Nature's Patterns

There is a pattern to all of Nature. When you observe your wild home landscape, the places outside of urban boundaries, the untamed places, you will become familiar with how things grow in certain environments. Plant communities reflect the soil type, prevailing winds, air quality, and salinity of their environment.

I am on a mini family vacation to the wild and beautiful Sapelo Island off the coast of Southern Georgia. It is a barrier island you must boat to. No bridges here. Something I noticed as we hopped off the interstate and drove to the ferry dock was how the forest pattern shifted as we made our way toward the coastline. All the same predominant species we have at home- loblolly pine, live oak, cabbage and saw palmetto, broomsedge, blackberry, yaupon holly, smilax, the invasive privet, sprawling wild muscadines, yet they grow not as tall, and lean toward a scrubbier nature. As a community their growth pattern is different because they are near the salt, rooted in sandier soil…