i love plants essay

Why I Love Gardening: How It Changed My Life

Have you ever wondered why some people love gardening and treat their plants like prized possessions? I will share my gardening story here today, starting with my childhood. My grandmother introduced me to gardening. We would spend time planting and caring for different crops in her beautiful backyard.

I’ll share why I love gardening and how it has become an important part of my life. You will also learn about the scientifically proven benefits of gardening, from reducing stress to improving mental health.

Get ready to dig in. Understanding why people love gardening might inspire you to pick up a trowel and join the fun.

7 Key Takeaways on My Love for Gardening

• My grandmother introduced me to gardening and made it a cherished family tradition.
• Gardening with family can create lasting memories and strengthen relationships.
• I faced many challenges in gardening but learned and grew from each one.
• Gardening offers peace and relaxation, reducing stress and improving heart health.
• Growing my own fruits and vegetables provides nutritious, fresh food and a sense of accomplishment.
• Gardening helps reduce carbon footprints, increase biodiversity, and conserve water.
• Gardening allows me to express my creativity, transforming my space into a beautiful, ever-changing work of art.

My Gardening Story: From Novice to Enthusiast

I’m sharing my story about starting a garden, from the first feeling that inspired me to the challenges that made me doubt my gardening skills. Whether you’re new to gardening or have been doing it for years, I hope my gardening journey resonates with you.

My Love of Gardening – The Initial Spark

I always admired my grandmother Jenny’s gardening skills. But it wasn’t until a sunny afternoon in her backyard that I became interested in gardening myself. We were there to grow tomatoes. She handed me a tiny seedling and shared stories of her own grandmother doing the same. It’s a family tradition!

Over time, the tiny seedling had grown into a large tomato plant with many juicy red tomatoes. Harvesting those tomatoes with my grandma was a joy I won’t forget. We spent hours in her kitchen making delicious homemade spaghetti sauce out of them. Just the smell alone brought back so many memories.

My time in the garden with my grandma showed me that gardening is more than just a hobby; it’s a way to connect with our roots — literally and figuratively. The garden became something we both loved, bringing us closer together and creating a strong bond. Now, I share that same bond with my daughters.

If the garden is your favorite place, consider inviting other family members to join you in the dirt. It’s a great way of bonding with people. The memories you’ll create will be worth every ounce of soil.

Overcoming My Challenges With Gardening

Gardening isn’t all sunshine and blooming roses. It has its thorny moments, but the good thing is that every setback teaches us to be strong.

My first attempts at all aspects of gardening didn’t go very well. I watered the plants too much, didn’t realize how important sunlight was, and neglected to take care of the soil. It was a learning experience, to say the least.

But I didn’t give up. Instead, I saw these moments as opportunities to learn. I read books, went to workshops, and asked experienced gardeners in my community for advice.

I’ll share some other challenges I faced with gardening and the life lessons I learned:

• Bugs – Dealing with annoying bugs can be a big problem for gardeners. When I first dealt with aphids, my beautiful roses suffered a lot. Instead of using chemical sprays, I used natural ways to control pests . I brought helpful bugs like ladybugs and lacewings to my garden and planted companion plants.
• Soil – I learned that different soil types pose challenges for my plants. To address this, I became knowledgeable about soil. I improved my clay soil with compost . I added organic matter to my sandy beds. I also tried using raised beds and containers for more control over the growing medium.
• Weather – Mother Nature can be unpredictable, from scorching heat to unexpected frosts. I lost some of my favorite plants due to extreme weather, but I started planting with the climate in mind instead of getting upset. I used drought-tolerant plants and protective coverings like shade cloths and frost blankets to help my strong plants thrive.

I encountered many challenges, but each one helped me become a better gardener and more determined to succeed. Gardening has shown me that setbacks are just opportunities in muddied overalls.

Reasons Why I Love Gardening

Gardening is more than just a hobby for me. I find joy and peace in it. In the following sections, I will explain why I love gardening and how it enriches my life.

1. Gardening as My Therapeutic Escape

Gardening is my refuge, sanctuary, and personal therapist. Everything else fades away when I enter my garden. Caring for plants in this lovely space, feeling the soil, and watching them grow brings peace and joy to people who experience it.

Research shows that spending time in nature can help reduce stress and anxiety and lower blood pressure ( source ). Gardening also improves your heart rate, making it heart-healthy.

Gardening is calming because it engages multiple senses. You see bright colors, feel soft petals, and smell earthy scents, contributing to your overall peace. This moment with nature relaxes me, and you’ll be surprised at how this simple act can transform your mental state. 

2. Gardening as My Lifelong Learning Pursuit

Gardening is a lifelong journey of learning. It’s always changing and requires us to stay open to new knowledge. It’s like finding a hidden library, where each plant and plot offers something new to discover.

The more time I spend in the garden, the more I realize that the soil is not just a place for plants to grow — it’s also fertile ground for my personal growth.

Here are a few of the many skills and insights gardening has taught me:

• Creative Problem-Solving – Every season brings challenges, like pests, diseases, and climate issues. But these problems also create opportunities for innovation. You can try approaches like companion planting. You can also use homemade remedies. Or, you can just observe and adapt.
• Experimentation – Gardening is a fun and interesting hobby for curious people. Over the years, I have tried growing different types of plants. Some of my experiments succeeded. Others taught me about resilience and letting go.
• Patience – Gardening teaches us that good things take time. It shows us the value of patience and care. When we see the first shoots or blooms, it feels even more rewarding.

Gardening isn’t just about turning empty land into lush gardens. It has made me a lifelong learner and enhanced my awareness of life. It’s a journey of never-ending fascination and self-discovery, all sparked by planting and watching a seed grow.

3. Gardening as My Source of Fresh, Nutritious Food

My garden is not just a piece of land; it’s where I grow fresh, healthy food. Gardening has changed the way I think about food. The happiness I feel when I pick a ripe tomato or bite into a freshly harvested cucumber is amazing. It’s not just about the taste; it’s about the incredible nutrition.

Here’s how growing your own delicious produce can be a game-changer for your diet:

• Nutritional Superiority – Growing your own fruits and vegetables at home can result in produce that tastes better. It is also more nutritious than the store’s. This is because you have full control over the soil quality, the fertilizers, and the methods used to control pests.
• Rich in Antioxidants – When you grow your own crops, you can enjoy them at their best. They’re packed with vital antioxidants that are good for your health.
• Variety and Seasonality – Ever wondered why a tomato from the farmers’ market tastes better than one from the supermarket in the winter? Homegrown produce lets you try different varieties of plants and fruit-bearing trees and enjoy food when it’s in season and at its best.
• Reduced Chemical Exposure – Controlling plant growth can help you avoid or reduce synthetic pesticides and herbicides. This helps ensure that your food is as clean and safe as possible.

I find it satisfying to know that the food on my plate comes from just steps away. I eat mindfully, savoring each bite. I appreciate the journey from seed to table. I’ve learned that the freshest, healthiest food is not just an indulgence. It’s a daily celebration of nature’s gifts.

4. Gardening’s Positive Environmental Impact

Gardening is not just about making our surroundings beautiful. It is also about taking care of the earth we live on. Gardening has a big positive effect on the environment and goes beyond just the surface.

Let me walk you through some of the key reasons gardening is good for the environment :

• Carbon Footprint Reduction – By growing my own food, I’ve reduced the produce I buy from stores. Store-bought produce often travels long distances, adding to carbon emissions. I also compost kitchen scraps and yard waste. This reduces the organic matter that goes to landfills. It helps stop the creation of harmful greenhouse gases.
• Increased Biodiversity – I planted various plants and wildlife-friendly trees in my garden. I’ve created homes and food for pollinators, birds, and helpful insects. Watching these different species thrive in my garden has made me realize how important it is to conserve and protect the intricate web of life.
• Water Conservation – I use smart watering methods, including collecting rainwater and using drip irrigation. They have helped me use less water. Putting mulch on garden beds keeps the soil moist, so I don’t have to water as much.
• Soil Health and Conservation – I’ve improved my soil’s health. I did this by switching from synthetic fertilizers to organic amendments and compost. This has made the soil more resilient and less likely to erode. Practices like crop rotation and cover cropping keep the soil’s structure and fertility good. They stop nutrients from running off into nearby water bodies.

Gardening may seem small, but it greatly impacts the environmental balance when many people garden. It has given me a real way to help the environment, making me feel a strong connection to wildlife and our planet.

5. Gardening as My Creative Outlet

I’ve always loved art, but it wasn’t until I started gardening that I found a truly dynamic creative outlet. Gardening is like painting with nature. I’m the director, and the plants are my actors. Every step allows me to use my artistic instincts, from planning to seeing the changes each season.

My garden is like a blank canvas. I can shape it with my ideas and a few basic design principles. Planning the layout of beds, walkways, and focal points is where the fun begins. Choosing beautiful plants with colors, textures, and heights creates a masterpiece.

You must capture your artistic vision to create a successful garden design plan . You must also think about the practical aspects of your space and climate. By thoughtfully placing plants of different heights and textures, you can add depth and layers to your landscape.

Your garden is always changing. Feel free to try new things, take risks, and let your personality show. It’s a way to express yourself, whether in an outdoor garden or an indoor space. A touch of nature makes every environment more vibrant and personal, adjusting to the pace of life around it.

My Love for Gardening Final Thoughts

Gardening has taught me patience, resilience, and the beauty of life’s cycles. It’s given me a sense of purpose, a sanctuary to retreat to, and the joy of nurturing something from seed to bloom. In the garden, I’ve found solace during difficult times and celebration during moments of triumph.

I highly recommend it if you haven’t started this green journey yet. The benefits are varied, like the flowers in a meadow. They offer a break from city life. They are a chance to grow as a gardener and person. And they bring the joy of watching life thrive under your care.

Don’t forget the satisfaction of growing your own fruits and vegetables in the summer. From crunchy lettuce to juicy tomatoes, the rewards are visual and delicious. There’s a sense of accomplishment in knowing that you contributed to the growth and nourishment of these plants.

So, get a trowel, put your hands in the soil, and let gardening change your life. It’s a love affair that will only strengthen over time, enriching your beautiful life.

What’s Your Gardening Story?

Now it’s your turn to step into the spotlight. I want to hear your amazing stories about gardening, your successes, and even your epic failures. Gardening is a journey we all take, and each journey is unique.

Share your experiences to help us build a connected community of advocates of gardening. We aim to celebrate gardening’s joy and learn from its challenges. By sharing your story, you can deepen our understanding of gardening. Plus, it will inspire others to start and explore new things.

Whether you have a big backyard or just a single windowsill, your opinion is important, and I’m excited to hear it. The garden is a place for plants and us to grow, so let’s grow together.

My Love for Gardening FAQs

1. what is a person who loves gardening.

People who enjoy gardening are often called gardeners or horticulturists. They like growing and caring for plants and find happiness and relaxation in this activity.

2. Is Gardening a Girly Hobby?

Gardening is not a girly hobby. People of all genders enjoy it. It offers benefits and pleasures that appeal to a wide range of individuals.

3. Why Do Humans Like Gardening?

Gardening is popular because it brings a sense of calm and a connection with nature. It also provides exercise and stress relief. It’s a multi-sensory experience that promotes well-being. Watching plants grow and thrive gives us a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.

4. Does Gardening Release Dopamine?

Engaging in gardening activities, such as planting and harvesting, can trigger dopamine release. It is a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward. It adds to happiness and satisfaction.

