Let’s be honest. For most of us, butterfly gardens and recycling aren’t top priorities or topics of major concern. As young adults at SMU, we typically feel so overwhelmed by schoolwork and other super-important things like mixers and formals. Now ask yourself the same question that I often ask myself: Are you in tune with reality, or are you just in tune with your own personal reality? If the latter seems to ring more true, don’t be ashamed. In fact, if you’re actively seeking scapegoats, you can probably just blame it on Highland Park, the SMU social scene, or whatever else seems reliable, accessible and easy. If you opt to choose the bolder route of honesty and self-realization, you might just come to terms with the fact that you’re lazy and unmotivated when it comes to extraneous activity that doesn’t directly affect you in your daily life – i.e. the importance of butterfly gardens, recycling, etc.
Now I could preach to you about the environment, global warming and what we must do to protect future life on this planet, but I’ll leave that to Al Gore. I will, however, encourage SMU students to further educate themselves on what they can do to make a more eco-friendly difference in the community. Beginning today, the Texas Discovery Gardens in Fair Park will begin offering a program that can do just that and make it fun. Their program, entitled “Organic in the City,” will be held on the second Tuesday night of every month. The programs will include both educational enlightenment and contemporary entertainment such as live music and organic wines and foods.
The first installment of the series, intended for all the Valentine’s Day lovers, is called “Murderous Plants: Love Potions You Don’t Want,” and will feature Barney Lipscomb as the speaker. Mr. Lipscomb is an achieved man in the field of botany and currently serves as the Dorothea Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, where he specializes in poisonous plants and forensic botany. Using visuals and other interactive materials, Mr. Lipscomb will explore the cultural, mythological and historical aspects of poisonous plants.
For those of you who don’t care to partake in toxic enrichment, just give the program a chance. The botanical and butterfly gardens are beautiful places to simply be and relax – an oasis in the city. Plus, prior to this article, I would imagine that a select number of SMU students even knew the Texas Discovery Gardens existed. As an SMU student, I find that I typically limit myself to activities, restaurants, theaters and bars that are located in Uptown or North Dallas. SMU so often feels like a different world on its own that I occasionally forget that Dallas is a great metropolitan area just waiting to be explored. Taking advantage of programs and events such as those offered through the Texas Discovery Gardens is important. It helps the sometimes-distanced student, like me, feel more like a member of the community in which I live…and the environment should be respected too, of course.
About the writer:
Jeff Broadway is a junior at SMU. He can be reached at [email protected].
