A Brief Chronology, Part I

I've pretty much always liked plants. While I can't remember just one instance that was pivotal in my becoming a plant person, I can think of many many things and people that contributed to my love for these cool organisms. I thought I should jot some of them down, if just for my own sake. I decided I'd break this list into parts, so that each post isn't so long.

Part 1: Grade School
Unfortunately, I can't remember the exact timing of these memories, so I've lumped them together as "grade school". They're in pretty good order I think...

• Kindergarten: One of my earliest memories involving plants occurred at Rolling Hills Elementary School, and involved Lima beans, a plastic zip-lock, and a wet paper towel. I remember eagerly checking on my seeds every day, and was so impressed by fuzzy root and tiny leaves that emerged.
• Orange County Fairgrounds: Being homeschooled, my mom would take my sister and I on field trips during the week. I remember her taking us to the little farm of the OC Fairgrounds. We planted radishes in little Dixie cups, and I kept very good care of them until they sprouted. I know that's not anything incredibly special, but it stands out in my mind.
• Bastanchury Park: my childhood home backs up to a hilly, city park, and my room is the only bedroom that looks out onto it. I spent so many hours climbing the trees in that park, and had many an acorn war with my friends. I especially adore the beautiful, old pepper trees at the top of the hill, remnants of a farm long gone. Other trees of the park in my psyche are the 3 very bent California sycamores (great for climbing), one giant pine outside my window, and the swaying, white eucalyptus along the periphery. In the watered desert of Southern California, I think this park helped keep me in touch with the rhythms of nature. The falling leaves and acorns in autumn, the pine pollen blowing and the tiny green flowers of the pepper trees in Spring... I think these things were good for me to see.
• Bastanchury Oil Fields: Now a cookie-cutter housing tract, the oil fields adjacent to Bastanchury park were a great open place for me to explore some of the natural history of California. While I was only allowed to go there with my parents (bums occasionally inhabited the area, and the oil derricks weren't completely fenced off), I really enjoyed our annual Spring excursions there. My parents would point out the different wildflowers blooming, we'd collect owl pellets to dissect, and a couple times we even caught some tadpoles from a vernal pool to raise into frogs and toads. Once, my dad took my sister and I up there at night to watch a meteor shower (I still remember my how my dad freaked me out by throwing rocks into the bushes and telling me they were coyotes). Even though this plot of land was only a couple acres, surrounded by busy roads, and sprinkled with noisy derricks, telephone wires, and evidence of the homeless, I really appreciate the time I spent there and believe I am better for it. I'm still bitter about those darn boring houses killing the place.
• Grandpa: Its funny, my dad's dad wasn't really a big part of my childhood, but he did contribute to my love of plants. I remember going to his house once and he gave me a spider plant and a Christmas cactus. He told me how he had started them from cuttings, and gave me a water, pH, and light meter to help take care of them. I still have that spider plant, but it was the meter that really impressed me. I liked it so much that I even sewed a fabric case for it. Even though I had no idea what pH was, I diligently measured the moisture, pH, and light levels in the park behind my house, recording the data in a journal. I think that was my first scientific undertaking.