Companions for a Lifetime
By Jack Parlin, CGC Program Associate
I’ve had a relationship with native plants since before I knew anything about ecology, horticulture or even gardening. They’ve always been there to watch over and welcome me, to encourage me to explore. My fondest childhood memories include the first trees I ever climbed, from the flowering dogwood to the southern magnolia and white pine. I would collect the little red dogwood seeds in my shirt and scratch pictures and messages onto the fuzzy backs of magnolia leaves. And I could never quite scrub the fragrant pine sap from my hands when I went in for dinner. Wading in cool creek water in summer, I busied myself with dissecting sections of horsetail grass and popping them back together. Up in the prairie, I would look for the silky pods of the milkweed and watch the cool autumn breeze carry away the little tufts of new life.
The plants that served as my introduction to the natural world hold a more meaningful place in who I am than one simply of nostalgia. I grew up with these trees, flowers and grasses. I know who they are, and our conversation is ongoing. They give me a safe space to learn, to practice the art of noticing, to make mistakes. They are familiar faces that greet me in new places, a grounding presence amid uncertainty. They are my friends, my family, members of my earthly community, reminders of the reason why I do my work. I am committed to their stewardship not just out of my love and respect for them, but also because I know that any effort to build a better world for them will create a more equitable, beautiful and enjoyable world for all of us.
The sugar maples, serviceberries and oaks got here long before I did. Many of them will outlive me. I do not feel obligated but rather honored to take care of them while I am here, to become a student of those who came before. They must know something about this place, and I am eager to listen. It’s the least I could do for our shared home.
Welcome a new native plant species (or several) into your landscape at our Fall Native Plant Festival from 9am-3pm on Saturday, September 6!