Auguste Renoir’s “Nini in the Garden” 1876
Learning from Nature
The Wisdom of Flowers
Those who keenly observe nature may find themselves attributing human characteristics to flowers. However, there is controversy about anthropomorphizing nature. Instead of pondering whether flowers possess intelligence, it is recommended to learn from them.
“One will understand that flowers offer splendid examples of disobedience, courage, patience, and creative ingenuity to humans. If we had applied even half the energy exhibited by the small flowers in the garden to remove various things that crush us, such as pain, aging, and death, our circumstances would be entirely different from what they are now.”
– Maurice Maeterlinck, 1907
Over the course of 170 million years, flowers have developed remarkably complex mechanisms, leaving many engineers astonished. The ways in which plants adapt to their environment are manifestations of exceptional intelligence. While this might be less apparent in the case of a single flower, tracking the improvements in seeds over generations reveals the true extent.
Maurice Maeterlinck, an avid botanist and Nobel Prize-winning author, asserts, “Flowers are both wise and cunning.” Flowers exhibit intelligence, cunning, employ strategies, experience failure, disappointment, and disillusionment. Moreover, he claims that the divide between the animal and plant kingdoms is a “mysterious, perhaps imaginary ridge,” arguing that if humans believe in their superiority, it is an act of vanity.
We, who came belatedly…
Do we share many similarities with flowers? The troubles we face are also present in plants. While their seeds are governed by ruthless laws, the cruelest among them is the obligation to root in one place from birth to death. To escape this fate, the intelligence of flowers has engaged in various activities throughout the process of evolution. From exploding pods, propellers, parachutes, small wings, spring structures to spray bombs, they have developed various solutions. These strategies to overcome spatial limitations have evolved over millions of years.
Maeterlinck skillfully overturns the argument about human superiority. “In a world where intelligence seems unconscious, we begin by imagining that our smallest ideas create new combinations and relationships. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes infinitely clear that it is impossible for humans to create anything. We are the last to arrive on this Earth, constantly rediscovering what has always existed, and like surprised children, we merely travel the path life has taken.”
Do we possess the ability to create something new? Architectural designs, musical patterns, laws of harmony, the golden ratio, countless technological solutions—all derived from nature. While humanity was still running around with hammers, the pinnacle of human thought was breaking castles with sledgehammers and catapults. However, sages had already mastered automatic levers and operated perfect systems with balance weights. Maple and willow trees have been using the efficiency of spiral screws since trees appeared on Earth, yet for centuries, we remained unaware of the advantages of spiral screws. On the other hand, agave plants developed a mechanism where pods adhere to each other, covering and working like a downward spiral spring. There are various examples. The world of flowers, when observed carefully, provides endless inspiration in every field.
Maximum Resolution
Maeterlinck’s leisurely narrative rhythm prompts us to slow down. Understanding the natural world and noticing subtle processes and mechanisms requires considerable attention. Let’s focus, be patient, and observe our surroundings in detail, at maximum resolution.
Before the pandemic, working from home was a dream. Increasing the time spent at home allowed for a slower pace, more time with family, and self-care. In the initial months of the lockdown, many industrial areas around the world saw a significant improvement in air quality. For both the Earth and us, it was a situation with benefits.
However, we soon realized that unstructured days were passing unnoticed. Work became almost impossible, and with all activities moving online, we couldn’t escape the virtual world of computers. To appear as if we were in touch with loved ones, we caught up on various TV series, attended more webinars, and chased after media. In the first few months after the pandemic, antidepressant sales skyrocketed by five times. When caught up in daily life, it’s easy to overlook the delicate roots connecting us to reality. What if, instead of horizontally consuming many things unconsciously, we delved deeper into the soft matter of everyday life?
Curiosity of Children and the Garden
Now, after a full year of isolation, we can finally enjoy the spring sunshine. This season is perfect for connecting with nature. How? It’s simple.
Practicing mindfulness is said to be a natural antidepressant. Incorporating mindfulness into spring walks allows us to savor the happiness gained from interacting with nature while perfecting the practice. Take a leisurely walk, observe your surroundings closely, synchronize your breath with the rhythm of your steps, and feel the diversity and sensuality of nature around you. Spend 15 minutes carefully observing a flower. Following Maeterlinck’s advice, try sticking a match in a flower. What will happen? Everyone possesses the “power of observation” that was relentlessly expressed in childhood.