5. Does Being Around Plants Make You Happy?

Being around plants can make you happy. Plants can reduce stress and improve mood. They enhance well-being through their calming presence and connection with nature.

Learn more about gardening through these interesting reads:

• Tips for Starting a Vegetable Garden
• Ways to Keep Animals Out of Garden
• Wild Edible Plants Guide
• Facts About Flowers
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334070/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5153451/
• https://health.osu.edu/health/general-health/health-benefits-of-gardening
• https://sncs-prod-external.mayo.edu/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/dig-into-the-benefits-of-gardening

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10 reasons to love plants

As many of you will have already discovered on Mr Plant Geek, often, being a plant lover begins at a young age and continues to grow with you. For example, previous guest blogger Somnath Pal was just 16 when he fell in love with water lillies! Jermain Bonouvrie, a 17-year-old from The Netherlands, bought his first plant…

As many of you will have already discovered on Mr Plant Geek, often, being a plant lover begins at a young age and continues to grow with you. For example, previous guest blogger  Somnath Pal  was just 16 when he fell in love with water lillies!

Jermain Bonouvrie, a 17-year-old from The Netherlands, bought his first plant when he was 14 and still remembers what it was – a palm tree, or Trachycarpus fortunei. Here, he details 10 reasons why he has turned into the plant lover that he is today.

I’m a self-confessed plant lover, and here’s why!

1. Every plant is different. They all have different colours and patterns.

2. You can fill a boring, bare corner with a plant nicely.

3. Some plants give you beautiful flowers (like a Cattleya orchid, my favourite).

4. Some plants can heal you, and that makes them special too.

5. They give you oxygen because of photosynthesis.

6. I like the way they grow and survive in nature.

7. Without plants, is the world not colorful and empty? (So, buy more plants!)

8. Plants make you happy because of their colours.

9. Without plants, there is no food. (Look at your salad, for example. That is made of plants!)

10. It’s my hobby. Without my plants, my garden and bedroom are empty and not colorful.

A year after discovering his love of plants, Jermaine restyled his garden into a tropical paradise. In the winter, he brings his plants indoors to protect them from the harsh weather conditions. Follow his journey on his Instagram page, @boywithplants .

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Why Plants Make You Happy

Plants are more than just decoration. They make our lives brighter simply by being in a room with us, whether clustered on window sills, congregated in corners or suspended from ceilings in hanging baskets. Their presence is therapeutic and adds color and texture to otherwise lifeless indoor spaces; research shows this helps us to refocus our energy and better manage stress.¹

The practice of collecting and caring for indoor plants is increasingly popular, but there’s nothing new about the human impulse to keep houseplants. What  is  new is the science that finally confirms what we already knew: plants make our lives happier and our minds healthier.

Plant Therapy Is a Real Thing

Our predisposition to love plants has a name: Biophilia. It’s defined as our tendency to prefer natural environments as a result of evolution. Research shows that because we have such a strong positive association with plants, their absence in our lives can actually cause physical and mental stress.¹

Today, people spend more time inside of buildings than ever before, especially in urban areas, which drastically reduces our interactions with nature, including open skies, fresh air, and lush greenery. With limited access to forests, gardens and even backyards, our only means of spending quality time in nature requires special visits to parks and beaches or day trips outside of the city. 

Recreating nature indoors is an alternative that humans have turned to for thousands of years. Ancient cultures were abundant with indoor greenery—from Chinese ornamental plants cultivated as early as 1,000 BCE to the famed (possibly fictional) Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World engineered around 610 BCE. King Nebuchadnezzar II is said to have ordered the construction of the impressively tiered gardens—complete with a complex irrigation system—to soothe the homesickness of Queen Amytis, his wife, who missed the countryside of her homeland.

If you have endured a winter in New York City with its 12-inch slush puddles and miles of concrete buried beneath mountains of dirty snow, you understand the queen's pain. It wasn't until one chilly afternoon in March, when I took myself to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the first time, that I felt instant euphoria being surrounded by plants. As I entered a toasty conservatory filled to the vaulted glass ceiling with tropical plants radiating warmth and life, it felt as if the entire plant kingdom was giving me a steamy embrace, and I had to resist the urge to nuzzle my face into the nearest fern.

Why Indoor Plants Captivate Us   

Keeping lush houseplants, erecting moss-covered ‘living walls’ and framing-in glass panoramic views of the world outside makes an important difference to our mental, emotional and physical well-being.

A 2016 study revealed that the presence of more than three indoor plants in homes and businesses enhanced the mood and sharpened the focus of subjects.² And with plants, bigger is better. “The larger the plants, the better the mood of the subjects,” researchers noted. “Also, an increase in the number of plants reduced the feeling of boredom in participants. These facts suggest that plants can be a source of fascination… providing an opportunity for reflection and recovery from direct attention fatigue.”

When placed in hospitals and recovery rooms, plants have the ability to capture and hold the attention of recovering patients, producing a calming effect and accelerating healing time. According to research, rooms with plants are "perceived as more cheerful, pleasant, and inviting” than those without, and plants should be considered not simply as decoration but as therapeutic tools that are “noninvasive, inexpensive, and effective complementary medicine for surgical patients.”³ Just having a clear view through the window of vegetation outside has proven to boost mood, combat depression and increase overall feelings of wellness.⁴

At Horti, we’re always looking for simple ways to incorporate plants into our daily surroundings because they make life so much better. Our subscriptions make it easy to cultivate more green space at home and our business services  help transform startups, co-working spaces, cafes and retail shops into places of increased productivity and tranquility. With plants, we all grow together.

¹Grinde, B.; Patil, G.G. “Biophilia: Does Visual Contact with Nature Impact on Health and Well-Being?” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 6, no. 9, 2009, pg. 2332-2343.

²Jumeno, Desto and Hiroshi Matsumoto. “The Effects of Indoor Foliage Plants on Perceived Air Quality, Mood, Attention, and Productivity.” Journal of Civil Engineering and Architectural Research, vol. 3, no. 4, 2016, pg. 1359-1370.

³Park, Seong-Hyun and Richard H. Mattson. “Ornamental Indoor Plants in Hospital Rooms Enhanced Health Outcomes of Patients Recovering from Surgery.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol 15, no. 9, 2009.

⁴Chang, Chen-Yen Chang and Ping-Kun Chen. “Human Response to Window Views and Indoor Plants in the Workplace.” American Society for Horticultural Science, vol. 40, no. 5, 2005, pg. 1354-1359.

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Essay on Gardening | Gardening Essay for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Gardening: Gardening is such an activity, which can be both considered as a discipline and as a habit. Many people do Gardening based on their hobbies and their love for plants. Whatever it is, Gardening is, no doubt, a very accurate and beautiful skill.

The topic of Gardening is popular among school students who are asked to write essays on this particular topic. We have compiled for them one extended Essay, one short essay, and a set of ten lines on the subject of Gardening. They can refer to these sample pieces and take help. They are asked to write such compositions in their assignments and examinations.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Gardening for Students and Kids in English

The short Essay is 100-150 words long. Essay on Gardening is usually convenient for students in classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Gardening Essay is of 450-500 words; students require it of grades 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Long Essay on Gardening in English 500 Words

For many people, Gardening is an addictive hobby. For others, it is a strict disciplinary measure to keep their garden neat and tidy. The garden or the surrounding lawn of a house is very important. It not only adds to the visual beauty of the place, but also allows the residents to dwell a bit amidst nature. People who are fond of plants and flowers usually prefer to keep gardens; they are also generally interested in Gardening and treat it as their hobby.

Gardening is a very skillful hobby, and it also makes the practitioner a very patient and hardworking person; this is so because Gardening requires utmost dedication and care. A garden is a very dear place for the owner. Having a garden of one’s means one can stroll in it whenever one wants. Having a garden allows people to grow fruits and vegetables of their own; they can do organic and ayurvedic plantations. Many people even carry out hybrid planting to obtain a hybrid quality of flowers and seeds.

Growing flowers in the garden make it look gorgeous and colorful; they also bring a natural fragrance within the living spaces. Flowers are an essential part of the garden and add to the marvel of the place. For these various reasons, having a garden surrounding the house is desirable. However, to reap the benefits of a beautiful garden, one should also take good care of it and maintain it. This is why the practice of Gardening is essential.

Gardening includes the growing of plants and flowers, maintenance of the plants, and the timely care of them. It is a tricky business, and whoever does not have prior experience can face difficulties in the beginning. It is not an easy task. Growing plants takes patience. Planting seeds on the ground and regularly watering it would not suffice. Other factors, such as soil fertility, the surrounding temperature, the manure, etc. need to be taken care of.

They also need sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis and nourishment. People who have a genuine love for growing plants can take the responsibility of gardening themselves. Those who want to have a garden but are not very interested in the gardening part can hire a professional gardener who would do the job for them.

Gardeners basic chores include daily watering of the plants, looking after their nourishment, supplying the soil with manure and fertilizers, and planting new seeds. New plants can also be grown by buying saplings from the nursery. If interested, bonsais can also be improved.

Thus Gardening is an exciting activity. It does require utmost dedication, but it is worth the wait. Gardening helps a person to buildable hands, which can look after the very minutest of details. It makes the gardener faithful and patient. Gardening also incites a newfound love for plants in the mind of the gardener. It is an investing job and requires an able, responsible person.

Short Essay on Gardening in English 150 Words

Gardening includes a wide array of activities under its domain. Broadly, Gardening is the practice of growing plants in a garden. Many houses, apartments, buildings, and offices possess yards; they are of various sizes, and depend upon the amount of area available. Many people also love to grow a kitchen garden – that is, a garden where only vegetables and edible plants, flowers, and herbs are cultivated. The activity of Gardening needs to be done very carefully. Accuracy is of importance. One wrong move here or there can result in the entire ruination of the plant. Thus it should be done by taking sufficient time and with proper care.

10 Lines on Essay on Gardening in English

• Gardening includes in its domain growing, cultivating and planting of new plants and taking care of them.
• Plants are an essential item of nature.
• Having them cultivated in a garden helps us to remain in constant touch with greenery and nature.
• Garden makes a house look gorgeous. For this purpose, Gardening is of necessity.
• Without Gardening, the garden would look wild and dirty with excessive growth and dense bushes.
• Gardening is a tiresome task, and it needs to be done regularly.
• Gardening is more than just watering of plants.
• It also includes nipping, clipping and cutting of bushes and dense growth wherever necessary.
• The mark of good Gardening is seen in the beauty of the garden itself.
• The first step to having a garden is to have a dedicated and skillful gardener.

FAQ’s on Essay on Gardening

Question 1. Is gardening a hobby?

Answer: Yes. Gardening is a hobby. It is an entertaining activity to do and can also serve as a productive pastime. People can do it in their leisure time as well.

Question 2. Is Gardening important?

Answer: Yes. Gardening is important. Without Gardening, the garden loses its beauty and charm; the plants die from being neglected.

Question 3. Is gardening an expensive job?

Answer: Not necessarily. Gardening can be done from scratch with necessary gardening tools that are cheap and easy to get. However, the top level of professional Gardening is expensive and requires a lot of materials.

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Essay On Plants – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay For Kids

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Plants For Lower Primary Classes

5 lines on plants for children, 10 lines on plants for kids, a paragraph on plants for children, short essay on the importance of plants for kids, long essay on plants for children, what will your child learn from this essay on plants.

