I have a favorite book...its called Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. Basic idea behind it is that it demonstrates how PLANTS have forced humans to evolve, rather than humans causing plants to evolve. Pollan demonstrates how hte apple evolved man's desire for sweetness, the tulip was mans desire for beauty, marajuana-->intoxication and the potato-->control. It is not often you hear something told in defense of a plant. Let me explain....
The book explains plants needs, workings and ambitions. It is the voice of plants without being obnoxious. It isn't a fairty-tale or a flitty novel, rather pollack has a bibliography and has a series of interviews with key figures in his argument. Really wonderful piece of work.
Everytime I read this book I get back in touch with the divine connection between humans and the natural world. There is an undeniable cycle of interaction between the two levels. The things we (humans) do directly effects the natural world and vice versa. This is why it is so important to be sensitive of the environment and to tread lightly on it. This is why I am going green. After reaidng this book, I gained insight into the history of how plants USED to be and how humans have manipulated them and promoted unnatural-selection. Can you imagine a time when there were so many new species and varieties of apples....now a days, most of our apples are derived from 4 basic types: red/golden delicious, Macintosh and Jonathan. Or the fact that tulips were so highly valued at one time, they were worth almost more than gold. It is so nice to read a book that really deepens understanding and the concept of a global community.
So, I encourage you to explore your relationship with plants. Being summer, it is a great time to try it out and I am sure you will quickly find how addicting it can be to nurture a plant and see it grow. Very rewarding. Plus--summer makes it harder to kills plants....they are happy to be soaking up the sun!
