I am so glad you will be giving more attention to plants. I love the way they talk to each other, defend their young, and function symbiotically to support LIFE. My best friends when I was little were a meadow and a sassafras tree. You might enjoy books by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss. I hope you find this path exciting, rewarding, and enhancing your view of just how connected we (all of life) are.
Thank you Linda. I loved Braiding Sweetgrass. Haven't read Gathering Moss yet but it's on my list. I will be sharing some of our films about plants on the newsletter the in the coming months.
“I thought about how indigenous people understood plants with a keen sensitivity gleaned from the accrued knowledge of countless generations of observation. Sadly, too much of that knowledge was undervalued by colonizers and lost forever.”
It struck me (again) how heinous the Trail of Tears was, ripping entire tribal nations from the land they knew and cherished and forcing them into distant and foreign (to them) lands.
When I taught climate change I’d ask students why combatting and reducing emissions was so critical. The answer most often was “to save our planet”. Firstly, I’d note the planet was not “ours”. We share it with so many living things. Secondly, the planet would be just fine (given a millennia to recover from our damage). I explained the work was to save humans life.
The Trail of Tears is one of the elements of American history that doesn't get nearly enough attention in our formal education. It's really shocking and horrific when you consider the full meaning, as you express. And how that story was repeated in some form countless times around the globe. Scott, you sound like a wonderful and thought-provoking teacher. Thank you for sharing. Also, the cockroaches will be just fine as well.
☺️ Thanks. One week a semester my students had to go for a walk and talk to trees. And share what they learned in a short video. I learned so much about my students from their effort, their creativity.
(Also made them do a dumpster dive when we studied waste)
Love this! A couple years ago, I read a newsletter from someone here about how plants speak to us through scents they give off. I have this huge rosemary bush I haul out to my front porch every spring that stays out until as late as I can get away with, usually October before the nights get too cold. The porch gets sun from ~6am to 9pm all summer long and in the winter, I keep it under a grow light go it has gotten pretty big.
The key thing here is whenever I pass by it, errands, walking my dog, etc, I give it a good tussle and it smells really good. The newsletter got me thinking about whether or not the scent is a “thank you” or a “please don’t touch me without consent” and now whenever I pass by, before I tussle the rosemary bush, I ask her if I can tussle her branches.
We modified some landscaping in front of the of our house due to a drainage issue. My one request (demand), that a lilac bush/tree find its way outside my study window.
This is such an eye-opening post, Elliot! I walk through Madison Square Park at least once every work day, and take delight in seeing the different plants and trees as the seasons change. I can identify a surprising number of the plants and trees, and also realize my late mother would be disappointed in how limited my knowledge is, considering all one could now about plants. She was a gardener at our summer home on Fire Island, and turned the sand around the house into a lush garden by digging in seaweed, old horsehair and cotton mattresses, and compost -- all this in the 1950s, when these strategies all were considered weird and quirky by our neighbors. Still, I learned SOME things from her, and now as I read today's post, I find myself intrigued by the knowledge that dinosaurs saw magnolia trees! I'm astonished to know they predate bees by who knows how many millenia. Thanks for the education, Elliot! My walks to and / or from work will be that much richer for having read your post, since it's piqued my curiosity about what I'll see.
How nice to read about flowers 🌸 n a dreary Sunday here in Gotham. Magnolias are truly stunning. Your post took me for a little cruise thru my memory to one of my favorite events that I covered while working for CBS….the Masters. When you approach the Augusta National Golf Club, the entrance way is known as Magnolia Lane. It is truly spectacular to drive thru. The Magnolias form an archway that seems as if it takes you to another world. Truly a spectacular sight. And the Magnolias give way to the even more stunning Azaleas 🌺 planted generously thru out the course. Plants and flowers 💐 bring much joy to people. They say older people living in elder care facilities live longer if they have plants.🪴 not sure that’s really true, but I’m not contesting it.
Science themed documentaries seem like a great endeavor. Best of luck with them. I imagine very challenging to produce.
