The Great Lupine Combat day. The traditionalization of eradication in times of crisis.

During the Garden Lupine’s two centuries of presence in Sweden, its apprehension has been marked by cultural reconfigurations – from an appreciated garden plant, through being a token for Swedish midsummer to being deemed an invasive alien species and ecological threat. With the purpose of deepening the understanding of how environmental management works as a nexus of nature and culture, this article analyzes ‘The Great Lupine Combat Day’, to show how the lifecycle of plants and culturally imbued actions and preferences interact. By employing ethnographic methods and qualitative source material to enable a cultural analysis of the traditionalization of eradicating invasive species, the article shows how this annual event ties together an established annual calendar, the life cycle and visuality of plants, biodiversity crises, an idealized aesthetics feature of Swedish nature, and eradication practices. In essence, the management of the Garden Lupine serves as a reminder of how nature is always culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]