December 1, 2006
The language of dirt
Hank muses on the value of knowing the Latin names for plants:
There are plenty of good, practical reasons not to rely upon common garden names. But I won’t get into those here because that’s the wrong way to look at the situation. It is backward. The common names aren’t bad. And we shouldn’t be evaluating reasons why or why not to use the colloquialisms when the fact is that the common names ALONG WITH the scientific language of the garden is just more exciting and interesting. In short, the scientific language adds another layer of enjoyment. That right, my position is that the “Latin” names make things more exciting. And I’m right.
In my little gardens, which boast only a very small collection of specimens, there are stories of war, adultery, conquest, fire, sex, rape, religion and the stars. There is also the most diverse menagerie of animals that one could imagine: Wolfs, Rhinos, Pelicans, Dolphins and more. There are humorous stories of clerical mistakes and bureaucracy. There are tales of adventure and discovery. Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas are all here. Roman Legions, Prussian Cavalry and Cossacks live here too. And, of course, there is the tremendous beauty of the flowers. You see, when I walk through my garden, not only do I get to take in the natural beauty of the plants and scenery; I also get to walk through the history of the world. And the reason I can do so is because I am listening to the language of the dirt.
Be warned: reading this man’s blog is addictive.
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couldn’t be more beautiful.