Plant Investigation Reflection - Why nature?

I have always found plants extremely fascinating, their natural beauty combined with their complex genetic makeup creates completely unique elements to each individual species. Charles Darwin, known best for his theory of evolution, questioned why are there so many different species of one singular plants.  He demonstrated that the varied colours, shapes, and smells of flowers are adaptations used for conning animals into transporting their pollen.   Their manifesto of uses from food, medicine, oxygen producers all collate to an endless amount of research that is never ending. Interestingly plants ability to evolve and sustain their selves, even when us humans are destroying them. They have evolved themselves to live belong side us, growing in cities and other man made environments. Frederick B. Essig  an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida as well as author of Plant Life: A Brief History states that by "Delving deeper into the lives of plants, one finds great variation in their less flamboyant parts as well, all of which has meaning... Every tiny feature of a plant has a story, and the great excitement of being a botanist is in uncovering those stories.’

Crowing up in the country side where the closest house was a good 10 minute drive away meant that most of my childhood was spent playing in the fields and woods around me. The fondest of memories spent climbing trees, building dens and collecting flowers to press into my flower book. Nature has always been a massive part of my life, yet this radically changed coming to university and living in a city. Although Norwich as a city is very green and isn't to far away from woodland and green fields, it was still an extreme change for me. Plants where always a part of my practise but have never been a main focal point. They have been becoming more prominent in my third year and have helped me refine what my practise investigates. Using plants to symbolise/ inform the audience on a historical event or something similar. People can often find it hard to look past that what they are seeing is a plant and while they look pretty, why are they there? why have they been used in that why? what does this specific species mean? These are just some of the questions i want my audience to be questioning. Not only do i take inspiration from plants, many poets and artist have and will continue to take inspiration from nature. They are a massive part of our culture and its important to be aware of them and just expect the plants we see today to be here in 50 years time.