THE DYE GARDEN

Located in Central Baltimore’s Station North/Greenmount neighborhood, Blue Light Junction also stewards the annex of Hidden Harvests’ “Natural Dye Garden”, located next to the studio, where we cultivate and host a variety of dye and medicinal plants.

Ever evolving, the garden is supported by a number of committed volunteers, including artists, students, teachers, and community members invested in the cultivation, exploration, and preservation of natural dyes both regionally and globally.

VOLUNTEER DAYS CALENDAR

WINTER SEASON VOLUNTEER DAYS:
Join us during volunteer days to connect and learn more about natural dyes and the work we do at Blue Light Junction.

This is an open space for the community, and all ages and experience levels are welcome.

Swing by at 209 McAllister St, Baltimore, on any of the days marked in the calendar anytime during volunteer hours. No sign-in required.

Questions? Send us a message to 
volunteers@bluelightjunction.com 

CULTIVATED PLANTS

  • INDIGO

    Persicaria Tinctoria

    Indigo has been prized for centuries for its deep blue dye, which was considered a luxury item and often associated with royalty and spirituality.

    Historically, indigo has been used to treat respiratory ailments, digestive issues, and infections due to its antimicrobial properties.

    Indigo dye has played a significant cultural and economic role in many civilizations, particularly in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia, where it continues to be used in textiles, art, and religious ceremonies.

  • MARIGOLD

    Species Tagetes

    These plants produce a bright yellow dye and are native to central, southern Mexico, and many other surrounding Latin American countries, but are now cultivated all over the world.

    Historically, the marigolds have held a special place in cuisine, medicine, and spiritual ceremonies.

  • COTTON

    Gossypium barbadense

    Sea Island Brown Cotton

    This cotton species produces especially long fibers that are perfect for textile work and has been cultivated since antiquity.

    The cotton plant itself has held significant cultural and economic space in societies across the globe.

  • FIG

    Ficus carica 


    The fig is a species of flowering shrub or tree that is native to the Mediterranean region, western and southern Asia, although it is now grown throughout the world.  The plant produces a fleshy fruit that is often pollinated by wasps. 


    The plant has held significant cultural value throughout history and is widely believed to be the first plant cultivated by humans, predating the domestication of barley, wheat, and legumes. Subsequently, there is significant mythology connected with the fig, linking the fruit to deities associated with fertility, the beginning of life, and creation.

  • RED AMARANTH

    Amaranthus cruentus

    Native from Central America to Nicaragua, this distinctive plant has held many cultural, medicinal, and culinary uses.   While it is often grown as an ornamental plant, it has long been cultivated for its grains, which produce a distinctive red pigment, also used for ceremonial and festive purposes. Amaranth has historically been brewed as an astringent, treating a variety of excessive bleeding disorders, while its leaves are often eaten for their anti-inflammatory qualities. 

  • MADDER

    Rubia tinctorum


    From the 3rd millennium BCE in India to Viking burial sites in York, Madder has been cultivated worldwide for its red dye.  The chemical compound its roots produce, Alizarin, has a long history in oil painting and was the first natural dye to be synthetically reproduced.  Madder has also been an important medicinal plant, prized for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities.