I read an article recently that outlined how trees communicate with each other to warn of danger. It focused on the work of Suzanne Simard.
To quote from the article:
“Chemical alarm signals generated by one tree prepare nearby trees for danger. Seedlings severed from the forest’s underground lifelines are much more likely to die than their networked counterparts. And if a tree is on the brink of death, it sometimes bequeaths a substantial share of its carbon to its neighbours.”
This started me thinking: do the plants in my garden talk to each other about me when I appear?
I love pottering in my garden and I especially enjoy pruning. Pruning allows me to help trees and shrubs thrive, by cutting away dead parts and trimming to shape the plants. But I wonder if my plants feel the same way?
I can imagine the sort of comments my plants may be making about me.
“Here she comes with those secateurs in her hand – you know what that means! Hold on to your branches!”
“Remember when she rummaged around my roots so she could plant those bulbs? It took me weeks to get over the shock of having to share the bed.”
“She has a spray bottle in her hand. I hope it’s me she’ll spray – I just can’t seem to shake off those aphids.”
“Feed me, feed me! The lemon tree got fed this morning so when will it be my turn?”
Maybe it’s just my imagination but I feel they also talk about me when I’ve left the garden. Surely not – that’s just plain silly. Or is it?
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