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In Spotlight: Conversations on Conservation: Part VII

I'm delighted to present another edition of Conversations on Conservation, a collection of poems, illustrations, and essays by budding conservationists. I'm impressed by their keen observations, interest in exploring the hidden gifts of nature, and understanding of interdependencies among species.

The theme of this edition is preserving plant diversity and a reminder to experience nature through our senses. With that in mind, the newsletter begins with an invitation by our youngest contributor to " See The Sea." Please join me as I follow her lead and open with a poem I wrote inspired by this edition.

Serene

When the raindrops gently play their drums
And the booming dunes softly hum.
Can you hear the music?

When the cresting waves crash the shores
And the forest breeze rustles the floor
Can you hear the music?

When the mountain peaks stand in silence
And the river flows through their canyons
Can you hear the music?

Under the stillness of the starry skies
When the high tide dances with the moonlit night
Can you feel the magic?

When the shadows of the rolling hills
Are smothered by daffodils
Can you feel the magic?

When the fiery might of the lightning strike
Is followed by the rainbow bright
Can you feel the magic?

Such is nature's splendor and glory
Saved as snapshots in my memory

What is it that calls to you?
Would you share a moment or two?

~ Ayesha Siraj

~ Past Summer Issues ~
Conversations
on
Conservation

~ Past Issues ~

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the participants for sharing their thoughts and talents and for raising awareness on important issues related to conservation. If you have any comments or questions for our contributing artist, poets, or writers, please send those to me via email or by using the comment box on the Contact page, and I will forward it to them.

ART

"See The Sea"
Artist: Portre M
Age: 7
Atlanta, Georgia USA

"We just got back from visiting the ocean" ~ Portre and Grayson

"The Crab Legs"
Artist: Grayson M
Age: 13
Atlanta, Georgia USA

"We just got back from visiting the ocean"~ Portre and Grayson

POETRY

There Once Was a Forest
By: Roweina Z
Age: 13
Houston, Texas USA

The different hues of green
enchanted the lake
As the sprinkled lilypads on the glass water
caroled and whistled in the hollow

Lush vegetation, was all that met the eye
But something sinister was planning to come by…
All of a sudden, the harmony went out of key
– the atmosphere started to feel heavy

Mechanical jaws shredded the greenery into bits
A thunderous sound disrupted the peace
It ripped the life out of the place

Until it was gray
And all the life died away
There was no harmony, none to hear.
Just a site of unjust and fear.
Represented with a single tear.

SHORT ESSAYS

Pretty Yet Powerful
By: Ariel G
Age 17
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Imagine the African savanna —a dry, hot, and unforgiving region where only the most relentless plants can survive— then off the coast, there is this vine of pretty pink flowers that seems almost out of place. These flowers are the Madagascar Periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus, and are sometimes referred to as Bright Eyes (Catharanthus roseus-Factsheet). The entire flower is the embodiment of "pretty yet powerful," due to its delicate appearance and many useful purposes. The Madagascar Periwinkle flower has a fan shape, triangular petals, and a darker hot pink center that becomes paler to a softer, blush pink at the tips of the petals. The plant grows as a small bush-like plant that generally grows as ground cover and can rapidly spread across vines and trees (North Carolina Extension Gardner). Read more
Reading Time: 2min 16 sec

The Sweetheart Plant
By: Alyvia V
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Whenever the day of love approaches, we often find ourselves scrounging to get gifts. From chocolates and candies to large bouquets of roses or even fancy candlelit dinners, there are many options to gift to your loved ones for Valentine’s Day. However, there has been one gift option that has been growing in popularity, the Hoya kerrii, also known as the “Sweetheart Plant” or “Valentine Hoya”. The kerrii garners its loving reputation from its heart-shaped leaves that are certain to catch the eyes of those looking to share the love. Moreover, its starlike flowers and succulent nature make it a beloved choice for many looking for a lovely houseplant. Read more
Reading Time: 2min 32 sec

Thistle Cholla
Delaney R
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

The deserts of the world are spectacular, ferocious places that are known for their clear cerulean blue skies. After all, only receiving around 10 inches of rainfall a year, there isn’t exactly much water in the atmosphere that can be used to form clouds (Levy). However, against all odds, the deserts of the Southwest United States are actually filled to the brim with clouds! One catch though, they all happen to be growing on the earth. The resident ground cloud of the Southwest goes by many names: the Thistle Cholla, Hudson Pear, or Cylindropuntia tunicata. The Thistle Cholla, scientific name Cylindropuntia tunicata, is a cacti native to Southwest America and Northern Mexico (TWC). Custom to the Cylindropuntia family, the Thistle Cholla is a medium, dark green shrub covered in electric white spines. Small yellow and green flowers bloom over the cactus from mid-spring to mid-summer (TWC). Thankfully, the Thistle Cholla is recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a species of "least concern" (Goettsch). It grows freely in its native habitat as well as in some deserts of South America, Africa, Europe, and Australia (Bernal). Read more Reading Time: 2 min 42 sec

