Reflection on Abbey and The Beauty of TCU

        I enjoyed reading the Polemic by Edward Abbey, as it was eye-opening and brought up several points that I had never previously considered. In particular, the contrast between Abbey and the survey workers views towards an increased amount of tourists at the park caught my attention. This stood out to me because, prior to reading this article, I too would have thought an increase in tourism would be positive for the park since it would bring in more money and resources. I would have fallen into the group Abbey describes here: "There may be some among the readers of this book, like the earnest engineer, who believe without question that any and all forms of construction and development are intrinsic goods, in the national parks as well as anywhere else, who virtually identify quantity with quality and therefore assume that the greater the quantity of traffic, the higher the value received" (5). However, I now understand that, although economically positive, tourism has negative environmental implications due to the negative effects that tourists leave on the area. Reflecting on this Polemic makes me think about a popular lake, Lake Minnetonka, in Minnesota, which is heavily used and has led to environmentalists pushing to limit the use of surf boats on the lake because of the negative impact they have on the lake environment. This is an issue I previously overlooked, as I personally love to wake surf, but I now plan to investigate further so that I can better understand the implications this activity is having on the environment. 

        This week, I also found myself reflecting on my journey to TCU and the connection it has to this course. My journey to TCU was quite unexpected, and I actually had no intention of attending even when I applied and planed my visit to campus. I wanted to go to a big school, so when my parents told me they had been hearing about this small school in Texas that I should apply to, I was completely uninterested. However, I decided to apply to appease my parents, and after getting in, I agreed to visit TCU while we were in the area visiting the University of Georgia ("in the area" is relative considering there was still a two hour flight separating them). When I first stepped on campus at TCU, though, I immediately felt at home, and I knew right away (although I did not admit it to my parents) that TCU was where I would be attending. It is interesting to reflect on this now in the context of this course, as I ultimately chose TCU because of the natural beauty of the campus. I had never been to any school that had so many trees, flowers, and greenery throughout the campus. The other schools I had visited at times felt dark, cold, and dirty, so when I came to TCU the nature caught my attention, and I realized how important that type of atmosphere was for my mental health. This appreciation for the beauty of TCU is something that has stuck with me throughout my time here, as I continue to purposefully go on walks around campus and can always be found taking pictures as soon as the tulips are planted in the spring. After this reflection, I decided to go on a long walk around campus, but I approached this walk differently than my others by having no headphones in and not looking at my phone, except for photos, so I could take in new areas of nature around campus that I otherwise may have missed.

        A common theme in my journals is that I am constantly surprised at how much nature is around me that I have never noticed before, and that remained completely true in my walk today. In the past I have always noticed the staple areas on campus, such as Frog Fountain and Sadler Hall (see picture 1). Although these are beautiful areas, I wanted to challenge myself in this walk to see the more natural areas of campus, rather than the areas being perfectly maintained because TCU knows that they are common photo spots. 

Picture 1: TCU sign in front of Sadler Hall

        Through this walk, I found that I was especially drawn to the beautiful flowers and trees growing all around campus, taking close to fifty photos just because everything was capturing my attention. One thing that I was especially impressed with was my iPhone camera's ability to take incredibly high-quality close up photos. In fact, the close ups, especially picture 4, look like they could have been take on a professional camera to me. I was inspired to incorporate close up into my photography after reading "The Drama of Details" in the Conservation Photography Handbook, as it described the power close-ups have in telling a story, which I found to be true when looking at the example photos that the author included in the chapter. My close ups were of flowers, and I like how it shows the intricate details, as well as how the individual flowers and separate but interconnected with the entire plant.

Please see some of my favorite photos below!

Picture 2: Close Up of Mexican Bush Sage

Picture 3: Close Up of Alpenrose

Picture 4: Close Up of Egyptian Starcluster

Picture 6: Crepe-Myrtle Tree

Picture 5: Oak Tree

I am excited to have my extended nature experience this week in our paddle trip, and I look forward to reflecting on that in my next journal!

Emily

Quiet Time in Nature

        I enjoyed last week's readings and class discussion in comparing the works from Meriwether Lewis and Luther Standing Bear in the Nature Writing, as they allowed me to better understand the Whites' vs. Native Americans' views towards nature, and the potential implications of those views. I believe these differences were best described through Standing Bear's writings, which is understandable as his works were written to help the White audience better understand Native Americans. "It was good for the skin to touch the earth and the old people liked to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth" (327). This quote from Standing Bear stood out to me because it demonstrates how important the land is to Native Americans, and it made me wonder how this impacted Whites, as at this time they were stealing land and relocating Native Americans. Clearly it was not beneficial enough since these actions continued to occur, but reading Standing Bear's section made me wonder if Whites began to understand, at any level, how important land and connection with nature was to Native Americans, as well as if they had any remorse for their actions after reading works like this one. Additionally, Standing Bear describes that the fundamental difference between the Whites' and Native Americans' views comes down to their childhood instruction, with whites spending a lot of time fooling around outside whereas the Native Americans are alert and observant of their surrounding (329). But, I did find it important that we also acknowledged in class that the Native Americans were not perfect environmentalists, such as the story of them running hundreds of buffalos off a cliff in Lewis' writings, as it helped us remain unbiased and understand that both sides had room for improvement. 