Humans have depended on plants for generations for food and medicine. Plants go through photosynthesis and can pull nutrients from the soil and return them to the earth. They also provide clean air to breathe and scrub the atmosphere off pollutants. Many animals depend on plants for survival and live in environments surrounded by them, as they serve as natural habitats. If you are trying to write about plants in English and educate your kids, there are a lot of things you need to know to get started. Read on below to learn how to write an essay on plants for classes 1, 2, and 3.

Plants are valued not just for their beauty but for our well-being. Below are key points to remember on the importance of plants and how to write an essay on the same.

• Start with an introductory paragraph. Write a few simple sentences on how they influence our daily lives.
• Talk about the different types and uses of plants.
• You can also cover plants’ health benefits and briefly add how they improve emotional and mental well-being.
• Conclude with how to pick the best plants for your home, where to start, and why you love plants.

You can write a few lines on plants, but it’s crucial to understand their natural design and processes. We cannot enjoy the quality of life we live and breathe if it weren’t for plants. Here are 5 lines on plants for children:

• Plants do a lot for our environment, and their role is often underestimated.
• Plants in oceans maintain balance in the ecosystem and are essential for the survival of various aquatic species.
• Most plants absorb harmful outdoor gasses and purify the air.
• Plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen to sustain life on earth.
• The roots of plants bind them to the soil, and photosynthesis is a process that occurs through plants’ leaves.

The countless benefits of plants cannot be denied since plants have existed for thousands of years. You can mention this in your essay for classes 1 and 2. Here are 10 sentences on plants for children:

• Plants purify the air we breathe and help to maintain balance in an ecosystem.
• They reduce the harmful effects of UV rays coming from the sun and cool down the air.
• Plants are crucial to our survival as humans since they produce oxygen which is key to life.
• Transpiration is a process through which plants move water from the soil to the atmosphere.
• Plants give us different resources such as food, gum, herbal medicine, etc.
• Dried hay and straw are plants that are used to feed animals like cows, horses, and sheep.
• Plants make their own food. This process of making food is known as photosynthesis.
• The study of plants is known as Botany.
• Green algae are called primitive plants because they live in water.
• Liverworts are plants that thrive in damp and tiny conditions, often known for lacking vascular tissue.

Plants are always around us; we see them in houses and parks. Writing a short paragraph on plants will enhance kids’ knowledge of the subject.

A plant comprises more than 95% water; every tree we find around us was once a plant many years ago. It’s no surprise that they provide sustenance to living beings; without plants, it would be impossible to have a life on earth. There are three main types of plants – conifers, ferns, and flowering plants. Flowering plants are described as those species that grow leaves such as roses, tulips, dandelions, sunflowers, etc. Conifers are evergreens that grow tall and sometimes have needles instead of leaves. Ferns are non-flowering plants that don’t have leaves or flowers. Blue-green algae originated 3 billion years ago and were known to be the first plants on this earth.

Plants are found in all shapes and sizes and are known to improve our lives. Here’s a short essay for classes 1, 2, and 3 on plants:

Trees are the most significant plants, and they are full of leaves during the summers. Plants are the beauty of the earth. As humans, we depend on plants for food and various other things like gum, rubber, and paper for our consumption. Through photosynthesis, plants can make their own food. Plants cannot run away from animals to protect themselves but have specific safety mechanisms. Sharp spines and allergic reactions triggered by leaves are common ways to defend against prey in nature. Plants provide various benefits for people. They can purify the air and help keep us healthy. Some plants can even provide medicine or food when needed. Plants provide a variety of vegetables, fruits, oxygen, and other things and assist in controlling carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Botany is the study of plants and their species and features. Plants are important because they provide habitats for animals and aquatic species and make other valuable things like rubber, resin, vegetable oils, and natural dyes. Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are also by-products of plants used in automobiles.

Photosynthesis occurs during the day, and plants require sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients from the soil to survive and thrive. Unlike humans, plants are anabolic and catabolic by nature. Below is a long essay for class 3 kids on plants:

Plants are necessary for humans to survive and thrive. Chlorophyll in plant leaves absorbs light from the sun and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, releasing oxygen into the environment.

During respiration, oxygen gets utilised, and CO2 is given out. If the number of plants in our environment decrease, it can pose significant health hazards since there will be no control over air pollution. Plants provide animals with food and edible parts such as fruits and nuts. The roots of many plants are ground into fine powders and store medicinal value, and many plants, such as the aloe vera and neem plant, treat skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rashes. Some plants can be used for getting relief from stomach ulcers and food allergies, boost metabolism and fix appetite.

Plant fibres are used for manufacturing clothing materials such as jute, flax, and hemp.

What Are Plants?

Plants are photosynthetic eukaryotes that comprise all living organisms that are not animals. They include some fungi, algae, aquatic, and land species.

Important Characteristics Of Plants

The important characteristics of plants are:

• Photosynthesis –  It is the process they make their own food and survive.
• Cell walls    –  They descend from the green algae and are multicellular.
• Meristems   –  New tissues and organs are formed at the meristems.
• Hydrostatic Systems –  Plant cell walls are made of cellulose, and these species serve as hydrostatic systems.
• Reproduction –  Plants are capable of reproduction and can disperse new life through airborne spores.
• Stationary –  Plants cannot move and are bound static to the soil.
• Aesthetics –  Plants are pleasing to the eyes and provide humans with aesthetic pleasure. They can liven up indoor and outdoor environments.
• Life cycles- Each plant has its definite life cycle, and its growth or lifespan depends on environmental factors and nutrition.
• Protoplasm –  Protoplasm is the actual living matter present in plants.
• Adaptability –  Some plants are versatile and can adapt to harsh living conditions.

Significance And Benefits Of Plants

Following are different benefits, significance, and uses of plants:

•  Lower anxiety and stress – Indoor plants have reduced anxiety and stress. As per multiple studies, people exposed to the greenery around them performed better than those that didn’t.
• Improve indoor air quality – Plants scrub dust, contaminants, and pollutants from the air through phytoremediation. Several species, such as areca, spider plant, etc., have been helpful.
•  Alleviate allergies or asthma –  If you have any seasonal allergies or asthma, you may find that having various plants in your home can help alleviate them.
•  Boost oxygen levels  – Plants are good at filtering out carbon dioxide from the environment and boosting oxygen levels. They also remove unwanted chemicals from the air, thus making it easier to breathe.
•  Reduce global warming  – Plants help lower the global temperature of the atmosphere; without them, we wouldn’t be able to survive on this earth.
•  Prevent soil erosion  – Plants keep soils fertile worldwide and supply all the significant nutrients to them.
•  Enhance creativity – Plants can significantly improve creativity for those trying to exercise their imagination. Many artists, singers, musicians, and great people in history had plants in their homes.
• Absorb background noise  – If you live in a noisy environment, you’d be surprised to learn that plants can absorb background noise. The best way to reap this gift is by positioning them around the edges and corners of rooms, and some excellent examples are the Snake Plant and Weeping Fig.

Factors That Are Affecting Plants

The following are common factors that affect plants:

• Climactic Factors –  Plants are affected by climate conditions such as temperature, light, wind, humidity, and precipitation.
• Nutrition –  Plants absorb nutrients from the soil, and soil composition is essential for their growth and development.

Your child can learn a lot by writing an essay on plants. They will learn how nature works, where they get their food from, and why plants are vital to their lives.

Now that you know enough about plants, you can get to work on writing about them. Look up popular houseplants and study the varieties you like. That’s how you write a unique and creative essay that’s not only informational but a fun read!

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My hobby is Gardening Essay for Children and Students

February 20, 2021 by Study Mentor 9 Comments

Table of Contents

My Hobby is Gardening Essay 1

To start with, Hobby is most importantly, a passion for an improvised skill. The Hobby is an activity that helps us spend our break time. We live in an age where the individual has to stay in pace with time. A few hours of leisure, time is necessarily needed from the daily routine to relax the muscles and also to induce relaxation in the brain cells itself. A hobby provides the same level of relaxation. Hobby helps us to induce our endorphin levels. It triggers our happy hormones to such an extent that it makes us bond to whichever activity we are performing. That helps us to boost our hormones and create a level of bonding with that particular activity. Be it a regular activity for amusement. It helps us to spend our leisure time. A hobby is an exercise for pleasurable sensations as well to eliminate the stress from our bodies. It is neither for professionals nor for any pay scale benefits. Typically it includes several lively activeness towards a particular activity that demands both our time and interest.

A hobby can be anything to everything. Hobbies constitute a varied group of activities such as singing, painting, sketching, dancing, collecting stamps, craftwork, gardening, origami, adult coloring, photography, swimming, coding, and many more. It depends on our course of action and passion for choosing the right Hobby for oneself. As it is well said that a healthy mind leads to a healthy body. A hobby is an excellent getaway for both a healthy mind and body to coordinate with each other. To be specific, I have many particular activities to spend my leisure time, but I am more focused on gardening.

Essay on my Hobby : My Hobby is Gardening

I belong to a farmer’s family. After settling down in the metro cities, I have noticed my family craving to spare their time for Mother Nature. Having a family background with an ample number of agricultural jobholders, I decided to devise a small garden of my own. Earlier in my penthouse, I decided to create a small rooftop garden due to lack of space. This is how gardening helped me release the amplitude amount of endorphins in my whole family after a stressful day. Gardening is the most accessible and manageable task for a human being. All it requires is enough motivation for a better yield. It is a decampment towards the serenity and beauty of nature with loads of unadulterated indulgence. Gardening has always helped me look towards a better future. It has maintained me to stay submerged with my fondness for plants and blossoms. It is a  form of recreational activity after my school hours. Springing from botanical gardens to every miniature backyard, I have visited all of them. Attending several gardens motivates me to produce a surplus of plants in my garden.

What do I do for my hobby gardening?

Gardening can be done on several types of soil and with numerous varieties of yield. Gardening can be of many types such as herb, flowers, vegetables or kitchen, rose, rock, water, and indoor gardening. According to the needs and availability of tools and garden supplies suited for the purpose, we choose the respective criteria.

Soil is the most important trait for gardening. It requires the accurate level of manure and water to flourish and drop off blooming yield. Soil is a requirement because it constitutes a certain amount of organisms that help in the conversion of plant nutrients from the putrefied subject. To harvest a beautiful garden, healthy soil is the most important necessity. In my rooftop gardens, I have utilized an inadequate amount of space to grow flowering plants and a few creepers and climbers for my mother’s kitchen. Gardening requires an ample amount of attention and time. Starting from the preparation of the soil to the composting till the blossoms are achieved, everything requires dedication. In the beginning, I started with a proper layout for an inadequate stretch. Then I had to pick among the favored and accessible varieties to start with. Obtaining good seeded plants and accessible supplies available at my home, I started my gardening tenure. To help my mom’s kitchen I even planted a few vegetable seeds such as bitter gourd, lemon, chilies, tomatoes, and a few leafy vegetables. I affirmed to keep my plants away from the weeds and pests. I took assistance from my uncle with organic manures and compost to get a better yield and prettier blossoms for every morning to wake up to. I have used unused plastic bottles to grow creepers and a few flowering and herb plants to create an aesthetic outlook for my garden. Plants such as basil, money plants, rosemary, spinach, and much more hanging houseleeks were grown from the waste bottles. The proper amount of sun and shade are required as it may inhibit adequate plant growth. Butterflies, honey bees, flower beetles are a regular visitor to my garden. A few of my houseplants are ferns, dracaena, philodendron, and aglaonema. The vegetables I have grown are placed in a sunny spot, and there’s an ample amount of water supply adjacent to it. These vegetables are used in our kitchen daily.

