Anne Diestelkamp
cultural programmer, artistic researcher/ editor and translator
Workshop
Zakia el Abodi & Anne Diestelkamp
Westerpark, Amsterdam
2025
On Sunday, November 23rd, we went on a stroll through Westerpark to dive into the depths of two members of the rose-family (Rosaceae): hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and the rose (Rosa spp). At a time of constant heartbreak, we turned to two plants that have long been known to have heart-healing properties. During our stroll, we encountered both hawthorn trees and roses in their living form; we shared stories from Greek mythology and Celtic folklore that revolve around the plants; we tasted their flavors in different forms; we learned about the medicinal use of hawthorn berries and rosehips; we reflected on what we can learn from thorns; and how hawthorn can teach us to create space for the vulnerable.