I “work” very part time in a nursery as my retirement job. I started when I was still doing elder homecare. It was so wonderful to be in an environment that was stress free . You couldn’t have a bad day among the flowers.still can’t.i live near the San Diego botanical gardens (quail gardens) and am a member just enjoy the peaceful walks up and down the paths. Loved the Chicago gardens beyond spectacular! It’s the same feeling I get walking by the ocean
Funny story about not valuing plants. When I taught science to teen moms, in a discussion about energy/ecological pyramids, I remarked that biosynthetic plants produce energy and are the foundation of every food chain. Without plants, humans would not exist, I told them. "We need our vegetables," I joked. One student snickered. "I don't like vegetables. If there weren't any plants, I'd just eat steak!" One of her classmates asked her what cows would eat if there weren't any plants. "Ohhh," she said. "I get it." I loved it when students taught each other!
Don't forget magnolia flowers are edible, too - they taste like ginger and can be made into pickles. I've planted one in my food forest, but it's only knee-high so far!
Thank you for this story Elliot, you are absolutely correct, I am one who, while I love my orchids, ignore them, but never ignore my cat, whose sleek fur is sensual to stroke and purrs, talks and amuses me. Plants just sit there and look pretty.
Beautiful Magnolias. Interesting commentary. When I'm out on a walk or adventure of an observational nature I try to view the world macroscopically and microscopically; how does what I'm seeing fit into the overall landscape - how does what I'm seeing support and live with everything around it, and, microscopically, what about this plant, animal, etc, is unique and can only be realized up close? The magnolias are a wonderful example. Thank you for your information.
Thoroughly enjoyed this article! Thank you for sharing the history behind these glorious trees.....and for reminding us that beauty is all around us and available to everyone if we just look.
"We may not be able to see the dinosaurs, but we can still see what they saw. Like magnolias. And that’s pretty remarkable."
Nice, Elliot. So is today's title.
Yes 🙌
I am so glad you will be giving more attention to plants. I love the way they talk to each other, defend their young, and function symbiotically to support LIFE. My best friends when I was little were a meadow and a sassafras tree. You might enjoy books by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss. I hope you find this path exciting, rewarding, and enhancing your view of just how connected we (all of life) are.
Thank you Linda. I loved Braiding Sweetgrass. Haven't read Gathering Moss yet but it's on my list. I will be sharing some of our films about plants on the newsletter the in the coming months.
I will be looking forward to it.
Hi Elliot.
The trees are not the only people talking to us, but they are speaking volumes.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/01/24/west-drought-trees/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most
“I thought about how indigenous people understood plants with a keen sensitivity gleaned from the accrued knowledge of countless generations of observation. Sadly, too much of that knowledge was undervalued by colonizers and lost forever.”
It struck me (again) how heinous the Trail of Tears was, ripping entire tribal nations from the land they knew and cherished and forcing them into distant and foreign (to them) lands.
When I taught climate change I’d ask students why combatting and reducing emissions was so critical. The answer most often was “to save our planet”. Firstly, I’d note the planet was not “ours”. We share it with so many living things. Secondly, the planet would be just fine (given a millennia to recover from our damage). I explained the work was to save humans life.
The magnolias will be just fine.
The Trail of Tears is one of the elements of American history that doesn't get nearly enough attention in our formal education. It's really shocking and horrific when you consider the full meaning, as you express. And how that story was repeated in some form countless times around the globe. Scott, you sound like a wonderful and thought-provoking teacher. Thank you for sharing. Also, the cockroaches will be just fine as well.
☺️ Thanks. One week a semester my students had to go for a walk and talk to trees. And share what they learned in a short video. I learned so much about my students from their effort, their creativity.
(Also made them do a dumpster dive when we studied waste)
Love this! A couple years ago, I read a newsletter from someone here about how plants speak to us through scents they give off. I have this huge rosemary bush I haul out to my front porch every spring that stays out until as late as I can get away with, usually October before the nights get too cold. The porch gets sun from ~6am to 9pm all summer long and in the winter, I keep it under a grow light go it has gotten pretty big.
The key thing here is whenever I pass by it, errands, walking my dog, etc, I give it a good tussle and it smells really good. The newsletter got me thinking about whether or not the scent is a “thank you” or a “please don’t touch me without consent” and now whenever I pass by, before I tussle the rosemary bush, I ask her if I can tussle her branches.