Health Benefits of Gardening

Gardening as a hobby comes with several benefits. Possessing a personal garden helps the family with an amplitude amount of perks.

1. Gardening eliminates weeds.

Studies have shown that unwanted plants take up the required amount of light and nutrient resources necessary for healthy plants. Weeds are the best competitors. To eliminate them, we have to pluck it out.

2. It helps to alleviate stress.

The garden creates a source of well being and reduces the level of stress after an exhausting day. It helps to burn some extra calories, and that results in increasing a surplus level of metabolism. It is much similar to working out daily. It benefits the body and mind.

3. Gardening can boost endorphin levels.

Subsequently, within 30 minutes, it results in lowering the blood pressure level by the release of endorphin levels in the bloodstream. It lifts your mood and makes you happier. It increases your patience level as it directs you to watch a living being grow.

4. Gardening is a source of Vitamin D

When the melanin of your body is exposed to the sun, it helps to obtain some levels of vitamin D.  Sun is the best source of vitamin D that helps to provide calcium to your bones for obtaining strength and bone formation.

5. It provides opportunities for pollinators.

Honey Bees, butterflies, and several other pollinators are a regular visitor to the garden. Gardening provides food as a form of pollen and nectar to maintain our food system.

6. Yields healthy food for the family.

Using homemade compost and manure helps to obtain healthy fruits and vegetables. It provides a nutritious diet and helps in reducing the expenditure of a household.

7. Gardening presents extra oxygen to the house.

Gardening provides an extra amount of oxygen, and in addition to that, it helps to remove the unnecessary carbon dioxide and helps to keep the house cool.

Gardening helps to lower the risk of respiratory disorders with a small amount of expense. It is the most productive Hobby with better yields therefore I chose Gardening as my hobby. Creating a beautiful garden is what makes me feel relaxed, and I aim to create a higher-yielding garden with beautiful blossoms. It is a way of amusement and benefits my health as well.

My Hobby is Gardening Essay 2

A hobby is something that we do for pleasure in our free time. It is different from the profession. While the profession is followed to make money, a hobby is an activity for leisure and earns us satisfaction. Different people have different hobbies.

They include activities like reading, writing, singing, dancing, gardening, cooking, stamp-collecting, etc. We can develop some of these activities into our hobbies. A hobby lifts our spirits high, when we are depressed.

There are people who, at one time or the other, followed hobbies as professions and earned for themselves name as well as fame.

My hobby is gardening and I have grown a beautiful garden in my house. It is divided into two parts, one of which is for flowers and herbal plants of different varieties. I look after my plants and water them daily. I keep the spot neat and clean. Colors and fragrance of flowers are source of pleasure for me.

Sometimes, I invite my friends to visit my garden. They also enjoy the beauty and smell of flowers and site relaxed. In the second half of my garden, I grow vegetables. I grow tomatoes and some seasonal vegetables in it. Daily I pluck two or three tomatoes and eat them raw,

Reader Interactions

April 23, 2019 at 8:41 am

Good paragraph on Gardening

February 12, 2021 at 8:57 pm

Schma miss rehana bht easy ha

December 1, 2019 at 11:19 pm

it is really good and short. it was very easy to note it down on my copy. TYSM 🙂

December 5, 2019 at 11:27 am

You are welcome. We are always ready to help students for their better future. We are ready to write essays for students as per their request too.

March 31, 2020 at 5:47 pm

Nicely written

April 7, 2020 at 12:17 am

November 3, 2020 at 7:21 pm

Thanks for this valuable information . Svanidhi Yojana

January 14, 2021 at 7:58 pm

you have given really very helpful information.

March 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm

You explained very well.

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Essay on Flowers

Students are often asked to write an essay on Flowers in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Flowers

Introduction.

Flowers, nature’s beautiful gift, color our world with their stunning hues and enchanting fragrances. They are not just pleasing to the eyes but also play a vital role in our ecosystem.

Types of Flowers

There are countless types of flowers, each unique in color, shape, and size. Some common types include roses, lilies, daisies, and sunflowers. Each has its own significance and symbolism.

The Role of Flowers

Flowers are crucial for pollination, helping plants reproduce. They attract pollinators like bees and butterflies with their color and scent.

Flowers in Culture

Flowers hold special meanings in different cultures. They are used in ceremonies, for decoration, and even to express emotions.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Flowers

Flowers, the vibrant and diverse offspring of nature, play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They are not just aesthetically pleasing but also serve as the reproductive structures of flowering plants, contributing to biodiversity.

Symbolism and Cultural Significance

Flowers have been symbols of emotions, ideas, and cultural practices across civilizations. They represent love, friendship, sadness, and even death, bridging gaps between human emotions and nature. The lotus in Buddhism symbolizes purity, while red roses are universal tokens of love.

Ecological Importance

Flowers are vital for the survival of many species. They attract pollinators with their scent and color, facilitating the transfer of pollen, thus ensuring the propagation of plant species. This interaction also supports food chains, contributing to overall biodiversity.

Medicinal Value

Flowers like chamomile, lavender, and marigold have medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. They offer remedies for ailments ranging from insomnia to skin conditions, highlighting their significance in healthcare.

Economic Impact

The floriculture industry contributes significantly to economies worldwide. Flowers are cultivated for decorative purposes, perfumery, and even the food industry. This sector provides employment opportunities and contributes to the GDP of many nations.

Flowers, in their silent beauty, play multiple roles – from being symbols of human emotions to being vital cogs in ecological cycles. Their importance transcends aesthetics, and their study can offer insights into nature’s intricate design, making them a fascinating subject for exploration.

500 Words Essay on Flowers

Flowers, the magnificent creations of nature, play a pivotal role in our ecosystem and human life. They are not just a source of beauty and aesthetic pleasure, but also serve as key elements in pollination, a process vital for the survival of many plant species. This essay delves into the multi-faceted significance of flowers, their symbolism, and their role in various aspects of human life.

Biological Significance of Flowers

Flowers are the reproductive structures of angiosperms, or flowering plants. They contain the male and female reproductive organs, facilitating the process of fertilization. The bright colors, appealing fragrances, and nectar of flowers attract pollinators, such as bees, birds, and butterflies, aiding in the transfer of pollen grains from the male to the female parts. This pollination leads to the production of fruits and seeds, ensuring the continuity of plant species.

Symbolic Importance of Flowers

Flowers hold a deep symbolic significance in various cultures worldwide. They are often associated with emotions, ideas, or events. For instance, roses are universally recognized as symbols of love and passion, while lilies often represent purity and innocence. In literature, flowers are used as metaphors to convey deeper meanings and sentiments, enriching the narrative with their symbolic connotations.

Flowers in Art and Aesthetics

Flowers and human well-being.

Beyond their biological and aesthetic roles, flowers have a profound impact on human well-being. Studies show that the presence of flowers can improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance cognitive performance. The practice of gardening, often involving the cultivation of flowers, has been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved mental health and physical fitness.

Environmental Role of Flowers

Flowers contribute significantly to biodiversity by providing food and habitat for a variety of insects and birds. They play a key role in maintaining ecological balance. Moreover, many flowers, such as sunflowers and marigolds, have the ability to absorb harmful pollutants from the soil, aiding in the process of phytoremediation.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Spring pasqueflower ( Pulsatilla vernalis ). All images taken from Flora Norvegica Radiographica (2020) and courtesy Øyvind Hammer, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo

Do plants have minds?

In the 1840s, the iconoclastic scientist gustav fechner made an inspired case for taking seriously the interior lives of plants.

by Rachael Petersen   + BIO

Gustav Theodor Fechner championed the idea that plants have souls – something we might call ‘consciousness’ today. I first learned of him in an interdisciplinary reading group on plant consciousness that I co-lead at Harvard University. We convene biologists, theologians, artists and ethologists to explore the burgeoning literature on plant life. We found Fechner covered in the New York Times bestselling book by Christopher Bird and Peter Tompkins titled The Secret Life of Plants (1973). Michael Pollan describes this book as a ‘beguiling mashup of legitimate plant science, quack experiments, and mystical nature worship that captured the public imagination at a time when New Age thinking was seeping into the mainstream.’ The Secret Life of Plants cites Fechner as an important but often forgotten champion for plant sentience.

In 2006, 30 years after The Secret Life of Plants , a bold group of scientists published an article calling to establish the field of ‘plant neurobiology’ with the goal of ‘understanding how plants perceive their circumstances and respond to environmental input in an integrated fashion’. In other words, how plants might have something like minds.

The burgeoning field of plant science has become a rich playground for profound questions that have beguiled Western philosophy since Plato: namely, what is mind, where does it extend, and how? Who has mind, and how do we know? While scientists increasingly agree that many animals are sentient, doubts remain about our vegetal kin. For many, plants remain a limit case in the types of beings we are willing to concede experience life with the richness humans do, or whose experience we can meaningfully study.

European columbine ( Aquilegia vulgaris )

Fechner, writing more than 150 years ago, anticipated many claims of the contemporary plant neurobiology movement. His thought stands like an oasis amid an intellectual history otherwise hostile to plants. After all, in De Anima , Aristotle deemed plants the lowest form of life, construing them as defective animals. Francis Bacon later construed science as a method of torturing nature. And René Descartes not only reduced animals to unthinking automata, but fundamentally ruptured the relationship between matter and mind.

Fechner would spend his whole life trying to heal the divide between mind and matter, and the commensurate split between philosophy and science – but, first, he had to go mad.

F echner was born on 19 April 1801 in Groß Särchen, Saxony, the second child of Samuel Traugott Fischer and Dorothea Fechner. Fechner’s father Samuel was a pastor, and also the first person in the village to vaccinate his children. He installed a lightning rod on the church roof, and spoke Latin to his young son. He died when Gustav was only five.

At 16, Fechner matriculated into the University of Leipzig as a medical student. ‘After my medical studies,’ Fechner lamented, ‘I became a complete atheist … I saw only a mechanical gear in the world.’ Capitulating to this mechanical worldview, he abandoned medicine to study physics.

In February 1820, Fechner stumbled upon a copy of Grundriß der Naturphilosophie (1802) by Lorenz Oken, and ‘a new light suddenly seemed to illuminate the whole world to me. I was blinded by it.’ The project of Naturphilosophie promised a great unified worldview, one that struck Fechner with urgent necessity. Fechner could not, however, disavow his love of measurements, experiments and equations. Compared with physics, the sprawling top-down speculations of German idealism seemed insufficient. Rigorous systematicity was the ‘only way to achieve clear, reliable, and fruitful results’. Fechner still longed to apprehend the invisible laws that caused creation to ring in his ears like a symphony.

Showing how brain stimulation affected bodily movement threatened to make notions of the ‘soul’ indefensible

When Fechner was born, Germany was still a philosophical powerhouse. Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Friedrich Schelling and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe made the first three decades of the 19th century some of the most philosophically creative in modern history. After G W F Hegel died in 1831, major discoveries in biology, physiology and psychology laid the groundwork for an understanding of life in mathematical terms. As the empirical sciences grew in prestige and authority, Ludwig Feuerbach, Carl Vogt, Ludwig Büchner and other thinkers argued that every living leaf, flower and fox could be explained by appeals to the physical and chemical properties of matter.

