on the medicinal plants at Bartram’s Garden—the oldest botanical garden in the United States—and their historical use by the Lenni Lenape people.
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Founded in 1728 by pioneering botanist John Bartram and his son William, Bartram’s Garden is a significant historical and ecological site. It was one of the first gardens in America dedicated to studying and cultivating native plants, many of which were used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal and cultural purposes. The Lenape’s botanical knowledge, deeply tied to the land, is reflected in the garden’s rich biodiversity, long predating European settlers.
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The murals feature children gathered on the riverbank at Bartram’s Garden, symbolizing a hopeful vision for future generations and renewed connections to nature. Patterns inspired by traditional Lenape beadwork further honor their cultural heritage and enduring relationship with the land.
Medicinal Plants and Their Uses
Hagopian Arts’ lead artist Kala incorporated plants from Bartram’s catalog that reflect the Lenni Lenape’s medicinal practices.
These include:
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Southern Magnolia and Echinacea: Used to alleviate symptoms of colds, coughs, and sore throats.
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Comfrey: Applied to wounds to promote healing.
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Black Cohosh: Addressed gynecological issues such as menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms.
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Burdock and Red Clover: Purified the blood and treated skin conditions like eczema and rashes.
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Cleavers: Known for diuretic and detoxifying effects.
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Mugwort and Narrowleaf Mountain Mint: Aided in digestion and provided calming effects.
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Bloodroot: Used topically for warts and skin growths due to its antiseptic properties.
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Tall Goldenrod and Witch Hazel: Recognized for their astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, treating skin irritations and colds.
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Blue Vervain and Passionflower: Supported nervous system healing, eased pain, and improved sleep.
These plants’ medicinal applications extend beyond Lenape traditions, forming the foundation of practices in traditional, functional, and integrative medicine across cultures.
The Role of Pollinators in Ecosystem Health
The mural highlights native pollinators, emphasizing their critical role in maintaining ecological balance. From bees to butterflies, these keystone species support biodiversity, enabling the growth of plants that provide both food and medicinal benefits:​
Honeybees: Known for producing honey and beeswax, honeybees contribute to wound healing, soothing sore throats, and promoting skin health.
Monarch Butterflies: Their dependence on Milkweed throughout their lifecycle underscores the interconnectedness of pollinators and plants. The Lenape used Milkweed sap for wart removal and its roots for treating dysentery.
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterflies: Found near their host Spicebush plant, they signal ecosystem health and aid in pollination. The Lenape used Spicebush for teas and poultices to treat colds and fevers.
Yellow Swallowtail Butterflies: Their presence near wild cherry and poplar trees supports plants with nutritional and medicinal significance.
These pollinators are more than beautiful creatures—they are essential to the stability of ecosystems, ensuring the survival and well-being of countless species, including humans.
Interactive Engagement and Workshops
Two panels in the mural depict children immersed in native flora, symbolizing hope for a sustainable future. One features artist Kala’s son, Kai, and his friend, Kadence, joyfully chatting amid passionflowers. Another shows Kai and another friend, Harlee, kneeling among clusters of Goldenrod and Vervain, embodying the harmonious balance between people and nature.
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At the mural’s unveiling on September 15th, Hagopian Arts hosted a series of engaging workshops led by local experts:
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Herbalist Melaney Gilchrist guided community participants through herbal medicine-making workshops, sharing her knowledge of plant-based remedies.
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Mindfulness yoga practitioner Nakesha Moore of Breathe Moore led youth participants through yoga and mindfulness practices, fostering relaxation and a deeper connection to nature.
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Laura Lyn Stern facilitated a family-friendly ceramic activity, What Nourishes Us, encouraging creative exploration of health and nourishment.
Scannable QR codes on each mural provide detailed insights into the plants, their medicinal uses, cultural significance, and historical ties to the community, along with information about the project’s partners and ongoing environmental advocacy.
A Living Symbol of Stewardship
Bartram’s Garden remains a living testament to the intersection of science, nature, and culture. Wild Medicine Eco Mural 21 celebrates its role as a sanctuary for native plants and a site of cultural remembrance, honoring the Lenape people’s legacy and the ongoing importance of environmental stewardship. By fostering connections between art, history, and ecology, this mural inspires a future where ecological balance sustains generations to come.
About the Eco Mural and Wild Medicine Projects
The Eco Mural Project by Hagopian Arts is an ongoing series of public art installations designed to educate and inspire action on ecological and cultural issues. Each mural is a meticulously detailed, one-of-a-kind piece, blending vibrant artistry with rigorous research. These murals transport viewers into immersive natural environments, revitalizing urban spaces while addressing pressing concerns about environmental degradation.
Within this initiative, the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project focuses specifically on the cultural heritage of medicinal plants. Through detailed depictions and thoughtful programming, the series highlights the historical, cultural, and healing significance of plants, fostering a deeper connection between individuals and the natural world.
