An article in the New York Times offers some interesting food for thought – reflections on 40 years of Earth Days and the current thoughts from Stewart Brand. Those as old and older than I might remember that name as the founder of the Whole Earth Catalog way back in 1968. Today some versions of the Whole Earth Catalog are available online, right next to Brand's more recent works. I'll date myself by revealing I had a copy of the Spring 1969 issue and the Last Whole Earth Catalog from June 1971. Now, with four decades of environmental thinking under his belt, Brand has changed his positions from previous stances – might make for lively dinner table conversation.
Gardeners and nature lovers tend to respect the beauty and fragility of our outdoor environments – at least I like to think we do. But we all can do more to protect and sustain our Earth. I tend to consider every day Earth Day, but it's good to have at least one day a year when everyone focuses on their impact on Mother Earth. I know I can be more protective … most of us can … so choose at least one Earth-friendly activity to do today. Then try to make it a regular activity. Think of the impact we can have if we all do just a little.
Interested in digging deeper into the world of fungi and other tiny non-plant, non-animal organisms, check out the book by Steven L. Stephenson, a research professor of biological sciences at the University of Arkansas. In The Kingdom Fungi: The Biology of Mushrooms, Molds, and Lichens (published by Timber Press), Stephenson explains the purpose, forms, and roles of these commonly misunderstood life forms. Gardeners know fungi do more than adorn a fresh salad or top a pizza, but how many of us really understand the true extent fungi play in our lives. Stephenson's author profile notes he has studied fungi and slime mold on six continents – sounds like he's a real fun-gi (guy) – sorry, couldn't resist.
Imagine a mass of climbing roses. When in bloom, all you see is beauty. But look under the blossoms to the snarled, jumbled mass of thorny vines supporting the flowery show and things don't look so rosy. This analogy explains my feelings about indoor flower shows. I enjoy the sights and smells of these massive productions. I love the exposure to ideas of other gardeners and landscapers – madcap and sensible alike. The local big show, the
joenesgarden feed
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Google Bookmarks
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Technorati Favorites
Twitter
Yahoo! Buzz
6 comments
3 trackbacks
RSS 2.0
Bloglines
Live
MyYahoo
Netvibes
Newsgator
Rojo