To some, 19th-century advances in psychology seemed to make philosophy obsolete. The new field of psychology claimed to treat the mind – that old domain of philosophy – according to observational and increasingly quantitative methods. Anatomical experiments showing how brain stimulation affected bodily movement threatened to make philosophical notions of the ‘soul’ indefensible.

Fechner embraced the standards of material, empirical observation even as he harboured a secret love of the dying Naturphilosophie . He studied physics with greater intensity, and he accepted a physics professorship in 1834 at the University of Leipzig, and lectured without pay. To pay his bills, he translated multi-volume physics and chemistry works from French into German. Desperate for work, the Latin-speaking doctor-turned-physicist found himself translating the eight-volume Hauslexikon , a 19th-century equivalent of the Ladies’ Home Journal , many thousands of pages long. The tedium – the inanity – of Hauslexikon broke his spirit. Fechner worked himself into exhaustion. He was also going blind.

Gustav Theodor Fechner. Courtesy Wikipedia

Inspired by Goethe’s study of colour, Fechner had conducted experiments into after-images by staring at the sun through tinted glasses. His sight damaged, he retreated to a dark room and tied a cloth blindfold over his eyes. And when he could tolerate the pressure of the bandage no longer, a friend crafted custom goggles with thick lead cups to cover his eyes. He sometimes walked about his garden, guided by his wife, with two black bulbs protruding from his sunken face. Pacing up and down rows of lilies and lilacs, perhaps he looked like a crazed, metallic bug.

The crisis lasted from December 1839 to October 1843. Doctors treated him with therapies of the day – magnetism, vapours, electricity – to little success. The episode, which we might today characterise as depression, neurotic obsession and mania, would radically alter Fechner’s life. By 1843, the man who was once a voracious learner could not read.

F echner healed – slowly at first, then all at once. He cites several factors: the caring devotion of his wife, as well as religious thoughts, long dormant, that reemerged during this time. The most significant moment of Fechner’s recovery occurred on 5 October 1843, when he stepped out from his darkened room into his garden for the first time without his eye cover. He suddenly caught ‘a beautiful glimpse beyond the boundary of human experience. Every flower shone towards me with a peculiar clarity, as if it were throwing its inner light outwards.’ The whole garden was transfigured. And he thought to himself: ‘one must only open one’s eyes afresh to see nature, once stale, alive again.’

In 1846, at his first public lecture in six years, Fechner declared that his illness had ushered in a ‘higher calling’ of contemplating ‘inner nature’. He had crossed the bridge between inner and outer, to a place where the boundary between visible and invisible loses its meaning. Plant souls had rooted in Fechner; he wanted to let them bloom and flower on the page, to exempt not even the tiniest weed. He would spend the rest of his life inviting readers to cross over, and view nature with new eyes.

Wolf’s bane ( Aconitum lycoctonum )

Inspired by his vision, he wrote Nanna oder über das Seelenleben der Pflanzen (‘Nanna, or On the Soul Life of Plants’), published in 1848. The book draws from cutting-edge botanical experiments by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, Matthias Jakob Schleiden, Hugo von Mohl and others, as well as Fechner’s own close observation of plants. In Nanna (named after the Norse goddess of flowers), Fechner argues that plants are conscious beings with feelings and desires. They delight in the sun as we might delight in a wholesome meal. The world strikes plants with pleasure, pain, and even meaning.

Nanna asserts that we can only ever infer the existence of inner experience through outward physical expressions. And although we cannot fully know nature from within – eg, we can never get inside the mind of a plant – we can get close through comparison. We do this all the time, Fechner says. We assume some shared inner experience when we gaze into the eyes of a lover, parent, friend or foe: ‘My conclusion that you, my friend, have a mind is founded at last upon the fact that your outward appearance, your speech, and your behaviour are analogous to mine.’ If you are like me, you must have a soul like me.

To those who say plants do not move, Fechner says that we simply lack the patience to observe their slowness

The inherent interiority of things requires an endless process of approximation. For this reason, Fechner’s preferred rhetorical strategy is analogy. Fechner addresses the objection – popular then as now – that plants cannot have a mind because they lack a nervous system. He contends that plants possess something analogous to animals’ nervous systems, constituted by plant fibres and filaments. But he also questions why plants could not have subjective sensations without nerves. Why grant the nervous system an exceptional status when it comes to the soul? Nature seeks diverse means to achieve similar ends. The violin, for example, requires strings to intone. We might imagine the strings as nerves. But one would then conclude that a flute or trombone makes no sound because it lacks strings. Animals might just be the ‘string instruments of sensation, and the plants the wind instruments’.

Analogies are never perfect. If they had to be, Fechner acknowledged, we would deny subjectivity to ‘every person who does not look like me or behaves differently’. For Fechner, where analogies fall short, they instruct. This is perhaps Fechner’s most remarkable characteristic: his epistemological humility converts into a kind of ontological generosity. To those who say plants do not move, Fechner says (as Charles Darwin did) that we simply lack the patience to observe their slowness. To those who say plants lack speech, Fechner holds forth on a lexicon of fragrance, scent poured from chalice to chalice like great gossipy chatter:

In addition to the souls which run about and cry and feast might there not be souls that bloom in stillness, that quench thirst by slurping dew, that exhale fragrance, that satisfy their highest longings by budding and burgeoning towards light?

So, that plants differ from humans and animals in structure and function does not prove they lack souls. Rather, they are differently ensouled.

Fechner imagines that plants could apply their own soul criteria to humans and find us lacking. Plants may assume, based on their own experience, that the soul is evidenced by a capacity to self-generate and self-adorn, to create one’s body leaf by leaf. But humans must ‘leave our body as it is’ and don external garments. In addition, the plant is sessile; we run about. ‘The oak,’ he writes, ‘could easily turn our arguments against her soul back against ours.’ To plants, we must look very soulless.

To Fechner, a soul is something with an interiority, a subjective awareness – an ‘inward luminosity corresponding to the outward luminosity which is apparent in its body’. Tellingly, Fechner often uses soul ( Seele ) and mind ( Geist ) interchangeably as belonging to a being that experiences feelings ( Empfindungen ), including internal urges ( Triebe ) and external stimuli ( Reize ); intuition ( Anschauung ) and emotion ( Gefühl ). Cast in modern terms, we might simply say a soul is the capacity for subjective experience – what some cognitive scientists call primary or phenomenal consciousness . For Fechner, there is, as Thomas Nagel put it, ‘something it is like’ to be a plant.

Field forget-me-not ( Myosotis arvensis )

For Fechner, a soul never exists independent of a body. Physical form is the outward, sensible aspect of the soul, and the soul is the inward experience of form. In effect, body and soul are the same thing, viewed from different perspectives.

T he contemporary philosopher of mind Peter Godfrey-Smith relies on experimental evidence to determine which creatures are conscious. Evidence has convinced Godfrey-Smith that octopuses, dogs and, more recently, bees have subjective experiences of reality, or what Fechner might have called soul.

While lecturing at Harvard, Godfrey-Smith cited a recent experiment that subjected octopuses to pain and concluded that it hurt them. In other words, there is ‘something that it is like’ to be a wounded octopus. During the Q&A, a woman raised her hand. ‘I’m still confused as to how that experiment proves anything at all,’ she said. ‘I guess, I just want more. How do we know the octopus feels pain? How can we be certain anything is going on in there?’ With a kindness that suggested familiarity with this objection, Godfrey-Smith replied, ‘well, I imagine you would feel satisfied with the evidence if members of this audience, or your friends or family members, were subject to the same experiment.’

The reductive materialism that launched during Fechner’s life continues its ascent and has long weakened our appetite to claim anything like a soul. The prevailing scientific view is that consciousness emerges from complex networks of neurons – in other words, the mind is what the brain does. Consciousness is a property of neuronal traffic or perhaps even sophisticated computer code .

In The Claim of Reason (1979), his sweeping book on Ludwig Wittgenstein, Stanley Cavell provides a diagnosis of scepticism: how can we really know what’s going on in the minds of others? How can we know that what appears real is real at all? Increasing experimental evidence ‘proves’ that more animals satisfy scientific criteria for consciousness, and it is the vegetal kingdom that is becoming the stage on which scepticism plays out.

The incessant quest to know sidesteps the actual world, the real lives of others before us, radiant, waiting to be seen

Cavell treats scepticism as a condition we reckon with, either productively or at great cost to ourselves and others. Scepticism, for Cavell, expresses a discomfort with the finitude of life, and a resistance to accepting the world and acknowledging those with whom we share it. Bereft of transcendent absolutes, humans often reach to reason for the answer. We convert an ontological problem into an epistemological one. When reason fails to deliver reality, we disavow ourselves of that reality.

The result is what Cavell calls ‘soul-blindness’, a condition in which the sceptic ‘lack[s] the capacity to see human beings as human beings’. This blindness, he implies, is rooted in our inability to embrace exteriority as sufficient evidence of rich interiority: ‘not to believe there is such a thing as the human soul is not to know what the human body is,’ wrote Cavell.

Fechner might reply: not to believe there is such a thing as a human soul is not to know what the plant body is. And not to believe there is such a thing as a plant soul is not to know what the human body is. In this way, soul-blindness may be inherently related to a widespread phenomenon that scientists term ‘plant-blindness’ – an inability of humans to see or notice plants in the environment.

Cavell’s work is some of the most compelling in illuminating the tragic implications of scepticism on the life of the sceptic. In the essay ‘The Avoidance of Love’ (1969), Cavell argues that scepticism drives the events in Shakespeare’s King Lear . He understands Lear’s inability to acknowledge what he already knows – that Cordelia loves him – as his inability to accept the human condition. Lear, like the sceptical epistemologist in search of certain knowledge, loses the very presence he craves. The incessant quest to know sidesteps the actual world, the real lives of others before us, radiant, waiting to be seen – winged, leafed, loving, destitute. In the end, the sceptic – like Gloucester in King Lear , like Fechner in a dark room – ends up eyeless, without direct access to the world.

The biologist E O Wilson characterised our current epoch of ecological extinction as the Eremocene – or age of loneliness. I used to think he meant only the melancholy that accompanies silence where there should be birdsong. How could we not feel lonely as our metastasising metropoles, branching roads and industrial agriculture kill off species at an unprecedented rate? But maybe our species loneliness has as much to do with soul-blindness as our land-use policies. Scepticism fills Earth with mewing, howling, slithering ghosts – shadows of refused light. We ‘have lost … some picture of what knowing another, or being known by another, would really come to,’ says Cavell, ‘a harmony, a concord, a union, a transparence, a governance, a power – against which our actual successes at knowing, and being known, are poor things . ’

The tragedy of our times is the tragedy of Lear, says Cavell: ‘we would rather murder the world than permit it to expose us to change.’

M any of the points Fechner makes in Nanna are now being made again, albeit with different evidence, by contemporary plant neurobiology researchers. Like Fechner, these scientists reject a fetishisation of neurons (despite their name). They carry on his claim that plants possess something analogous to animal brains – though, unlike Fechner, they often try to identify molecular-level functional similarities between animal and plant substrates. Like Fechner, they argue that plant behaviour is intelligent – ‘adaptive, flexible, anticipatory, and goal-oriented’ – rather than simply hardwired instinct, as evidenced by experiments that document plant learning, kin recognition, communication. Several scientists who support the cognitive capacity of plants also hold out the possibility that they are sentient – what Fechner called ensouled ( beseelt ).

