Gathered: Storied Botanicals Allison B. Young

The Oscars are tonight, and I thought I'd reflect on the powerful ways two of the nominated films used flowers to help tell their stories and how they urge us to remember lessons from history.

“Life sprang […] from the lotus.” In this first episode of Season 3, I delve into a flower that’s closely tied to divinity and many Eastern faiths: the lotus flower. It’s an integral part of many creation stories, whether Hinduism, Buddhism, or the imagery of ancient Egypt. 
Let’s wade in together to take a closer look at a flower that not only offers spiritual guidance but informs one country’s rich culture and even the creative process.
Gathered: Storied Botanicals is a monthly podcast with room and the will to grow. It was written, recorded, and produced by Allison B. Young. Music is composed and performed by Raven Bauer Durham. Sound effects by Pixabay. You can subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. Head over to gathered-storiedbotanicals.com to learn more. Thank you for your support!

Works Cited:
Binh, Khanah, Linh, Kim. “Lotus Blossom: The Soul of the Vietnamese Culture.” Nhan Dan News, July 2019. https://en.nhandan.vn/megastory/lotus2019/.
 
Binney, Ruth. Plant Lore and Legend. Dover Publications, 2019.

 “Lotus as a cut flower.” Pond Megastore, 2023, https://pondmegastore.com/pages/can-i-purchase-cut-lotus-flowers-for-an-event-i-am-planning#:~:text=Lotus%20are%20not%20available%20as%20a%20cut%20flower%20due%20to,the%20stem%20to%20the%20flower.


For full transcript and bibliography, head over here.

Introducing Gathered: Storied Botanicals
Gathered: Storied Botanicals is a monthly podcast—with room and the will to grow. In each episode, I delve into the world of flowers weaving my experiences as a floral designer and writer with a flower’s depth and significance. By putting each bloom under a historic, scientific, literary, folkloric, or artistic lens we can better see this fascinating world as fertile ground for teaching us how we relate to and understand the world around us.
If you’re looking for a chance to discover and explore this fertile ground or if you need a brief escape Gathered: Storied Botanicals can be your proverbial campfire to gather’ round. 
To learn more about words, flowers, and art head over to gathered-storiedbotanicals.com 

On the final day of the year, the season's final episode of Gathered: Storied Botanicals delves into the story of the Poinsettia. It goes by many names and its intricate history illuminates all the many gifts it offers during the Christmas season. 

Some unexpected heartbreak has had me change my initial plans for this month's episode and revisit a lyric essay I wrote in Chicago called, "Girlish Notions." It's a departure from past episodes and it's a bit more personal than what I'm comfortable with, but felt compelled to create something as an offer of catharsis. Because of some language geared toward sexual assault, listener discretion is advised for this episode.

They lie low to the ground. Sneaky and insidious, they creep along forest floors, climb garden gates, and choke out its neighbors. This Halloween let's follow the coils of creeping vines that have made their way into our culture, from 19th century literature to the horror movies we watch every spooky season. 

Happy Halloween!