        Beyond comparing their differing viewpoints, I also found these readings to be amazing as they described the earth in its truest form, before it became commercialized and damaged as I see it today. For example, Lewis states "The hills and river Clifts which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance... they are formed of remarkable white sandstone which is sufficiently soft to give way readily to the impression of water" (100). While reading descriptions like this, I could not help but think how incredible it would be if this journal had photographs corresponding with these descriptions. Obviously, that was not possible during Lewis and Clark's journal, but this realization gave me a greater understanding of the reasoning behind including photos in these nature journals. 

        Standing Bear states "the Indian and the white man sense things differently because the white man has put distance between himself and nature; and assuming a lofty place in the scheme of order of things has lost for him both reverence and understanding" (330). Upon reflecting on these readings and class, this quote in particular resonated with me because it remains true in people today, at least for myself. I live with distance between myself and nature, as I live in developed suburbs and do not often spend designated time in nature with the sole purpose of observing and appreciating it like the Native Americans do. Therefore, I decided that this weekend I would be purposeful in removing the distance between myself and nature by simply sitting outside and observing it. To do so, I decided to go sit in a nature-filled area on campus for about an hour with no distractions, instead simply focusing on the nature surrounding me. I found this green-filled community area on the academic side of campus filled with grass, sitting, and garden areas, and decided to sit here for my time (see the area in pictures 1 and 2). 

Picture 1: My Sitting Spot

Picture 2: Overview of the community area

        While sitting here, I was amazed at how much beauty and excitement that was around me that I otherwise would have missed. I saw and heard birds flying and chirping in the sky, and also heard crickets and even saw one jumping around beside me before he flew away. I also saw a couple people playing with their dogs in the grass-space, which was exciting, and I liked seeing how the dogs interacted with the nature around them. Additionally, I looked at all the unique aspects of the trees and plants. I usually would simply think these were all the same types of plants and trees, but by taking the time to look at them, I was able to see all their unique differences, such as one tree having sharp thorns on its branches (see picture 3). The space also had a water installment, which is obviously man-made, but I felt it worked in extenuating the natural beauty of the area as it almost blended into the space (see picture 4).

Picture 3: Thorne filled tree branch

Picture 4: Water Installment

        Overall, I really enjoyed this time I spent in nature, as I found it relaxing to sit and appreciate what was around me without any external distractions. It also felt like I was meditating to an extent, and I felt rejuvenated when I went home. Going forwards, I hope to spend time like this at the end of all my walks, even if it is just for 5 minutes, as it provides a positive experience with nature and is beneficial for my mental health.

Thank you for reading,

Emily

A World of Plants and Trees

         In class on the 7th, we discussed the importance of knowing the names of the nature around us, specifically in how we can do so by calling plants by their name rather than as a "flowering bush" like I did in one of my previous posts. I learned how to identify plants through both the app, Plant Snap, and the feature in Apple Photos to 'find plant.' Although I was a little embarrassed and surprised that I did not even think about a feature like this existing, I was also excited and found it so fun to be able to actually know what I was taking pictures of. I could not wait to put this technology to a test, and so during my nature observation this week I walked around to identify the various plants and trees around my neighborhood.

        Please see some of my favorite photos of the trees/plants that I identified below:

Picture 1: Tamarind Tree

Picture 2: Flowers on an Apple Tree

Picture 3: Dying Drimiopsis Lancifolia Plant

Picture 4: Boxwood Shrub

Picture 5: Uniquely Shaped Oak Tree

        While identifying these items, I decided to use both Plant Snap and Apple's plant identification feature in hopes of identifying which one worked best. Overall, I found that Plant Snap was generally better, but each had problems identifying certain items such as the trees and the dying plant. Therefore, I think it is most beneficial to use both so that one can ensure the proper identification is made. However, I do believe Apple's feature may be best for an average person, as it is a quick and efficient tool that can help them better understand the nature that they may be admiring. For example, my stepmom takes photos of different plants she finds pretty on a daily basis, so I told her about the apple feature and so far, she loves it!

