Nature Journal Two (NJ2): A trip to the Gardens


Nature Journal Two: Botanical Gardens

            I would not consider myself an active nature walker. Growing up in Chicago and living in Fort Worth has conditioned my brain to enjoy urbanization. Yet, after my test, I decided to take a trip out to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. It has always been a mystery what hides behind those towering oak trees as I ride past in my carbon-emitting box. Throughout our class readings, the writer’s express nature as their observatory and way to get away from the loud, quick, exotic urbanization that has become our foundation. I thought a walk around the preserve would be a great way to clear my head and forget the grueling week.

            As I entered the garden on the smooth stone path, I immediately realized the squirrels running around their playground, bees pollinating the floral river that surrounds the path, and the butterfly sunbathing on a rock. It was as if I just walked through a portal to a different world. The garden was protected by a force-field of trees where the towering steel statues of Sundance Square could not be seen. As Thomas Mertens mentions in Rain and the Rhinoceros, I felt as if I was an alien to the noise of the city. The aroma of freshly cut green grass filled the air. The choir of the birds above could be heard from all around as there were no buildings, nor cars, to dilute the sound. A squirrel snuck up behind me as I lay on the cloud of grass. Perching out in his tree as if he was the alpha male protecting his kingdom. Perhaps he felt as if I was intruding his home? Ironically, humans and animals both share the natural environment, this squirrel has made this human-made attraction his permanent home.

            As I made my way to the hedge garden, I was shocked as the design and delicacy of the trees as their stance transformed rural Fort Worth into a cousin of the Garden of Versailles. The hedges juxtaposed with the fountain and pool created an aura of tranquility. A mere breath from my chest could disrupt the sheer beauty. Squirrels used the pool as their water fountain while butterflies masked themselves in the leaves. The garden was a maze of geometric figures where the flowers filled in the empty souls. Utter silence rang out amongst the garden as I closed my eyes and bridged the gap between nature and humanity. I was not the monster anymore; I was alone in my own thought while my friends played in the water. I was finally able to let my mind be free, away from the arithmetic equations of Neely. I was not enslaved anymore, I was able to sit in the sun, grasp the smell of nature, and have a truly reflective moment. Was it the hedge garden? The flowers? Was it that urbanization could not break through the palisade? Gradually time swept away, and I realized that mother nature’s flashlight had now turned dark.

            I made my way back down the path I came. While there was little light in the sky, the garden still was full of life. Crickets cried a lonely tune in the night as my ankle cracked with every-step. Horns could be heard in the distance as angry ants are stuck in rush hour traffic. It was a relaxing day that had no guidance, yet nature allowed me to clear my head.

Lex and I at the Hedge Garden

My friend and I



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