Thanks to Saturday’s keynote speaker, Mike Yanny, I now have a name for my “condition.” It’s Planternal Instinct!! Perhaps you have it too? You know, it’s that part of you that has to touch and name every plant you see. (That particular quirk drove my college friends crazy.) In the fall you are mesmerized by fallen leaves, each a work of colorful, exquisite art; so you pick up as many as you can and take them home to press. You get down on your knees in the spring to smell the soil, yum. Your neighbors call the paramedics because you are lying on your back in the middle of your backyard only to discover that you were just admiring your trees from this point of view. Your pockets are full of maple samaras, June berries, or acorns depending on the season. Join the club, you have Planternal Instinct.
Mike taught us about this and many other original and unpublished plant tidbits during his morning presentation. He also read several of his poems, including “Leaf Fuzz,” “Squirrels,” and “Planternal Instinct.” You can find his poems by using the link in his section under the SPEAKERS tab. It won’t be the same as his live presentation, but if you missed it watch for him in future Arboretum programs.
Mike and the rest of the 2010 symposium speakers are listed in alphabetical order.
Filed under: Midwest Gardening Symposium
