We mess up

A walking tour to discover the plants of Lausanne—the ones we see but don’t really notice.

To observe the plants we pass by every day without paying them any attention, to discover their stories, and to explore little-known spots in our neighborhood while having fun through a street performance—these are the goals of “On se plante.” By giving plants a voice, this walking performance invites people of all ages in Lausanne to take a fresh look at the plants that coexist in the human world, transforming their neighborhood from a place of passage into a space for spectacle and wonder. This walking tour is designed to be adaptable to many neighborhoods, as the plants featured are common ones. In addition to making people laugh and raising awareness of nature’s presence in the city, “On se plante” aims to make botany accessible and bring street theater to Lausanne’s neighborhoods, following the maxim, “If you don’t go to the theater, the theater will come to you”!

We propose a one-hour walk punctuated by skits during which actors will give voice to the plants present, whether they’re out in the open or hiding in plain sight. Each walk will be tailored to the plants and the neighborhood’s layout. For the Participatory Budget, we propose 10 performances in 5 Lausanne neighborhoods, specifically 2 performances for each neighborhood. The walking performances will take the name of the project and the neighborhood, such as “On se plante à Montchoisi” for the performances in the Montchoisi neighborhood. During these performances, audience members will be led through the streets by a botanist in charge of cataloging Lausanne’s flora, accompanied by Impatience, a young woman searching for the perfect spot to plant a seed she has found. During their wanderings, the duo will encounter the laurel, a member of the very exclusive “blacklist,” try to avoid a shopkeeper’s questionable jokes, and then set out in search of the wild carrot. Without a doubt, the audience will laugh, be outraged, and—above all—learn without even realizing it. Because while the lives of these plants are dramatized, everything is true, based on scientific, historical, and cultural facts.

10,200

“On se plante” targets five neighborhoods in Lausanne where common plants such as laurel, ivy, and plantain can be found. The first neighborhood targeted is Montchoisi, where Séverine Lorrain—one of the project’s leaders and a member of the “EnVie Montchoisi” association’s committee—lives. The other four neighborhoods have yet to be determined. The neighborhoods of Sous-gare, Montelly, Les Alpes, and Chailly are being considered, given that they have active neighborhood associations. The goal is to reach out to these associations and community centers to incorporate the “On Se Plante” performance into neighborhood events, such as Mobility Day or yard sales like the one organized by the Sous-gare association. Since the walk takes the form of short skits, it is flexible and can be adapted to the layout and vegetation of each location.

The association is currently being established, with the articles of incorporation being drafted. It is called “On sème.”