Deutsch Intern

European Ethnology

Multispecies Storytelling

The Wool Bee – RZ Encyclopaedia

^{Concept and design: Peter ‘Peps’ Schmitt}

A Love of the Walnut Tree

^{Concept and design: Dacian Redl}

Arrival. How the kaki tree came to Lower Franconia

^{Concept and design: Sherin-Michelle Grabenstein}

Concept/Sponsorship: Prof. Dr Michaela Fenske
Text/Illustration: Luise Stark

This picture story explores the life (and coexistence) of a Burlat cherry tree from the perspective of hospitality in the garden (Clément, Gilles 2015). Throughout the year, the illustrations depict a wide variety of species that are guests of the cherry tree.

The hospitality of the cherry tree

Cover image: The hospitality of the cherry tree

The beginning: When a child is born, a cherry tree is planted. That’s what people do. Now there’s a cherry tree growing in the garden… year after year.

Spring: Attracted by the fragrant blossoms, bees and bumblebees buzz over to enjoy the sweet nectar and immediately spread the pollen amongst the neighbouring cherry trees.

Early summer: Frost moth caterpillars eat their way through the lush green leaves – sometimes more, sometimes less – and as long as the visitors leave enough foliage behind, the cherry tree doesn’t mind.

High summer: the cherries are turning red and the first winged visitors are arriving from above: blackbirds and starlings. They feast on whatever the tree has to offer. The cherry tree stands still.
There’s enough for everyone.

The gardener knows this too and lets the birds get on with it: “We can’t reach that high up anyway.” — High summer: the cherries are turning red and the first winged visitors are arriving from above: blackbirds and starlings. They feast on whatever the tree has to offer. The cherry tree stands still. There’s enough for everyone. The gardener knows this too and lets the birds get on with it: “We can’t reach that high up anyway.”

High summer: People help themselves too, and whatever falls to the ground is nibbled away at night by martens, mice and badgers. They’re all keen on the sweet fruit.

Autumn: The cherry tree no longer needs its leaves at all.
It sheds them, providing a cosy bed for worms and hedgehogs,
Letting go, too, is a form of hospitality. — Autumn: The cherry tree no longer needs its leaves at all. It sheds them, providing a cosy bed for worms and hedgehogs, Letting go, too, is a form of hospitality.

Winter: And whilst the tree stands bare
in the cold, insects hibernate in the bark. — Winter: And whilst the tree stands bare in the cold, insects hibernate in the bark.

Conclusion: That is the secret of hospitality:
The cherry tree does not need to keep everything for itself.
It is enough to make room for unassuming guests – whoever they may be, and whenever they may come. — Conclusion: That is the secret of hospitality: The cherry tree does not need to keep everything for itself. It is enough to make room for unassuming guests – whoever they may be, and whenever they may come.

At the beginning of the new millennium an originally mediterranean wildbee appeared in the South of Germany: the Violet Carpenter Bee.

In Franconia the bee was initially attacked as a dangerous stranger (interpreted as Ufos).

Twenty years later, the bee has been accepted as important Co-gardener.

In 2022, the Violet Carpenter Bee was elected as animal of the garden (Heinz-Sielmann-Stiftung),

in 2024 it was elected as wildbee of the year.

More and more gardeners are accepting the needs of the Violet Carpenter Bee: Dead apple trees are allowed to remain in the garden, salvia enforces the mediterranean communities of plants.

Reinforced by climate change the Violet Carpenter Bee also migrates to Northern Europe.

Like many other species, the Violet Carpenter Bee is here to stay.

Idea: Prof. Dr. Michaela Fenske

Mit der Blauen Holzbiene Denken. Neue Perspektiven auf die Verflechtungen von Menschen und Insekten. In: Bayerisches Jahrbuch 2023.
Becoming Aware of Insects: Dangers and Endangerments in the Anthropocene. In: Hollsten, Laura et al. (ed.): Human-Bug Encounters in Multispecies Networks. Boston/Leiden 2025.

Design: Dr. Sandra Eckardt

The stories we tell shape our understanding of the world. In times of multiple global crises, we need new stories: stories that are not solely centered on human needs and perspectives, but that critically reflect on them. Stories that turn respectfully and with interest toward other living beings, explore their forms of expression, and consider what is meaningful to them. The philosopher Vinciane Despret refers to this as a “Curious Practice.” Gardening with many species can be such a practice.

In our conversations with our research partners, there are many stories that express familiarity with and joy in living alongside other living beings. A sense of responsibility arises from this familiarity, which in turn can lead to active support. We examined these narratives and identified recurring themes and narrative patterns. Artists and designers have taken these up to tell not only human stories but also more-than-human stories using their own creative means. This is multispecies storytelling.