Horticultural therapy, involving activities related to gardening and other plants, activates our dormant senses. For the brain to function properly, healthy sensory experiences are essential, not limited to visual and auditory senses. The smell of wet soil and the cool touch of grass underfoot give nerve cells new charms. To restore mental balance, it’s important to engage in activities that do not only provide surface-level satisfaction but also escape from activities that do not fulfill the depths of the heart.
So, why not try creating your own biological clock? This is a master-level skill of mindful nature observers. The first floral clock is said to have been created by Carl Linnaeus in the Uppsala Botanical Garden in the 18th century. The Swedish scientist devised a clock that measured time by having various flowers open and close at specific times of the day (with a 5-minute error). Moreover, this clock also served as a weather forecast, and the planted flowers were chosen not to compete with each other. Linnaeus, who created such a complex mechanism, must have observed with great attention.
From Fragile Reeds to Strong Oaks
With mental space, nature deepens our connection with ourselves. Brewing tea, making soup, looking into the eyes of a loved one—these are all small rituals and excellent ways to enhance our sensitivity. Without getting caught up in absorbing new stimuli, taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life allows for a deeper experience of the world.
Meeting oneself for the first time may not be enjoyable. Initial feelings could be fatigue, discouragement, or even anger. At such times, step back and observe yourself scientifically. In the language of meditation, this practice is called the “attitude of the witness.” Essentially, it is about being aware of your emotions and detaching them.
Is the goal to feel nothing? Absolutely not. Mindfulness is about feeling things you haven’t felt before and creating space for your own experiences. It is also crucial to remind yourself, “I am not my emotions; I am not my thoughts.” By doing so, you can gain a deeper understanding of how you perceive the world around you and ultimately gain better control over your emotions. Practicing mindfulness is a personal vaccine against epidemics and a secret weapon for challenging times. We are all initially like fragile reeds, but with greater speed than we think, we can become mighty oaks with deep roots.
Kissing the Earth
Unexpectedly, we find ourselves facing a severe global situation. Sometimes, we wish to close the door and forget about the pandemic, or naively believe that climate change won’t affect us personally. After a series of heartbreaking warnings about the impending ecological disaster, we finally begin to contemplate the fact that humans can improve the situation and save the blue planet. However, it’s not solely our power.
The documentary film “Kiss the Ground,” released last year, unveils the various secrets of soil and the enormous potential it holds to combat the impacts of climate change. The solutions presented in this film are based on a wise collaboration between humans and flowers. It might seem simple to the general audience, but it is indeed efficient.
If Maeterlinck were alive today, he would likely have enjoyed this film. Shifting the perspective from human-centric to eco-centric provides a sense of reassurance. We don’t need to have all the answers at once. Thinking that we, as humans, alone can save the Earth imposes a great sense of guilt and responsibility. For example, in the soon-to-be race for the role of the main oxygen producer in Polish gardens, various genetically modified trees, surpassing even cypress, will soon take the lead. These trees, cultivated in labs that prefer to monopolize seeds, grow rapidly and efficiently absorb carbon dioxide, effectively purifying the air. However, it’s essential not to forget that these trees are genetically modified and belong to invasive species, which may harm the local ecosystem, cause species depletion, and deplete water and valuable minerals from the soil. Instead of resorting to violence to solve problems, it’s sometimes better not to interfere, questioning blind faith in human ingenuity.
Rather than pondering whether flowers have intelligence, let’s turn our attention to the intelligence of nature. It is the “feature of the Earth” and the essence of the “features of the world.” According to Maeterlinck, in the struggle for survival, the world acts similarly to humans. It uses the same methods and logic, employs similar means, hesitates, makes mistakes, and corrects them to achieve its goals.
Nature is brimming with solutions we never imagined, perfectly capable of thriving without us. Humans, by observing attentively, can contribute many solutions as part of the life cycle. “It is not that human thinking is the only possible way to save the world; humans are neither an exception nor monsters but simply express the great will and desire of this world most strongly, isn’t that right?” It is a creative force we can always rely on, driving us towards more disobedience, courage, and acts rich in wit. Believing in this power, let’s build meaningful relationships with our minds and bodies, loved ones, and the nature surrounding us. Change begins with discovering the most beautiful qualities within ourselves and cherishing them.
