Elevation and Plants

The account that follows I experienced in 1992, but carries a Truth, that in every growing season, we can experience anew.

"A few days ago, I came across a drawing of a flower, one of whose names is "lady slipper". When I saw that drawing, I remembered a wonderful nature lesson, "lady slipper" flowers had provided for me. The lesson started at Brown's Tract Pond, a Public Camping area in the Adirondack Mountains, north of Old Forge, New York. The camping site is only 30 minutes from my camp. I had gone to Brown's Tract to visit friends who were camping there.

My lesson began after my friends showed me 12 or so "lady slippers" in full bloom. What a treat for our eyes! I didn't know that Nature would soon teach me a Truth about other "lady slippers" that would surprise me.

After my visit, I left for home. Before going on to my camp, I stopped to see a neighbor, Louise. She lived a few miles from me. I told Louise, "I've stopped by to tell you about the beautiful "lady slippers" that I have just seen at Brown's Tract Pond. Now, I've come to see yours."

Louise said, "Oh, I'm sorry to say, "You're too late to see my "lady slippers". They finished blooming two weeks ago."

I was surprised to hear that. I had traveled only for 30 minutes from "lady slippers" that were in full bloom to flowers that had finished blooming. I hadn't yet learned about the effect of a higher elevation on growing plants. I hadn't yet thought about the difference in the temperature at different elevations. I have learned now that when we go to an elevation several hundred feet higher, it is as if we've travelled many miles, farther north.

At the higher elevation, the "lady slippers" were in full bloom while at the lower elevation, the season for those flowers had passed by. My daughter calls those various growing locations, "biomes".

We seem to remember lessons we learn at first hand. I will always remember those two groups of "lady slippers" who taught me that "Plants mature later at higher elevations." Now it seems that it is the temperature at various elevations that determines when flowers bloom. Until the last frost has passed by, blossoms on trees remain closed and flowers wait to bloom. Nature continues to confirm my belief that every creation has spiritual guidance in its unfolding and during its cycle of life.
Marylee Manson Armour,
1992 and August 18, 2006. August 22,2006