zoos 2

[Guest guest]

I was reading and thinking about the zoo thing still ... How many of

you have ever been to a botanical garden? The gardens are really zoos

for plants. Some plants are common but interesting just to know what

they are. Others are from across the world and have to be kept in

" rain forest " exhibits or " desert garden " exhibits where the climates

can be adjusted. They are there for the same reasons that zoos are.

In theory, to educate people and also, an emerging role perhaps, to

keep specimens for when the habitats dissapear.

 

I think these places are important. They teach what people don't

know... For example, how many of you Texans know that we have several

species of orchid native to here, one of which is endangered. Or that

we have members of the pineapple family living in our trees, or that we

have carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews growing in the wet places?

Did you know we have a tree that is in the orange family? Or that

mesquite and cedar (juniper to non-texans) are not native?

 

Most people don't, which is why the gardens and sometimes zoos are

important. People can't appreciate what they don't know and they can't

know it if they are not taught. Books and the internet are great, but

I still think if I ever see a live giraffe, it will have a greater

impact than seeing it on Nova.

 

Genie

 

 

 

New DSL Internet Access from SBC &

http://sbc.

[Guest guest]

Yes, I love garden walks and guided nature hikes with knowledgable

people

who can tell about the local flora and fauna. This past year I was

able to go

on one with my son's class that was lead by two young ladies from the

BLM

(bureau of land management) Basically it was a college break job for

them

while studying botany.Anyway, on this hike I learned there is a wee

little

white flower that only grows on this one plateau here in Oregon, and

the waxy

substance is used for lubricating parts of machinery on the space

shuttle;

way cool.

 

~ P_T ~

 

Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm

--Malayan proverb

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

 

, genie bottle

<geniesflower>

wrote:

 

> Most people don't, which is why the gardens and sometimes zoos are

> important. People can't appreciate what they don't know and they

can't

> know it if they are not taught. Books and the internet are great,

but

> I still think if I ever see a live giraffe, it will have a greater

> impact than seeing it on Nova.

>

> Genie