The White-Topped Pitcher Plant
By: Dipsom T
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Pitcher plants look and act like things that would be in fantasy worlds, but they are not fictional. Many have seen or heard about the pitcher plants; however, not everyone knows much about them. Sarraceniaceae is a family of many unique pitcher plant species like the White-Topped Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia leucophylla, found in the southeastern United States (Atlanta Botanical Garden). It is a perennial resident of bogs, a wetland made of partially decayed plant matter called peat (Bog | National Geographic Society). However, places like the Atlanta Botanical Garden and other botanical institutions grow these plants to display their unique physical looks as well as for research and conservation. The plant consists of hollow pitcher-like leaves that stand from the foundation and grow 20 to 36 inches tall (Gardenia.Net,). The very upper parts of the leaves are white with reddish-purple veins. They bloom beautiful reddish flowers that resemble a darker-colored strawberry. Read more
Reading Time: 2 min 15 sec

The Invisible Beauty of Hydrangeas
By: Suan T
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Out of the many hydrangea species found in Asia and the Americas, Dichroa febrifuga is a pretty shrub with more to it than just beauty. More commonly known as Chinese Quinine, it is a perennial plant that blooms in the summer and bears fruit in autumn.4 It grows natively in Southeast Asian countries like China, Myanmar, and India. Like any hydrangea, acidity can affect the color of its flower. Its flower has two colors, the outside is white, and the inside ranges from blue to lilac, depending on the soil's acidity. Usually, this plant is propagated by cuttings, but it can also be cultivated from seeds. It can grow up to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide in warmer sub-tropical regions with little to no frost. Read more
Reading Time: 2min 8 sec

Utricularia Dichotoma: The Flower That Bites Back
By: Stella S
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

In boggy areas throughout Australia and New Zealand you can find a whimsical plant known as the fairy apron. With the scientific name Utricularia dichotoma, this plant is a lot more than the purple flower it presents itself to be. A part of the Utricularia -or bladderwort- family, the fairy apron is a carnivorous plant. A carnivorous plant is a plant that is adapted to attract, capture, and digest live prey to get the nutrients necessary for life. The simple stem can grow a height of 30 cm, holding one small purple flower per stem. The name fairy apron comes from the fact that the plant looks like something a fairy may wear while baking, with a purple bell shaped petal, a small yellow lip, and a wine colored stem. It grows in moderately aquatic areas, where the flower can reach out of the water but the roots are submerged. Upon closer inspection at the root system, small, clear, bubble-like things can be seen, which is where the species gets the bladder part of its name. Similar to most carnivorous plants, dichotoma is native to boggy areas, and has adapted in an interesting way to this odd environment. Read more
Reading Time: 2min 32 sec

The Unusual Magnolia: The Tulip Tree
By: Julian B
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Trees are a special and diverse variety of plants. As of 2022, there are over 70,000 various tree species in the world (Cazzolla Gatti et al.). These tree species are a part of broader categories depending on their common characteristics. One of these categories is Magnolia. Magnolias can be evergreen and keep their foliage throughout the season, or they can be deciduous and shed their leaves annually. These trees are commonly identified by their glossy, curved-like foliage and creamy spring-summer blooms. However, one magnolia has a unique nature. It is calledLiriodendron Tulipifera, commonly known as the tulip tree. The tree is frequently mistaken as being a part of the tulip family due to its common name, however the tree is truly a part of the magnolia family. Read more
Reading Time: 3min 5 sec

The Case of Conradina glabra
By: Allan G
Age: 17
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Throughout the course of human history, helpless flora has befallen beneath the soles of our shoes. Such beautiful beings surround us in our everyday lives, yet we fail to realize how marvelously they are formed and exist in today’s world. We often take for granted all that we get from plants, whether it is food, fiber, shelter, or air; because of our indifference, humans are at fault for the majority of plants’ endangerment.

One such imperiled plant is Conradina glabra, also known as Apalachicola rosemary, a pretty aromatic shrub. C. glabra ranges from three to four feet tall by two to three feet wide. The color of the flower is lavender when it blooms from March to June (“Conradina Glabra”). The branches of this shrub are upright; the leaves are evergreen, needle-like, and mint-scented (“Recovery Plan for Apalachicola Rosemary”). Although C.glabra at first glance is an ordinary plant, it carries an ecological mystery that makes biologists ponder: “what is the genetic status of this plant?!” Read more
Reading Time: 2min 58 sec

Common sage- Salvia officinalis
By:James L
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA

To many cultures, Common Sage represents wisdom, health, and immortality, and was used in many religious rituals and ceremonies, as it was believed one would gain said benefits if consumed (SymbolsSage). Because of this, it had a strong presence in ancient times and the Old World because of its healing abilities, being somewhat of a miracle plant. In ancient Rome, the plant was sought after for its abilities to heal ulcers and assist wound healing and was often eaten with food (Wisconsin). It was also believed to have been used in ancient Egypt and China. In Egypt, it was used to assist with digestion, and in China, it was used to treat colds and fevers in the form of tea (A.Vogel). Read more
Reading Time: 1min 57 sec

If you are an aspiring conservationist and would like to participate in next year's Summer Edition please get in touch with me via the contact page.

In Spotlight: Conversations on Conservation: Part VII

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