A professor once remarked with a smirk to Fechner’s nephew: if your uncle is so serious about his argument in Nanna , he must also, to be consistent, extend ensoulment to stars. In fact, in his later three-volume treatise Zend-Avesta (1851), Fechner gives Nanna a cosmic upgrade, extending his analogical reasoning to celestial bodies. Couldn’t Earth be said to behave, in some ways, like the human body? Could it also have a soul? All of creation harboured an interiority, a rich sensuous life, a kind of freedom. And humans comprise, in part, this terrestrial consciousness. We rise upon the planet as wavelets rise upon the ocean. We grow out of her soil as leaves grow from a tree. We are the sense organs of Earth’s soul: when one of us dies, ‘it is as if an eye of the world were closed,’ as William James said in a lecture concerning Fechner’s thought. Zend-Avesta regards external creation (nature) and internal life (souls) as two aspects of the same reality. All matter and spirit co-occur, co-instantiate, and cannot be separated.

Today, plant scientists who endorse the possibility of plant sentience face significant criticism

Panpsychism , which holds that all things have a mind or mind-like quality, is an ancient theory. And, in many ways, Fechner was a panpsychist, or perhaps a pantheist. For Fechner, ‘belief in the plant soul is just a little instance’ of broader questions regarding the animacy of the more-than-human world. While it may be difficult to imagine mountains, rivers and stars as conscious – as Fechner later would – he saw plants as an accessible entry point into broader notions of mind. He compared contemplating plant souls to a graspable pot handle:

Just as a big pot can be grasped more easily by its little handle than by its large belly, so I considered that in the little soul of the plant I had found a little handle by which faith in the greatest things could be more easily hoisted to the pedestal.

Fechner’s later books flopped. None saw a second edition, and they remain untranslated. Colleagues dismissed Fechner’s daring philosophy as a product of a mind gone wild, even as they lauded his earlier scientific work. Fechner bemoaned that ‘if they must accept other writings of mine, such as atomic theory and psychophysics, … it seems that they make two beings of me, of which they deem only one worthy of attention.’

The US psychologist William James was one of Fechner’s few champions. James rhapsodised about Fechner:

The original sin, according to Fechner, of both our popular and our scientific thinking, is our inveterate habit of regarding the spiritual not as the rule but as an exception in the midst of nature.

James thought Fechner offered a corrective view, one that would ‘wield more and more influence as time goes on’. Today, plant scientists who endorse the possibility of plant sentience face significant criticism. In a 2021 article in the journal Protoplasma , critics called it ‘regrettable’ that ‘claims [by scientists] that plants have conscious experiences’ are ‘finding their way into respectable scientific journals – even top-tier journals’, which might ‘generate mistaken ideas about the plant sciences in young, aspiring plant biologists ’. These claims are ‘misleading and have the potential to misdirect funding and governmental policy decisions.’ One wonders what harm they think granting plants minds might cause – and if it is somehow more severe than the reverse.

Even today, as Fechner lamented, ‘people find the pot too big, and the handle too little, and go on cooking in the same old pot.’

I n 1848, when Fechner’s Nanna was published, a great darkness fell across Europe. Revolutions spread. Germans fled on boats – fled with their families and few belongings to Galveston, to Cincinnati, to Milwaukee. Fechner knew: to talk about plant souls at a time like that risked irrelevance at best, impudence at worst. In short: who cared?

He begins the book with an apology:

I confess that I have had some misgivings about raising the subject I am about to raise at the present time … How could I demand you begin to hear the whisper of flowers, never heard before even in quiet times, now that roaring winds threaten to topple even deeply rooted trunks??

Wars, a global pandemic, the climate crisis, the threat of AI, inflation, and the crushing heap of bodies – human and otherwise – murdered in the name of hate, conquest, greed. But maybe that means a new vision is needed now more than ever. Maybe we must grip the pot with whatever small handle we can.

Of the failure of his books, Fechner expressed sadness but not worry. He wrote in his diary: ‘The coming era will do justice to ideas that do not fit into the present, or the current does not fit.’

Fechner reminds us that rigorous, scientific thinking need not be pitted against bold metaphysical claims. He offers a way to attend to mystery without renouncing matter, and the inverse. Perhaps most of all, his life serves as a reminder that soul-blindness, and its attendant plant-blindness, carries risks. He reminds me that the best way to apprehend the unseen in plants is to take off the blindfold and look. He reminds me that what we stand to gain by looking at nature with new eyes is nothing short of the world, and nothing short of each other.

Political philosophy

C L R James and America

The brilliant Trinidadian thinker is remembered as an admirer of the US but he also warned of its dark political future

Harvey Neptune

Neuroscience

The melting brain

It’s not just the planet and not just our health – the impact of a warming climate extends deep into our cortical fissures

Clayton Page Aldern

Thinkers and theories

Rawls the redeemer

For John Rawls, liberalism was more than a political project: it is the best way to fashion a life that is worthy of happiness

Alexandre Lefebvre

Computing and artificial intelligence

Mere imitation

Generative AI has lately set off public euphoria: the machines have learned to think! But just how intelligent is AI?

Anthropology

Your body is an archive

If human knowledge can disappear so easily, why have so many cultural practices survived without written records?

Helena Miton

Illness and disease

Empowering patient research

For far too long, medicine has ignored the valuable insights that patients have into their own diseases. It is time to listen

Charlotte Blease & Joanne Hunt

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Photo Essay: I Love Plants

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Hello to all photography lovers! It’s been a while since our last photo gallery and this time we are getting into plants. Photographing plants has this calming effect, so I recommend it to all photographers out there. Just take your camera and visit the nearest grassland or botanical garden if you are in the city. Strongly recommended. Alright, enough words! Please be my guests and enjoy our first and certainly not last plants gallery.

It starts with the roots

To grow a beautiful flower

Or not…

Beauty has many shapes

Lovely, right?

Just so you know. You won’t be the only visitor.

This is the end of our first plants photo gallery. Thank you for your attention. I hope you liked this gallery. See you next time. Stay safe!

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Student Essays

Essay on My Garden | Short & Long Essay & Paragraph on Gardening

Are you trying to write an essay on Gardening? Well, Writing an essay, paragraph or short note on Gardening you needed to look at few main points. Like describing a garden, a flower garden story, benefits of gardening a visit to garden etc.

I have written a sample Essay on topic Gardening. It covers all like; 10 lines on my garden, 5 sentences about flower, 5 simple sentences about gardener, Short & Long Essay & Paragraph on Garden etc. This essay on garden is quite helpful for Ukg kids, class 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10th level students.

Essay on My Garden | Short & Long Essay on Gardening For Students

Having a garden in house has proven to be beneficial for health. A garden includes many plants which supply us oxygen.

I believe gardening is the most manageable task for a person. All it requires is effort and motivation of a person to grow plants. It is the place where we can relax from a busy schedule.

My Garden Essay For Students

Gardening is my favorite time pass and I love to take care of my garden. I have made a small garden in front of my house. There was a vacant land in front of my house so my siblings and I chose to convert this land into a beautiful garden.

>>>>>> Read Also:  Essay on Plants, Benefits & Importance in Life

I love the fragrance of these fresh flowers. The sight of butterflies hovering upon these beautiful flowers is amazing. I consider these flowers to be my best friend and I love to sit in the company of these flowers in my garden. I feel so refreshed when I see my blooming garden. My house looks more beautiful because of this garden in front.

Having a garden has not only freshen the environment of our house but it has also provided a natural habitat to various birds. I have grown many plants in my garden. When I plant vegetables and flowers, I feel that I have brought something to life and it feels really great.

After planting, I pay special attention to my garden. I make sure to remove the weeds, remove dead leaves around plants and water my garden more often.

My mother also grows tomatoes and some seasonal vegetables on the side of garden. They taste fresh and tasty. There is also a variety of aromatic herbs like mint, coriander and aloe vera on one side of garden.

It because of my mother’s efforts that no matter how warm the temperature is, my garden always has a burst of cool air. This is because the trees and plants in my garden make the atmosphere cooler than the surrounding areas.

>>>> Read Also : ” Paragraph on My Garden For Students”

Another benefit of having this garden is that it keeps me busy and away from useless activities. I love to sit in my garden under the shade of tree and read books. I also love to walk in my garden in my leisure time.

Gardening reduces my stress level after an exhausting day. It soothes my mind and body. I can spend countless hours in my garden without getting bored. During weekends, I love to eat breakfast with my family in the garden and enjoy sun.

My garden is a place where I find actual peace and comfort. I take care of my garden with all my heart. I never let my plants get dry and I water them every day. It is an amazing feeling to see these plants grow day by day. I feel accomplished when I see my plants and trees bearing fruits. I feel so connected with nature in my garden.

>>>>>>> Related Post:   Paragraph on Joys of Gardening For Students

In today’s era, no one builds a garden in their houses because of lack of space. Some people also consider gardens as a waste of space.

Having your own garden is such an amazing feeling. I am so proud of myself for creating such a beautiful garden. I would suggest everybody to have a garden at home. Without these plants we would not be alive. Therefore, we should also plant more trees because one little seed can make a big difference.

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Build Better Relationships

Love is like a flower — we need to nurture it.

• February 28, 2021

A while back, my sister and I were chatting about love and relationships (as sisters do!) and she shared something that I thought was incredibly profound.

She told me that love is like a flower. Flowers are beautiful, bring joy, and can instantly brighten up your day, but they are also delicate. They need water to grow, nourishment from the soil to flourish, and light from the sun to thrive. Flowers can’t just be thrown around; we must handle them with care. If we don’t give them what they need to survive, they can wilt, become bruised and damaged permanently, and they can die.

My sister summed up her thoughts by saying that, just like tending to a delicate flower, we need to care for the love we share with others in the same way.

How great is this analogy?!

Love and Relationships Take Work

In our society, there’s an entrenched belief that love should be easy — that when you build a loving relationship with someone, things should just “work out”. But this simply isn’t true!

Relationships require work in order to thrive, the same way flowers need tending to in order to flourish. Our word and actions — what we say and do — impact others, and they can bring joy, but they can also hurt. If we do not take the time to nurture a bond we have with someone, especially after it’s been hurt , it will suffer over time.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t fight or experience tension with your loved ones. Arguments and conflict are normal and healthy aspects of a relationship. As you’ll have heard me say in previous blogs, the issue isn’t that you fight because, of course, you’ll have disagreements. What matters is how you fight and address the tension you experience in relationships. (And if you’re not already doing this, you might want to carve out the time to think about what you can do to heal the hurt your actions or comments may have caused.)

And here’s what’s so interesting: sometimes it’s in the greatest of turmoil that love can become even more beautiful. When I first told my boo that my sister called love a delicate flower, he said, “Yes! It’s like a lotus flower that grows in a shitty swamp!”

How to Nurture Love and Relationships

Every meaningful relationship you have is special in its own way. Like the many species of flowers that need varying amounts of water, fertilizer, and sunlight to flourish, your relationships may need to be cared for differently in order for them to grow or heal. To help you out with your relationship “gardening” (ha, couldn’t resist!), here are a few things you can do to help nurture your bonds with others:

Know Your (and Your Loved Ones’) Love Language

Have you heard of love languages? The Five Love Languages is a book by Gary Chapman that outlines the ways we express and experience love. Simply put, our love language is how we show others that we love them and how we like to receive love from others. For example, my dominant love language is words of affirmation — I love showering my beloveds with words of admiration, appreciation, and encouragement. Knowing your loved ones’ love languages is important as you’ll uncover what means the most to them and how to heal any hurt you cause. You can do the Love Language test online for free here .

