Published on May 29, 2026
Charlotte Haney grew up on arts and crafts. For her, painting stones outside or dressing up a plywood board was always more exciting than a blank canvas.
Now the outdoor educator is bringing that same spirit to the Children’s Garden at Evergreen Brick Works, where she’s been creating nature-inspired murals to a space that supports vital natureconnection.
She tells us about her new additions to the Children’s Garden and the importance of art in supporting nature connection in urban spaces.
Evergreen: Can you tell us about your recent art projects in the Children’s Garden and share your inspiration behind them?
Since the construction of the Geoff Cape Amphitheatre in the Children’s Garden, my team of outdoor educators and I were so excited to get back into the space to create more whimsical creativity to add to this already wonderful and forever evolving space.
For me, one of the places I wanted to brighten up were the plywood boxes in the garden that cover our garden hose hook-ups. I had a vision to create mini murals to celebrate local species and were meant to turn the overlooked parts of the garden into opportunities for engagement to build nature connections in the Children’s Garden.
The imagery is inspired by the natural world, but the bright and lively tone of these mini murals is driven by the children who spend time here in the garden through our unique programming for children and youth, such as Adventure Camp or Nature School or even those who come visit the space during our public open house. Their energy and curiosity inspire me every day, and the sense of wonder they hold for the species we find in the quarry or surrounding valley brings all of us all so much joy.
Evergreen: Why is it important for you to incorporate nature-based art in building nature connection with the communities you work with?
Creating art is a fun and inviting way for kids to reflect on nature and their experiences outdoors or beyond the walls of our homes, classrooms and indoor community spaces. When kids share their ideas and make art from their experiences and imaginations, they are prompted to recount adventures and express their own creative style. Whether it be paint, crayons, or clay, I’ve overheard so many joyfulnature stories shared by little artists as they work.
In our approach with nature programming for kids at the Brick Works, we try to connect to the natural world in a wide range of ways. The act of creating art based on the natural world invites us to really take note of the beings all around us and get to know them a bit better. When kids get to do this work through art, it helps them flex a creative muscle and activate a different part of their brain.
Berry Blast in the Children’s Garden at Evergreen Brick Works.
Evergreen: What emotions or reflections do you hope for those visiting the Children’s Garden to experience when engaging with your art?
I hope these mini murals spark joy and curiosity in garden visitors. My hope is that what started as a simple way to dress up our plywood box covers can invite folks to talk about local wildlife or inspire visitors to create their own artwork. As we continue with projects in the garden and collaborate with the children who visit and return to this space, I hope that more kids can start adding their own touch to the garden.
Evergreen: For someone who wishes to brighten up a space in their home, school or community, do you have any tips from your personal practice on how to get started?
When it comes to nature art, the first step is my favourite—getting outdoors! Get your people together and explore the ravines, head to your favourite spot, or find a place that you’ve never been to.Being together with each other and in the natural world is what inspires me most but finding a way that works best for you. The beauty of creating art for your home, school, or community is that there is no one way, and it does not need to be perfect.
Sometimes it can be tricky to find space, time, and materials for this type of work. These garden mini murals are painted on recycled plywood with outdoor acrylic wall paint. I’ve also worked with miss-tints from the paint store or leftover paint that my friends and family have had from various projects at home. This is all to say you don’t need fancy materials to get something started. Starting with a painted stone can bring a spot of colour and joy your space—no contribution is too small!
