Plantasia in the Gardens

Fifty years after Canadian electronic pioneer Mort Garson first created an album specifically designed to help houseplants grow, his cult 1976 Moog synthesizer masterpiece is coming home to the greenhouse. Presented by the Polaris Music Prize in partnership with Sacred Bones Records and Friends of Allan Gardens, Plantasia in the Gardens is an immersive evening of high-fidelity vinyl playback, deep listening, and discussion held amidst the lush flora of the historic downtown conservatory.

Originally given away exclusively with purchases at Mother Earth plant boutique in Los Angeles or alongside Simmons mattresses at Sears, *Mother Earth's Plantasia* has evolved over five decades from an obscure oddity into a beloved electronic classic. Its whimsical, melodic Moog synthesizer passages and warm analogue tones paved the way for generations of ambient, synth-pop, and environmental music enthusiasts.

The Experience Set within the verdant interior of Allan Gardens' heritage glasshouses, the listening session offers attendees a rare chance to hear Garson's vintage synthesizer arrangements echo across tropical palm trees, ferns, and exotic flora. The evening pairs a complete audiophile vinyl playback of the remastered album with contextual remarks and conversation celebrating Garson's sonic legacy and the intertwined histories of electronic synthesis and botany.

Getting There Allan Gardens Conservatory is located at 160 Gerrard Street East, between Jarvis and Sherbourne streets in the Garden District. Transit riders can take Line 1 to College Station and transfer to the 506 Carlton streetcar eastbound to Jarvis Street, or walk east from the station in roughly ten minutes. Space inside the conservatory greenhouse is limited, so arriving on time is highly recommended.