Dear Jon,
Yesterday marked the completion of our year-end fundraising campaign, and thanks to generous donors like you we have built a strong foundation for our advocacy and support of biodiversity and ecosystem restoration work in this new year.
To show our deep gratitude and appreciation for you, our donors and supporters, we are sending this special edition in our Featured Creature series. So, today we ask:
What creature symbolizes gratitude, was the 2021 plant of the year, and is known for its demonstration of praying hands?
The Maranta plant! (Also known as Maranta leuconeura, or the Prayer Plant.)
The Arrowroot’s Cousin
Maranta leuconeura is a stunning houseplant. Its leaves are deep green and oval in shape with distinct red veins arching towards the pointed tip. Native to tropical forests in South America, the plant itself grows to a height of about 12-15 inches. It is one of many different species within the Marantaceae plant family, named after Bartolomeo Maranta, who was a 16th century botanist.
Have you made any holiday pomanders with arrowroot recently? Several species in the Marantaceae family produce roots with edible starch that is used as one type of arrowroot (the substance can be sourced from several different plant varieties).
A Symbol of Gratitude
Perhaps the biggest celebrity of the plant kingdom in 2021, the Red Maranta Prayer Plant was named “Plant of the Year'' by 1-800 Flowers. The plant was chosen for its representation of hope and gratitude. This is because after staying flat during the daytime, the Maranta brings its leaves together in a prayer-like fashion during the night, almost as if it is thanking the universe for the gift of living another day. How’s that for a life lesson from nature?
Interestingly, the Maranta has a special anatomical characteristic called a pulvinus, which acts similar to a joint and gives the plant the ability to move in such a way that it appears to be praying at night, hence its common name, the Prayer Plant.
A Wish for A Restorative New Year
Nature heals. These two words, put so simply, describe the core of our work at Bio4Climate. Still, in the midst of our fervent pursuit of restoration and regeneration for planet Earth, we must also remember to prioritize rest and rejuvenation for ourselves as activists. The mighty force of nature can restore entire ecosystems, but it can also center and reenergize passionate activists. This lovely video from Well+Good shares several tips on how to connect with plants as a part of a self-care practice:
It goes without saying that the past several years have been a rollercoaster, and not necessarily the fun kind. It also goes without saying that the Bio4Climate community - made up of remarkable people like you - keeps us staff members grounded, supported, and energized to continue doing the ecosystem restoration work and advocacy that we care so deeply about. As we enter this new year together, it is our hope that 2022 will be a healthy and restorative year for all.
With many thanks for your support,
Abby Abrahamson
College Outreach Coordinator & Newsletter Editor
P.S. We love sending out these Featured Creatures each week, and we hope you're enjoying them. You can help us keep them going, along with all our other work to spread ecosystem restoration and heal the Earth, by joining our Eco-Restoration Team of ongoing supporters or by making a one-time gift. Many thanks!
https://www.wellandgood.com/
https://www.
https://www.britannica.com/
https://www.britannica.com/
https://www.1800flowers.com/
Our Contact Information
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
P.O. Box 390469
Cambridge, MA 02139
781-674-2339
Đăng nhận xét