Garden Club “Tours” the Gardens of the World

Mary MacMichael opened our last meeting with a meditation about the gardens mentioned in the Bible: Eden, Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the final, heavenly garden. This led perfectly into the slide show presented by Lesa Cummings. Lesa and her husband’s travels were showcased by the lovely photos of gardens visited, as well as ones from their former home in Anniston. She lamented the fact that many of the plantings just a few miles south are not welcome on the rocky soil of Mentone. What thrives in one locale struggles in this clime.

From Alabama to Europe to Asia, gardens compel us to slow down and appreciate. First looks saturate the senses — the colors, shapes, and organization of the space. Wafts of fragrances wash over us while we meander. That temptation to touch or smell is irresistible. Buzzing bees, chirping birds, and gurgling water demand attention. Breathtaking beauty comes first, then details emerge, and the brain demands its due. What is that flower? Who determined the combination of plantings? Can this work at home? How many gardeners maintain this place?

Gardens are universal, embedded in the DNA of humans. Gardens reflect the culture of a people. According to an article from the University of Minnesota, “Out in nature, we feel how we are connected to entities beyond ourselves and understand our interdependencies with other living beings. Nature also prompts us to reflect on the ever-changing nature of existence and what might lie beyond it. Nature provides a space in which we can connect spiritually both with ourselves and outside ourselves.”

What a pleasant way to spend an hour. One member, while thanking Lesa, commented that she’d saved so much money in travel because the gardens of Wales, England, Europe, Japan, and Iceland were all visited via the slide show! All the gardens were amazing, but Iceland moved to the top of my bucket list!

Let’s get a trip organized for September. What Iceland lacks in trees (although 85 species have been re- introduced), it makes up for with arctic thyme, lupine, berries, sorrel, caraway, kelp, and moss. Lesa noted how reluctant they were to walk through any of the delicate beauty, but she had photos of the sheep trudging through. Add the Aurora Borealis, and Iceland becomes even more magical.

The conservation committee report detailed new discoveries of fish, nicoletid insects, and bathymodiolin mussels in Alabama. The Gurley Darter (Etheostoma gurleyense) and the Birmingham Darter (Etheostoma birminghamense) were discovered by Yale researchers in the Mobile River drainage system. A new species of silverfish, (an insect, not a fish), the Spinanycta alabamensis, was found in Bobcat Cave at the Redstone Arsenal. Finally, the Ocean Census Project announced the discovery of a tiny mussel, Vadumodiolus teredinocola, located in the sunken remains of an ancient forest off the coast of Alabama. The new species was found living within the remains of abandoned burrows created by shipworms. The name of the new species, teredinicola, is derived from the Latin teredo, meaning “shipworm,” and incola, meaning “dweller.” Aren’t those Latin names fascinating? It represents the first shallow-water member of its group, as most live in deep sea environments.

Researchers noted the silverfish finding in Bobcat Cave “serves as a reminder that there is still undiscovered biodiversity even in relatively well-explored areas, like these caves that are used often for recreation and tourism.” Professor Dan Distel noted, “By exploring the incredible diversity of life in the sea and the rich information hidden in its genomes, we learn the best ways to safeguard our planet’s delicate ecosystems.” The Mobile River Drainage system within the southeastern North American freshwater biodiversity hotspot is home to the planet’s most species-rich freshwater ecosystems outside of the tropics. We can travel the world, witnessing stunning man-made and natural gardens, but as Dorothy reminds us, “There’s no place like home.”

Next month, Kathryn Norris will host the December luncheon, with the swearing in of new officers: Mary MacMichael, president; Mary Shurett, vice-president; Rhea Pirch, treasurer; and Laura Hambaugh and Beth Garfrerick, co-secretaries. The meeting is scheduled for December 9 at 11 a.m. Guests and former members are welcome. We’d love to see you, and there is always too much food!