I know, what a weirdo. But am I, really?! 🤔😃
We modified some landscaping in front of the of our house due to a drainage issue. My one request (demand), that a lilac bush/tree find its way outside my study window.
Every spring it gloriously invades my space!
No, you're not a weirdo. I talk to my plants all the time.🪴
I, too, talk to my plants. As I try to care for them, they nurture peace in my soul.
Found it!!! The Isolation Journals by Suleika Jaouad
https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/p/on-making-friends/comments
The way you find so much joy in one simple flower inspires me to take a breath and appreciate the things around me , thanks you for this perspective
This is such an eye-opening post, Elliot! I walk through Madison Square Park at least once every work day, and take delight in seeing the different plants and trees as the seasons change. I can identify a surprising number of the plants and trees, and also realize my late mother would be disappointed in how limited my knowledge is, considering all one could now about plants. She was a gardener at our summer home on Fire Island, and turned the sand around the house into a lush garden by digging in seaweed, old horsehair and cotton mattresses, and compost -- all this in the 1950s, when these strategies all were considered weird and quirky by our neighbors. Still, I learned SOME things from her, and now as I read today's post, I find myself intrigued by the knowledge that dinosaurs saw magnolia trees! I'm astonished to know they predate bees by who knows how many millenia. Thanks for the education, Elliot! My walks to and / or from work will be that much richer for having read your post, since it's piqued my curiosity about what I'll see.
How nice to read about flowers 🌸 n a dreary Sunday here in Gotham. Magnolias are truly stunning. Your post took me for a little cruise thru my memory to one of my favorite events that I covered while working for CBS….the Masters. When you approach the Augusta National Golf Club, the entrance way is known as Magnolia Lane. It is truly spectacular to drive thru. The Magnolias form an archway that seems as if it takes you to another world. Truly a spectacular sight. And the Magnolias give way to the even more stunning Azaleas 🌺 planted generously thru out the course. Plants and flowers 💐 bring much joy to people. They say older people living in elder care facilities live longer if they have plants.🪴 not sure that’s really true, but I’m not contesting it.
Science themed documentaries seem like a great endeavor. Best of luck with them. I imagine very challenging to produce.
I “work” very part time in a nursery as my retirement job. I started when I was still doing elder homecare. It was so wonderful to be in an environment that was stress free . You couldn’t have a bad day among the flowers.still can’t.i live near the San Diego botanical gardens (quail gardens) and am a member just enjoy the peaceful walks up and down the paths. Loved the Chicago gardens beyond spectacular! It’s the same feeling I get walking by the ocean
We DO have a bias toward animals over flora. Indeed! Hadn’t thought about that ever.
It's one of those things once you realize it, you see it everywhere. It's really changed how I view the world. Thanks Karen for adding your thoughts.
Funny story about not valuing plants. When I taught science to teen moms, in a discussion about energy/ecological pyramids, I remarked that biosynthetic plants produce energy and are the foundation of every food chain. Without plants, humans would not exist, I told them. "We need our vegetables," I joked. One student snickered. "I don't like vegetables. If there weren't any plants, I'd just eat steak!" One of her classmates asked her what cows would eat if there weren't any plants. "Ohhh," she said. "I get it." I loved it when students taught each other!
Don't forget magnolia flowers are edible, too - they taste like ginger and can be made into pickles. I've planted one in my food forest, but it's only knee-high so far!
Thank you for this story Elliot, you are absolutely correct, I am one who, while I love my orchids, ignore them, but never ignore my cat, whose sleek fur is sensual to stroke and purrs, talks and amuses me. Plants just sit there and look pretty.
Beautiful Magnolias. Interesting commentary. When I'm out on a walk or adventure of an observational nature I try to view the world macroscopically and microscopically; how does what I'm seeing fit into the overall landscape - how does what I'm seeing support and live with everything around it, and, microscopically, what about this plant, animal, etc, is unique and can only be realized up close? The magnolias are a wonderful example. Thank you for your information.
Thoroughly enjoyed this article! Thank you for sharing the history behind these glorious trees.....and for reminding us that beauty is all around us and available to everyone if we just look.
Thanks for the read and the comments.
A beautiful piece today! 🫶🏼