Journal 8

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Familiar Ideas:

Idea One

   The connectedness of all life is a major theme in, both, Sarah Stein's Noah's Garden and Frank A Golley's A Primer for Environmental Literacy.  Like so many other topics shared by these books, however, Stein focuses less on the specific scientific aspects of this concept, and seeks to personalize it.
   When it comes to restoring an ecosystem that supports life in our neighborhoods, Stein suggests everyone do a little to accomplish a lot.  By planting different types of trees that support different organisms (or the same organisms, for that matter), Stein says suburbia can be returned to an environment that is self-sustained.
   While Golley does acknowledge the domination of landscape by humanity, he doesn't present anything close to a clear solution.  I believe Golley's non-objective observation and Stein's attempt to construct workable solutions are equally valuable, and complement each other well.

Idea Two

   Toward the end of chapter five, Stein describes how textbooks often illustrate the balance of nature "as a web of eating relationships among animals and plants."  Golley, too, uses a web to describe the interrelationships of nature, but a much more detailed and complex one than would be found in a high school text book.
   While I appreciate the detail in a web such as the one cited by Golley, I also appreciate the detailed explanation of the relevance and implications of them by Stein.  In Noah's Garden, Stein often goes to great length to simplify and explain subjects, an act I think is valuable in promoting understanding for any topic.

Descriptive Paragraph

   In chapter four, there is a paragraph in which Stein describes the activity of animals and insects in her garden as fall creeps closer to winter.  She begins by describing an injured goose they have given the nick name "Gone Goose," because they know he will not be able to accompany his fellow geese for the migration south and will eventually perish.  The hopelessness of the situation is distressing, as the goose is described as "dragging across the lawn," and being left behind by his flock at dusk in their garden because he cannot fly away with them.
   Like Gone Goose, all activity in the garden seems to be winding down.  Leaves on the apple tree have turned yellow and fallen, robins have made their migratory stop and gone on their way, and crickets creak more and more slowly as winter sets in.  "By Thanksgiving," says Stein, "it will seem as if the clock has wound down and stopped."
   Overall, this paragraph does a wonderful job of illustrating the transition of the garden from fall into winter. 

Plants

1.  Skunk Cabbage
     Lysichiton americanum

   Often found on stream banks or other wet areas, skunk cabbage gets its name from the distinct odor it emits when its leaves are bruised.
   Skunk cabbage is native to the United States, and can be found in the North East, especially around the Great Lakes.  It can be found in south western Ohio.  (Photo and information courtesy www.gardening.com)

2.  New Jersey Tea
     Caenothus americanus

   Found mostly as ground cover in evergreen areas, this mounded shrub is covered with pink, blue, or white flowers.  It is also resistant to cold and drought.
   New Jeresy Tea is commonly found in the eastern United States, thought they are often planted in gardens throughout the country.  (Photo and information courtesy www.gardening.com)

3.  Least Shrew
     Cryptotis parva

   The Least Shrew's diet is almost totally composed of insects.  They are adept at hunting insects, and plants make up a very small portion of their diet.
   Uncharacteristically social (as far as shrews go), Least Shrews often burrow in close proximity to others of their kind.  Their habitats range as far north as the Great Lakes, to as far south as Central America.  (Photo courtesy Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources; information courtesy University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web)