Learn to Fight Better

As I’ve already mentioned, conflict is a very normal part of relationships, and it can actually bring people closer together. The important thing to note is how you fight. For example, one of the most useful things I do whenever I feel stressed in a heated discussion is to take a pause . This simple act can stop potentially harmful words from flying out of your mouth — all you need to do is literally pause! When you slow down and check in with yourself, chances are that your response will be more thoughtful and deliberate.

Going forward, choose to work hard at nurturing your relationships through proper care and attention, so that the love you have in your life can thrive, feel beautiful, and be lasting.

Reflect on your most important relationships. Are there any that need a little TLC? What will you do going forward to nurture and cultivate that bond?

Remember that it may take time, and some relationships may require more nourishing than others. But all of this is worth the sweet smell of roses (cheesy, I know, but true)!

I’m an award-winning life coach, empowerment speaker, author, and inclusion expert dedicated to helping you live your best life.

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For the Love of Savoring Sandwiches

T he first sandwich I remember loving was one I didn’t choose. Somewhere near the water in Michigan, my parents doled out a couple sandwiches to split along with a few bags of chips to preteen-me and my three younger siblings. We’d be sharing — no order-taking, no arguing.

We’d never been a summer vacation type of group, but we’d driven to Michigan to visit family so extended that some of us had never met, and the last-minute trip doubled as an escape hatch from Kentucky’s humidity. The salt of the pretzel bread made it feel like we were by an ocean, which I kept reminding myself was actually a lake. I liked not having to pick out of all the sandwiches. I liked that I was able eat whatever I ended up with, regardless of the combination I got—and managed to enjoy it. 

That year was also one of the first that I began experiencing symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder . I didn’t know, at the time, what the unwanted thoughts and feelings that would seep into my days were. Only that they upset me. I didn’t understand why I mentally reviewed events, conversations, or my behavior until I felt separated from who I was or what I liked— too afraid to enjoy it lest it be overtaken with fear, too. I felt, even then, what a relief it was to just like something.

Even as a kid, I was aware of how these thoughts and fears would interrupt me. How much time they seemed to suck up. On that trip, I’d be tearing through the sand with my siblings one moment only to freeze abruptly, and count over and over in my head to make sure no one had gone missing the next. So, the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed something as simple as sandwiches—without analyzing it first, without worrying that enjoying it would surely cause something bad and unrelated to happen—delighted me. A sandwich felt, to me, how summer often feels: something you want to hold on to forever.

Read More: Learning to Want Again

Every summer since, I've craved the crispness of my favorite veggie sandwich (loaded with avocado, cucumber, tomato, peppers, and a hearty slice of provolone thrown in) when it’s just too hot to cook, or pulling a sandwich out of a backpack after a bike ride or a hike. Because sandwiches, in all their messy, toppings-spilling-out-of-bread glory, are my reminder to enjoy, to breathe—to savor.

To be clear, liking or savoring something doesn’t help this debilitating disorder—only evidence-based treatment does that. So often, knowing what I like, and trusting that, feels like a sweaty fight, forcing my mind to make room for my preferences, my ideas, and my yearning amid fear. This runs a spectrum from the small to the catastrophic. Imagine if everything you’d ever enjoyed, or held dear, suddenly felt distressing. Or convincing you that you’ve poisoned the meal you cooked and were about to serve it to everyone you invited over for dinner.

It feels like a small miracle that I’ve been able to hang onto liking something as simple as sandwiches this long. And it reminds me that I can have other things I savor in my life, too. Remember Michigan, by the water? I think to myself. It’s okay to savor. You still can.

Sandwiches have also become touch points for highs and lows: a grilled chicken sandwich piled with tomato and greens on crusty, chewy bread with salt and vinegar chips, ordered in celebration of a milestone work day; a turkey sandwich with spicy cranberry chipotle chutney packaged in plastic wrap the way it might in a kid’s lunch box when I stood in a new city and realized I’d taken a life-changing chance just by being there; a tuna sandwich from a local health food store I planned to eat after my first colonoscopy, that I apparently babbled extensively to nurses about; ordering a sandwich with tomato and pesto mayo that made the focaccia soggy (in a good way) for delivery in the thick of beginning treatment, when I felt so locked in my mind by obsessional doubt so overpowering that I couldn’t turn the doorknob of my home and leave to get it myself.

Every summer, as the sun sets earlier and earlier, we hold tight to our own forms of savoring, wishing it could all last a little longer. After all, enjoying a sandwich on a beach is an enduring pastime for a reason. There’s understated bliss—however fleeting, however small—in reminders of what you actually like. There’s also power.

In my case, that includes a running joke with friends that the hill I’ll die on is that the sandwich is actually the ideal little treat, even though, yes, it is technically a meal. Sure, just how it comes; yep, just the sandwich; oh, whatever bread you have is fine : each an order, each a blessed release of control.

Sometimes, sitting at my desk with summer’s thick bathwater air in the open window, I think about going back to that sandwich spot in Michigan. I think of the summer of that year, when my younger self was just beginning to question why her mind was the way it was, why these thoughts she didn’t want took up so much room, and whether she’d know who she was or what she’d like. 

I think she’d be thrilled to know I’m still here—still savoring sandwiches.

For resources and information on obsessive compulsive disorder, please visit the International OCD Foundation.

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Tree Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on tree.

Tree Essay- Trees are our best friends because they clean the air we breathe. Likewise, they also clean the water and soil and ultimately make the earth a better place. It is also a fact that people who live near trees are healthier, fit, and happier than people who do not.

Moreover, it is our responsibility to look after our friends who serve us in many ways. Most importantly by saving plants, we are not doing any favor to plants but to ourselves only. Because trees and plants life does not depend on us but our lives depend on them.

Importance of Trees

Trees are important to us in a lot of ways and we cannot ignore their importance. They are important because they give us fresh air to breathe , food to eat and shelter/shade from sunlight and rainfall . Besides this, there are many medicines in the market that are made up of trees extracts. Apart from this, there are plants and trees that have medicinal value.

They bring peacefulness; create a pleasing and relaxing environment. Also, they help in reflecting the harmful rays of the sun and maintaining a balanced temperature . Besides, they also help in water conservation and preventing soil erosion . They also manage the ecosystem and from ancient times several varieties of plants are worshipped.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of Trees

Trees provide us many benefits some of which we can’t see but they make a huge difference. They help in fighting back the climate changes by absorbing greenhouse gases which are the main cause of climate change.

Moreover, they replenish groundwater and filter the air from harmful pollutants and odors. Besides, they are a great source of food and the king of fruits ‘Mango’ also grow on trees.

Moreover, they are the cause of rainfall as they attract clouds towards the surface and make them rain. They can be teachers, playmates and a great example of unity in diversity.

Above all, they are a good source of reducing air, water, and noise pollution.

Value of Trees

When a seed of a plant or tree grow it makes the area around it greener. Also, it supports many life forms. Birds make their nests, many reptiles and animals live on it or near it.

Besides, all these many beautiful flowers, food growing on it. Moreover, many parts of trees such as roots, leaves , stem, flower , seeds , are also edible. Most importantly they never ask anything in return for their services and the gifts they give. Trees also keep the balance in the ecosystem and ecology.

To conclude, we can say that trees are very important and beneficial for every life form on earth. Without them, the survival of life on earth will become difficult and after some time every species starts to die because of lack of oxygen on the planet. So, to save our lives and to survive we have to learn the importance of trees and also have to teach our children the importance of trees.

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8 Botanical Events This Summer That Plant Parents Will Love

Dc plant week, garden tours, and flower workshops are blooming around town..

Sunday, August 18 marks the beginning of DC Plant Week. To celebrate the citywide event, we’ve put together a list of activities that will help you discover our local plant scene.

DC Plant Week

August 18-24, location_on multiple locations, language website.

Celebrate plant life at a botanical happy hour, plant swap, or orchid workshop during this year’s DC Plant Week. The third annual event—organized by plant store REWILD— features citywide deals and specials on garden goods, plus gatherings at neighborhood flower shops for plant enthusiasts (free+) .

Summer Evening Hours at US Botanic Gardens

Location_on us botanic gardens.

View the sunset amid blooming summer flowers after hours at the gorgeous US Botanic Gardens.You can sip botanical-themed mocktails and lemonade while checking out the garden’s rare orchids, fruit trees, and cacti during its extended summer hours (free) .

Summer Evening Hours at National Arboretum

Location_on us national arboretum.

Explore centuries-old bonsai trees, plus rose gardens, azaleas, and massive porticos from the Capitol Building at the US National Arboretum. The green oasis spans 451 acres, and you can prolong your visit during summer evening hours (free) .

Sips and Stems

Location_on plntr.

In addition to  selling house plants and offering interior design services, this boutique keeps a running calendar of plant-themed hangouts and hands-on vegetation workshops. At the end of the month, flower expert Fenella will teach a bouquet-styling class (with mimosas) ($69) .

Pup Day at Meadowlark

August 21 and september 4, location_on meadowlark botanical gardens.

Leash up your furry friend and wander through this 95-acre Vienna garden on the first and third Wednesdays of the month through October. Take in the daylilies, cherry trees, lilacs, azaleas, and wildflowers as you and your pup pass by lakes, gazebos, and a Korean Bell pavilion ($8 for adults, $6 for dogs) .

Gardens of Dumbarton Oaks

Location_on dumbarton oaks gardens.

Explore this historic Georgetown landscape—designed by gardener Beatrix Farrand in collaboration with art collector Mildred Bliss—at your own pace. There are 10 acres filled with gardens, sculptures, orchids, and more ($11) .  

Forest Bathing

August 23 and september 6, location_on fort slocum park.

Meditate surrounded by nature at Fort Slocum Park with Rock Creek Conservancy and forest therapy guide Sarah DeWitt. She will lead forest bathers on a two-hour walk through the woods followed by tea (free) .

Jazz in the Gardens

September 4, location_on hillwood estate, museum, and gardens.

Jazz in the Garden at National Gallery of Art is wrapping up soon, but there’s still time to experience live music outdoors at Hillwood Estate, where the Marshall Keys Sextet will play dixieland, swing, and New Orleans-inspired second line tunes on the Lunar Lawn; bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs ($30) .

Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C. , a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.

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A photographers journey capturing Black Rodeo culture from behind the lens

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As someone who’s spent the better part of a decade living and photographing in Los Angeles, few things felt more exciting than capturing my first rodeo here and the Black riders who personified athleticism, passion and courage. As part of my journey over the past several years to find Black faces and places to document in ways only my ancestors could have dreamt of — under the project name Black Magic — I went in search for Black horseback riders and rodeo participants of all ages chasing their desire to ride, jump, lasso and embody the spirit of the old West while making it new again.

Starting in January 2024, this journey has led me to the small-but-mighty city of Tulsa, Okla. Known by most as the site of the 1921 Race Massacre and historically Black Greenwood District, Tulsa and the greater state of Oklahoma is home to some of the richest pockets of rodeo and Western culture in the country, just ask the creators of the 2023 film “Riding Legacy (An Oklahoma Black Cowboy Story)” directed and produced by Kian Taylor, Jay Ridley, Nicole Jocleen and Brittany Taylor. Unlike Tulsa, L.A. is typically one of the last places people might assume any rodeo culture exists, let alone a Black rodeo. Little did I know upon entering the Industry Hills Expo Center in West Covina recently to witness the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo for the first time last year, I had stumbled onto an event where Black communities across the country congregate yearly for a day of fun, food, riding and fellowship.

