The Botanic Gardens
Trip to the Botanic Gardens of Washington D.C./ Botanic Gardens Assignment
2/10/2009
Competencies: Group Interaction, Global Understanding, and Strategic Problem Solving
<Link to the Botanic Gardens Website>
The
Botanic Gardens of Washington D.C. made you feel like you were a part
of
nature. The plants had so many different colors, smells, textures, and
uses. My
favorite part of the Botanic Gardens was the medicinal plant room. The
aromas
from the plants in that room had such variety. Then, we also found out
that the
plants use the odor as a defense mechanism from certain bugs. If we use
some of
these plants for medicinal purposes, we might be able to cure a disease
one
day. Unfortunately, some of the plants are not found in the United
States, so
we will have to rely on the help of other countries to get some of the
plants.
Also, when we went to the Botanic Gardens, it started a group
discussion. In
the medicinal plant room, we were all describing the different smells
of the
plants. We discovered that with certain plants, the smells were
slightly
different for other people. In the orchid room, certain orchids
appealed to
people more than others for a variety of reasons. Lastly, the sensitive
plant
reacted to us touching it by closing up its leaves. This was a favorite
plant
among some people. In the end, visiting the Botanic Gardens gave us a
better
sense of nature and the ways plants behave.
If video does not work, use this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yI3X6oJdRY
<Link to Evolutionary Timeline Webpage>