Lately as I drink my morning coffee on my deck, I have been watching this morning glory (which I intentionally planted though considered invasive) make its way up a support pole, across to this dragon fly lawn ornament before jutting out to wide open spaces. I ask it, "Where are you going, morning glory?"
Previously, I didn't understand how it navigates until I read Zoë Schlanger's The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth. The book explores the hidden world of plant intelligence, their ability to communicate, socialize and to hear sounds.
With respect to sounds, Schlanger explains how climbing vines (like my morning glories, my peas and cucumbers) know where to climb. There is research that shows plants utilize a kind of echolocation (sonar --like bats) to sense where to position themselves to grab onto something solid.
This is just the beginning tip of the book's reach. It even made my little book group's read and discuss list. (Complete notes about this book can be found at GRSG Reading Notes 2024 but you will have to scroll down the page.)
And finally a shout out to those regulars who visit our pop-up book booth at the Freedom Farmer's Market at the Carter Center for putting this book on my radar. Btw, our next pop-up is scheduled for Saturday morning August 24th.
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