A Tale of Two Disciplines

When thinking of CTAHR’s interdisciplinary collaborations, the connection between plant sciences and the Theatre and Dance department isn’t perhaps the first to come to mind. But this exact partnership came into full bloom for the recent UH Manoa theatre production Leviathan, which went up at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre on December 5–8.

Event producer and performance studies PhD candidate Maria Teresa Houar worked with junior Extension agent Russell Galanti to use edible flowers in the performance. The flowers, which are being trialed at the O‘ahu Urban Garden Center, included sulphur cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus), butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), and hybrid roses (yes, roses are edible!).

The significant relationship between people and plants often leads to intersections between disparate areas of our lives…in this case floriculture, food, and the performing arts. So get out there and sing, dance, and eat your flowers!

For more information on the edible and cut flower trials, you can contact Russell Galanti at rgalanti@hawaii.edu.