The Eco Mural Project is rooted in the belief that reconnecting communities with nature can profoundly impact mental and physical health. These murals showcase the beauty of local flora and fauna, enlivening public spaces and encouraging residents to see their environment in a new light. This engagement inspires a sense of pride, belonging, and collective responsibility for the natural world. To enhance accessibility, each mural includes a scannable QR code linking viewers to a webpage that provides detailed information about the artwork, the plants featured, and their historical and cultural significance. These pages also honor Indigenous histories by sharing the uses, markers, and cultural associations of the depicted flora and fauna.
Community-Driven Programming and Collaborations
Hagopian Arts amplifies the impact of its murals through live events, educational initiatives, and community partnerships that engage people across generations and cultures.
Highlighting Interconnectivity: Eco Mural 20
As part of the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project, Hagopian Arts created Eco Mural 20: Artelo to celebrate the interdependent relationships between plants, pollinators, and human communities. This mural was a collaborative effort with Square Roots Collective and 14 other public artists contributing uniquely to the Artelo hotel project. While each artist brought a distinct vision to the hotel’s art-filled rooms, Hagopian Arts focused on the ecological and cultural themes central to the Wild Medicine Eco Mural Project.
To expand its reach, Hagopian Arts hosted interactive workshops that engaged community members in the creative process: At Hyacinth Montessori School in West Philadelphia, children aged 6–12 participated in a painting workshop, learning about local flora and pollinators while contributing sections to the mural. This activity incorporated yoga and mindfulness practices led by Breathe Moore, blending creativity and well-being.
At John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, community members painted portions of the mural while learning about the featured species and their roles in local ecosystems.
In September 2024, Hagopian Arts partnered with the Kennett Trails Alliance and Artelo for a public mural painting event during the Hispanic Heritage Festival in Kennett Square. Using a paint-by-number system and hand-mixed colors, participants painted sections inspired by the flora, fauna, and geometric patterns of Eco Mural 20. The mural, once finalized by Hagopian Arts, will be installed in Kennett Square in 2025, further expanding its impact and reach.
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​Honoring Indigenous Histories and Local Ecosystems
A standout project in the Wild Medicine Series is Eco Mural 21 at Bartram’s Garden, a series of freestanding mini murals showcasing medicinal plants historically used by the Lenni Lenape people. Designed with community input, the murals feature local flora, Lenape beadwork patterns, and depictions of children on the riverbank where passionflowers grow.
Hagopian Arts conducted extensive research into Bartram’s Garden’s historical catalog to honor the Lenape people’s contributions and highlight the cultural significance of the plants. At the unveiling event on September 15th, Melaney Gilchrist, a West Philadelphia herbalist, and mindfulness yoga practitioner Nakesha Moore of Breathe Moore led workshops for community families. These sessions explored the medicinal properties of the plants while fostering connections between art, history, and wellness practices.
Through its murals and programming, Hagopian Arts creates vibrant spaces for education, inspiration, and dialogue. The Eco Mural Project bridges art and environmental advocacy, encouraging communities to cherish their local ecosystems and honor the cultural and historical ties that bind them to the natural world.
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Wild Medicine: A Multidimensional Creative Experience
This live event combined public art, botanical installations, body-painted models, and performance art to merge the worlds of creativity and herbal wisdom. Hosted in collaboration with women artists, herbalists, and grassroots organizers, the event invited participants to explore the healing connections between art and nature.
Ancient Ancestral Connections
Eco Mural 18: Women's Wild Medicine celebrates the ancestral bond between women and medicinal plants, featuring women from diverse cultural backgrounds alongside flora from their heritage. Installed at Penn OB/GYN, the mural also serves as a pilot for the Women’s Wild Medicine Initiative, a community-driven effort that highlights the healing power of native plants and their historical ties to women.
Wild Medicine Coloring Journal and Foraging Guide
In collaboration with educator and illustrator Katie Lillard, Hagopian Arts produced the Wild Medicine Journal and Coloring Illustration Booklet, inspired by the two murals created for Wild Medicine Eco Mural 15: Mugwort, Mullein, and Mallow. The booklet features twenty medicinal plants rendered in Hagopian Arts’ signature style, blending pattern, naturalism, and realism.
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Hagopian Arts distributed the journal and accompanying foraging guides to schools and community organizations to introduce youth aged 3-18 to ecological awareness in both traditional and nontraditional learning settings. These resources were also shared during a mural unveiling, empowering community members to safely connect with wild plants and explore their uses in daily life.
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Hagopian Arts transforms urban landscapes through art that bridges the worlds of ecology, education, and cultural heritage. Each mural is a portal into the hidden wonders of the natural world. By blending intricate artistry with educational outreach, Hagopian Arts inspires communities to rediscover the beauty and importance of the environment they call home.
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