A photographer’s role doesn’t solely depend on our ability to see things as they are. Our job offers the opportunity to, as Solange iconically put it, see things we’ve also imagined to add an air of whimsy or fantasy to the moments we’ve intentionally frozen in time. Upon entry to the parking lot of the 40th Annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo you are immediately tasked with tapping into all of your senses with an acuity we only enlist during a heightened sense of excitement. You smell the rodeo well before you approach entry gates. The assortment of fried, smothered, pickled or barbecued options guide your steps into the gentlest of food comas. Sounds of Beyoncé and Earth, Wind & Fire reach your eardrums and awaken the alto in all of us to join the choir of thousands around you. Depending on how close you end up sitting, you may even taste some of the dirt thrown from the ring as champion cowgirl Kandra Demery whirls about the strategically placed obstacles during her barrel races. Without a doubt, you’ll feel your heart racing watching the steer wrestlers hurl themselves from atop their horses to wrangle bovine companions in time to secure their victory.

With a camera in hand, I challenged myself to capture the synchronized electric slides, dozens upon dozens of Black folk on horseback in the arena for the Grand Entry trailed by the largest Pan-African flag you’ve ever seen carried by rising star Paris Wilburd. I aimed to document the fast twitch movements of each bull trying to dismount daredevils like my rodeo twin Au’Vion Horton, contributing to the treasure trove of Black culture and keeping my finger on the shutter button to get the best shot.

As the popularity of Black rodeo culture has grown in the last year, it has opened doors for countless Black folk to deepen their relationship with themselves through seeing these historic traditions and families that have upheld them for generations. One of the first faces I saw upon entry to the arena in L.A. is the rodeo’s Merchandise Manager Kristi Demery, a rodeo mom for almost 30 years from Okmulgee, Okla. now living in the Beggs, Okla. We spoke of the reverence this community has for their lifestyle and the legacy left by Bill Pickett Rodeo’s founder Lu Vason in 1984 that caused millions of Black folk to truly understand our place in Western culture.

Fast forward one year, Demery has become somewhat of a rodeo mother to me as we’ve seen each other at numerous rodeos around Oklahoma. Each rodeo is akin to a family reunion, a side glance across the bleachers can turn into an hour long conversation recalling how each other’s mothers are doing with smiles cheek to cheek and the promise of leaving with a plate of your favorite catfish.

After experiencing the captivating events a year prior, I arranged for my own reunion of sorts with around 35 friends and new faces within the Black creative community to gather and bear witness to this momentous anniversary. I think of Kilyn Hayes, Devyn Hayes and Maya Johnson for example. These young Black women from the Inland Empire and their families congregate in the VIP section of the arena to break bread, share laughter and, of course, take photos among the sea of Black rodeo enthusiasts each year. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing and spending time with them and their families for the second year in a row. Even if you don’t arrive at the show with your family, you’re almost guaranteed to feel close to kin with someone by the time you leave. The magnetic energy and gleaming smile of rodeo MC Tiffany Guess will certainly make sure of it.

The Bill Pickett Rodeo is a celebration of the culture that extends far beyond the bright lights and line dances. For 40 years, generations of people have come from far corners of America to honor the contributions made by Black people in Western culture. The dedicated staff that puts on the traveling rodeo tour reminds us as each rodeo concludes why it truly is “The Greatest Show on Dirt.”

Here’s a few more images from the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in Los Angeles:

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I'm an interior designer. These 10 trends that don't actually look good in real life.

• As a seasoned interior designer and television art director, I've seen design trends come and go.
• White outdoor cushions, dark wood floors, and high-pile rugs are too hard to maintain.
• Bold wallpaper and painted countertops rarely ever stand the test of time. 

Bold wallpaper can overwhelm a space and it rarely stands the test of time.

Bold wallpaper has the potential to infuse a space with character and personality, but if the pattern is too over-the-top, you may be creating an overwhelming eyesore.

Wallpaper is a pain to remove, and slapping a coat of paint over it is akin to putting lipstick on a pig, so you want to make sure you will love your wallpaper choice for years to come.

There are very few wallpaper designs that are truly timeless, and you can quickly turn your sanctuary into a circus. I recommend going for a subtle wallpaper that adds texture and interest without creating visual clutter .

All-white interiors may look stunning in a curated Instagram post, but in reality, they can appear sterile, cold, and lacking in character.

Stark-white interiors photograph like a dream, but in reality, they are about as welcoming as a dentist's waiting room.

There is something to be said for the allure of a minimalistic clean slate but all-white interiors are seriously lacking in personality and warmth. If you fail to introduce a variety of textures and finishes, the result is a monotonous and uninteresting space.

Instead of an all-white interior, I recommend incorporating different textures, tones, and materials in a neutral color palette to add depth and interest to your space while still achieving a minimal look.

This approach will help create an inviting space that feels more like a home and less like a hospital.

Painting kitchen countertops may seem to be a cost-effective and fashionable choice, but it can just lead to damage and discoloration.

Painting your kitchen countertops may seem like an aesthetically pleasing DIY, but in real life, they are a design disaster .

One of the biggest issues with painted countertops is durability. Kitchen counters are subject to daily wear and tear — painted ones are no match for scratches, chips, and stains. 

No matter how much you try to protect them or how many coats of resin you pour over them, they'll eventually become damaged, discolored, or stained.

Trust me, there's not a painted kitchen countertop out there that won't chip or yellow in time.

Fake plants come across as tacky and lifeless, making them a poor choice for any well-designed space.

Although you can't kill a faux plant, you also aren't fooling anyone with that plastic imposter.

They may seem like a convenient way to add greenery to your space, but they just end up collecting dust and looking more like a prop from a bad sci-fi movie than a natural element in your home.

The beauty of having indoor plants in the home is to add a touch of nature and organic beauty.

If you were born without a green thumb, fear not. There are plenty of low-maintenance plants that can add a breath of life and energy to your space without requiring a degree in horticulture. Opt for the nearly un-killable pothos or snake plant instead.

High-pile rugs trap dirt and cost a pretty penny to maintain.

The luxe and textural quality of high-pile rugs is undeniable. However, after just a few months, they often lose their luster and become dingy and matted. 

The biggest problem with these plush floor coverings is maintenance. The long, shaggy fibers that make high-pile rugs so visually appealing also make them difficult to maintain. The fibers are a magnet for dirt, dust, and pet hair.

When it comes to rugs, it's always better to stay low-maintenance. I recommend going for flat-weave rugs instead. They offer a sleek and modern look that can add the perfect touch of sophistication to any space without the headache. 

Purchasing expensive decor items that lack meaning or unique beauty only demonstrates a lack of discernment and taste.

Mass-produced, uninspired decor that's often used in real-estate staging looks boring and lifeless in your actual home . 

Generic decor may seem like a safe bet, but it can easily become unremarkable at best and hackneyed at its worst.  This includes things like knickknacks, trinkets, and decorative items that have no real significance or purpose.

When you buy items that don't either serve a function or speak to you on a personal level, you're simply spending money on things that will end up collecting dust. Opt for interesting pieces that feel unique, inspire conversation, or have some sort of personal meaning.

Your home should be a reflection of you, not a carbon copy of a real-estate brochure, so don't be afraid to show a little personality. 

Dark wood floors are beautiful and terribly difficult to maintain.

Dark floors look absolutely marvelous on camera … with heavy retouching! 

Don't be fooled by what you see online. In real life, dark floors can be a maintenance nightmare, highlighting lint, scratches, and other imperfections.

In every home I've ever renovated with dark floors — no matter how much we clean them — we could always see an unidentified particle staking its claim. It's as if the floors are conspiring against us, providing the perfect backdrop to showcase the lint, pet hair, and dust floating around the room.  

Of course, that's not to say that dark floors are never a good option. However, it's important to keep in mind the potential downsides, including the need for more regular cleaning and maintenance.

If you're set on dark floors, be prepared to put in the effort to keep them looking their best. And if you're not up for the task, consider a lighter-colored floor.

I think cloud-style sofas are overpriced and overused.

Fluffy, cloud-style sofas have taken social media by storm in recent years with their irresistibly plush and cozy appearance.

These billowy, soft couches look like the perfect place to sink into and relax after a long day, but in reality, I think they lack proper support. Plus they don't always hold their shape — down-feather-filled cushions can compress after being sat on too much.

Behind every cloud-style sofa featured on social media, there's probably an influencer picking up the surprisingly heavy cushions and shaking them out to restore their shape right before they press record.

If you're investing in a high-end sofa , look for something that will more likely hold up over time. I recommend going for cushions filled with high-resilient-density foam instead. 

White outdoor cushions look clean and crisp … for about one day.

White outdoor cushions are a popular choice for their timeless and elegant look. But, as any homeowners with white cushions can attest, the reality of owning them is far from ideal. 

It doesn't take long for white cushions to start looking dingy and unappealing, especially if they're not regularly cleaned. Speaking of cleaning — white cushions are also notoriously difficult to wash, particularly if they're made of a material like canvas or cotton where stains can penetrate deep.

Even if you're diligent about keeping them clean, it's only a matter of time before they start to look worn. If you're looking for a cushion that is both practical and stylish , I recommend opting for a subtle pattern to mask imperfections or a dark-gray fabric. 

Your grandmother may love your excessive throw pillows, but I don't.

Although it's tempting to stock up on throw pillows like they're going out of style (and let's be real, they might be), the reality is that too many of these decorative cushions end up looking cluttered and dated in real life . 

When it comes to pillows, the "more is more" mentality went out of style with shoulder pads and hairspray.

Instead of trying to cram every cushion in the store onto your sofa, I recommend selecting a few high-quality pillows that truly complement your well-curated space . 

Interior designers share 15 home trends you'll probably regret in a few years

Interior-design experts share 12 kitchen trends they think you'll regret in a few years

Interior designers share 10 things you should get rid of to create a more peaceful space

  This story was originally published on February 16, 2023, and most recently updated on August 16, 2024.

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10 Moments of Beauty at the Paris Olympics

The Summer Games are known for athletic excellence, but they provide plenty of aesthetic excellence along the way.

Léon Marchand and the rest of the Olympians at the Paris Games have put on a show — in more ways than one. Credit... James Hill for The New York Times

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By Sadiba Hasan

• Published Aug. 9, 2024 Updated Aug. 12, 2024

Some people watch the Olympics for the events. Others watch for the hot athletes.

This is nothing new. Going all the way back to the first century, the orator Dio Chrysostom praised the “beauty” of the boxer Melankomas, who competed in the ancient Greek athletic games .

That same feeling resonates in 2024. A number of participants in the Paris Summer Olympics have distinguished themselves for things beyond their athletic talent. In an extreme case, a pole-vaulter gained a great deal of attention — some might say notoriety — for failing in a unique way. Others caught the public’s attention through moments of love or kindness — a different but equally palpable form of beauty.

There are numerous options to choose from, but here are 10 moments of beauty at the games.

Swimmers and Their Abs

After Italy won bronze in the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay on July 27, the Italian swimmer Thomas Ceccon, 23, raised his arms in celebration. In doing so, he unintentionally bared his well-cut abs , which had many thirsting on the internet .

(Ceccon, who won gold in the 100-meter backstroke, was later found sleeping on the ground next to a bench in Olympic Village after he had complained about the conditions at the village.)

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