Plants as Teachers and Witnesses
By Beronda L. Montgomery
One plant biologist reflects on seasonal re-pacing in a culture of constant action, as a gift learned from her study subjects.
This Article From Issue
January-February 2021
Volume 109, Number 1
Page 38
Last winter, I visited McLeod Plantation Historic Site on James Island in South Carolina. When my family and I arrived at the McLeod site, the day was overcast and we could smell rain in the air.
QUICK TAKE
- Studying how trees adapt to the seasons teaches lessons about the importance of anticipation, appropriate response, and bearing witness. Humans likewise have seasonal shifts.
- Modern humans’ capacity for constant action and overworking can be balanced with season informed, survival-enhancing behaviors, such as measured engagement in work and regular periods of rest.
- For deciduous trees, spring demands a burst of action, summer requires focused productivity, fall is a transition in anticipation of rest, and winter is a time of pause. We must honor these natural cycles to thrive.
American Scientist Comments and Discussion
To discuss our articles or comment on them, please share them and tag American Scientist on social media platforms. Here are links to our profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If we re-share your post, we will moderate comments/discussion following our comments policy.