        Once I identified each of the above items, I then read their brief descriptions that corresponded with the items. One description that stood out to me was that for the Tamarind tree (picture 1), as it said that the tree bears edible fruit that is used in food around the world. I, however, did not see any fruit on the tree while inspecting it, and I became curious as to why that is. My best guess is it is due to the location of the tree, as it is located in the parking lot behind my house, and therefore is only surrounded by concrete and has limited space to grow. In fact, upon further reflecting, I notice that the tree is growing in a weird, almost two-tiered shape, and I am beginning to wonder if that shape is also because of the limited space surrounding it. I also really enjoyed identifying picture 2 as an apple tree (no, not one that actually grows apples!) as this tree has beautiful flowers and is located right next to my house, yet I had no idea it even existed before I began purposefully looking for plants today. This experience just further emphasizes the importance of these nature exercises for me, as I am hopefully beginning to create new habits where I truly observe, notice, and appreciate the nature surrounding me each and every day.

Picture 6: Crepe-Myrtle Tree

Picture 7: Multi-stemmed Trunk of Crepe-Myrtle Tree

       

         One tree that I found particular intriguing was the Crepe-Myrtle tree, as seen above in pictures 6 and 7. The Crepe-Myrtle tree is described as a flowering plant that is native to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. This tree stood out to me primarily due to its unique looking trunk, as it looks tropical and out of place on a college campus in Texas, almost reminding me of a big-sized bonsai tree. It is amazing to me that this plant exists just a couple blocks away from my house.

        Overall, this experience was so much fun for me, and I felt like a little kid in a candy store as I was moving from plant to plant throughout my neighborhood. The ability to identify the plants I am looking at in a way has made me feel even closer to nature, as I actually know what I am looking at and the history behind the various plants. I believe these are tools I will use not only throughout the rest of this class, but also throughout my life as I have my nature experiences around the world.

Best,

Emily

A Newfound Appreciation for Everyday Views

        The goal that I set for myself this week was to better appreciate nature on my daily walks to class. I set this goal because, upon reflection, I realized that I am always on my phone while I walk, and therefore have never truly taken in the nature surrounding me every day. I set this goal prior to last week’s class period, but I was further inspired to pursue it after I heard that one of my fellow classmates had done the same and had a new and incredible experience with nature from doing so. 

        To achieve this goal, I committed to having no distractions on my walks to and home from class for the rest of the week. I kept my phone in my pocket, only taking it out for pictures sake, and focused all of my attention on the nature around me. I was surprised to see how many beautiful trees and flowers surrounded me on my walk. Of course, I knew that these sites existed on this walk, but I had never previously taken the time to truly look at them and take it all in. For example, I put in effort to simply look up on my walk, which allowed me to take picture 1 where I captured the contrast of the bright green tree on the blue sky. I personally love this photo because, although it is not a close-up, it almost feels like you can see the intricate details of the branches and leaves because of their contrast on the sky. From a far-away perspective, the majority of my walk looks like what I captured in picture 2. Through this experience, I developed a newfound appreciation for this view, as I truly noticed how special it is to have big, luscious trees surrounding both sides of this street, almost forming an arched entryway to campus.

Picture 1: Tree against the sky

Picture 2: My daily view

       

         This beauty that I saw was extra surprising because I had previously viewed my walk to class as going through a somewhat ugly area, especially in relation to my old walks while living on campus. On campus, TCU takes beautiful care of all the nature, and I have even been told that we have an endowment specifically to ensure there are always fresh flowers. The flowers, trees, and grass on campus are something that I have always appreciated in my walks. However, coming off campus, I often notice a stark contrast in the maintenance when TCU is not taking care of the area. I personally live pretty much half on campus, which can be seen above in picture 2 (the left is TCU parking, the right is private homes), so that may explain why the area is so well kept compared to what I may have expected to see.

Picture 3: Flowering Bush

        Overall, by putting my phone away and simply observing nature on my walk, I noticed so many things that I had never seen before. For example, picture 3 shows a stunning purple flowering bush on the side of my path that I had never previously noticed. Chapter 7 in the Conservation Photography Handbook describes the power close-up photography has to capture the minutiae that often goes unnoticed, as well as shows the interconnectedness of all things. After reading this chapter, I decided to go back to the flowering bush and take close-up photos. As soon as I got there, I was excited to see all of the bumble bees pollinating the flowers, and I was even able to get a close-up of one bee in action (see below in picture 4)! The chapter states that close-ups can become a key part of your story and is a “wakeup call to the importance of protecting all parts of an ecosystem” (page 69). This statement was certainly true for me, as being able to take and look at these photos gave me a newfound appreciation for bees, and I hope that others viewing also are able to see their underappreciated importance. Also, I think it is important to note that, in this chapter, the author gave a lot of tips on how to do close-up photography with a professional camera. However, I was impressed with my phones ability to take close-up photos, and I think that ability is something that should be better emphasized to empower people that they all have the ability to take great photos simply with their smartphones.

Picture 4: Close-up of pollinating bee

        In preparation for this week’s class, I also read the works from Meriwether Lewis and Standing Bear from the Nature Writing, and I found their contrasting views towards the Earth to be powerful. This week, my goal is to continue reflecting on these two works and to attempt to capture how these views can still be seen in people and nature today.

 

Thank you for reading!

Emily