THANK A TREE: Participation Beneath the Canopy
About this Event
THANK A TREE: PARTICIPATION BENEATH THE CANOPY
PRESENTED BY GREEN RELIGION AT FLORA OF MIAMI
IN COLLABORATION WITH LIVING STUDIO
Join artist, designer, gardener, and Green Religion founder John DeFaro alongside environmental artist, science communicator, and Living Studio founder Lauren Reilly for a free outdoor eco-art workshop exploring observation, gratitude, and participation with the living world.
Set within the shaded garden environment of FLORA of Miami Native Garden Center, participants are invited to slow down, notice more deeply, and create personal works inspired by trees, memory, place, and environmental connection.
Using pencil, crayon, language, and imagery, participants will create individual artworks on paper combining drawing, reflection, messages of gratitude, and personal responses to nature. The workshop encourages open exploration, conversation, and playful participation. No prior art-making experience is necessary.
Participants may also photograph their completed works and optionally upload them to Lauren Reilly’s ongoing Thank a Tree story-mapping platform, contributing to a growing online archive and virtual forest of favorite trees, observations, and shared environmental connection.
The workshop will include a short visual presentation and conversation introducing Green Religion, Living Studio, Climate AWEARness, and how small acts of engagement with the living world can help ease stress, climate anxiety, and feelings of disconnection. The discussion will also explore Green Religion as an evolving creative platform using storytelling, design, participation, and cultural experience to encourage environmental awareness.
By gathering in a garden, sitting beneath trees, supporting places like FLORA of Miami Native Garden Center, and participating creatively with nature, participants are invited to reconnect with a greater sense of care, attention, and possibility.
The conversation will also touch on how climate stress and modern systems of overconsumption can leave people feeling overwhelmed or emotionally disconnected. Thank a Tree instead encourages gentle participation, creativity, and shared experience as pathways toward awareness, care, and hopeful engagement.
Participants will leave with their completed artwork, new observations, a renewed sense of connection to the living world, and a small signed and dated original tree drawing by artist and designer John DeFaro.
This workshop may be lightly photographed and documented for future community sharing through Green Religion, Living Studio, and the Thank a Tree platform.
What to Bring
• Comfortable clothing suitable for a warm outdoor garden setting
• A mobile phone or camera if you'd like to document your work
• Curiosity, observation, and openness to participation
• Bug spray if desired — please apply away from other attendees
Materials will be provided.
Coffee, water, and light refreshments will be available during the workshop.
This workshop takes place outdoors at FLORA of Miami. Art-making areas will be shaded beneath the canopy.
Participants are welcome to explore and experience FLORA of Miami’s garden environment throughout the workshop, with time to walk the grounds, observe native plants, and enjoy the space at their own pace.
Participation begins with noticing. And having fun.
Photography & Sharing
Photography and casual video documentation are welcome during the workshop.
If sharing publicly or on social media, participants are encouraged to tag:
@mygreenreligion
@sunrei.s
@floraofmiami
We love seeing observations, artworks, moments beneath the canopy, and shared participation with the living world.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Agenda
Info: Coffee, light refreshments, introductions, and a brief conversation about FLORA of Miami, Green Religion, Living Studio, and the surrounding offerings of the native plant garden center. The relaxed atmosphere at FLORA provides an inviting urban oasis for observation, creativity, and connection beneath the canopy. Participants are invited to slow down, notice, reflect, and connect with the surrounding landscape and trees. Tables and chairs will be available for drawing, writing, mapping, photography, and simple creative exercises inspired by the living world. Participants will also be introduced to the online Thank a Tree platform, where they may choose to share photographs, drawings, writing, poetry, reflections, and other creative responses inspired by their experience. Optional group sharing and closing reflections will conclude the workshop.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
