 |
|
|
|
|
| The Botanical
Garden is located in Washington D.C. and is a plant nursery. Once you
step inside, all the noise of the city disappears, and you are left
listening to the peaceful sound of nature. You are surrounded by
beauty. Some rooms are lush and green while others are dry and pale.
There are rooms filled with beautiful flowers of different kinds and
colors. Other rooms are filled with plants that have specific smells,
some good and some bad. The Botanical Garden houses many different
kinds of plants and brings beauty to the city. My trip to the Botanical
Gardens improved my aesthetic awareness as well as my group
interactions skills, and my favorite exhibit was the orchid room. The Botanical Garden helped me improve my aesthetic awareness skills. For example when my group explored the Garden Court, we read the different signs that were provided to help us understand how the plant was used in the past. I learned that the ancient Myans and Aztecs used chocolate as food for their gods. By looking at the plants and reading the information provided, I was able to learn some of the history behind the use of chocolate. Also, I was able to see how plants adapted to their surroundings. In class, we watched a film about the adaptations of plants, and when I walked through the Botanical Garden, I was able to see firsthand what those adaptations looked like. For example, I was able to look closely at cacti and see the spines and pleats that help them survive in the desert. Not only did I learn about the history of the plants, but I was also able to see the adaptation specific plants acquired in order to survive in their environment. |
The Botanical
Garden also helped me improve my group interaction skills. For example,
I was given an assignment to complete as I walked around the garden. My
group and I decided to help each other answer the questions. Some of us
would find answers on signs, and others would find answers by looking
at or smelling specific plants. If one of us did not understand a
question, we would explain it to them untl they understood. One example
of this was when we were in the desert room. The question asked us to
find examples of convergent evolution. At the time, we did not know
what that meant. As we walked around the room, we noticed a sign that
had examples of convergent evolution. Patrick did not understand what
it meant so I explained to him that convergent evolution was when two
different species have the same traits. My group was able to
collaborate together, help each other out, and finish our task. My favorite exhibit was the Orchid Room. One of the reasons I loved it was because it was filled with beautiful colors. The room had many different types of orchids with vibrant colors. Some of the colors were pink, magenta, and purple. The bright colors captivated me. I could sit in that room forever just looking at these beautiful flowers. I also liked the uniqueness of the orchids. the flower itself has an unusual shape. There are very few petals, but the petals it does have are large. Some of the orchids were even spotted. The Orchid Room was beautiful and was fill with unique and vibrant flowers. My trip to the Botanical Garden was both edicational and enjoyable. I was able to improve my aesthetic awareness skills and my group interaction skills. I learned a lot about the plants from the information provided on the signs inside the rooms, and I was able to apply what I had learned in class to the plants that I looked at. I was also able to collaborate with my group and complete the assignment given to me. I truly enjoyed looking at the different flowers and plants. Nature is so beautiful, and we should take the time to learn more about it. |
[Timeline]
[NCLC 120 Home Page]
[Home Page]