I have always loved every aspect of the natural world, and for as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by the intricate and complicated nature of the plant world. The fact that there were so many different plants on earth, and how each plant had its own distinct characteristics astounded me. For me and plants it’s been a life long love story. I guess I feel comfortable among plants, like part of them, in a caring and respectful type of way. After all, they are our main source of food and are responsible for our survival, so for me, hats off to the plant world.
My first encounter with the magical nature of plants was when I planted a sprig of Purple Tradescantia, commonly known as Wandering Jew plant. A plant native to the gulf region of the U.S. and Mexico, (and a plant that will greatly improve the air quality of your home as a house plant). I was about seven years old when the neighbor across the street, Mr. Castillo, whose wife was friends with my mom, invited me to help him do some work in his garden for twenty-five cents. At the time, that would buy me at least ten penny candies and a Hershey bar, with a nickel change; I’m in! There was a bare spot in a planter bed that needed plants. My job was to pull the weeds out and clean up the planter. I never minded weeding, except for crabgrass growing through juniper bushes. When I was done, Mr. Castillo took a few cuttings off an existing plant in his garden, Purple Tradescantia. He peeled back the leaf at the bottom of the stem and imbedded it into the moist garden soil. After planting a few sprigs he let me give it a try. I dug a shallow hole and laid it in, kind of on its side like he had done; I planted a few more. It was the best education a kid could have gotten for twenty five cents.
A week or two later, Mr. Castillo showed me the sprigs we had planted. Some had sprouted new leaves and were beginning to grow. Wow! First time in life something, “blew my mind”. I know Mr. Castillo explained about the soil, sun, water, etc. I forgot as he was telling me because to me, it was magical. I believe that is when I fell in love with the plant world. A few weeks later the cuttings had grown quite a lot, and had begun to fill the planter bed. I would often help Mr. Castillo in his garden. It was filled with plants and hanging baskets, potted plants of all sizes and types, fruit trees, vegetables, and even a cold frame with real glass windows to start seeds. He was a real ‘old school” gardener type that would grow plants from seeds and knew a lot about plant care. His love for plants and gardening showed.
The complexity of plants is astounding, as is how little we know about them and how much more we have yet to learn. Throughout the years I have studied the many plant species living in our world, both on land and under the sea; how they produce their own food, function daily, and how they survive and flourish year after year. More important than that, I have learned to understand them as the key players in our ecosystem and the kingpins among all living things on earth, and that without them, man or animal cannot survive. Ironically, plants in the natural world do not rely on man for survival. It’s only when we attempt to displace them in a garden or agricultural setting that they need our constant attention to prevent death or disease through our manipulation. The failure to understand plants, our main food source, has sealed the fate of many civilizations. I think if the plant world had its own spokesman, they’d place themselves above man as the most important species on earth.
With my clients, I have always tried to show them different aspects of nature through landscape design. For some, it has shown them that there is another dimension to explore when it comes to the plant world. Over time I hope it inspires them, and they inspire others, to see plants differently. That is, to see them not only as decorative objects in the landscape, but as, living and breathing organisms like humans, complex in nature, that are aware of our presence and the vital role they play in our existence.
