CNU Nature Walk – Brian Dessimoz

Dr. John Tallmadge directed a nature walk around our campus. The driving force behind this expedition was the interconnectedness between the indoor and outdoor environments. He also emphasized the transition period when transferring between the two, traveling through the threshold. We started this walk in the Trible Library, inside is where all journeys begin. Buildings are designed to fit our needs, to be comfortable, yet they are composed mostly from natural things found in nature. The marble that makes up library’s floor, although sporadic, can be tamed by man. Taking something chaotic and fashioning it in to simple geometric shapes, creating a pattern that feels comforting. Next we went into the plaza, focusing on the actual act of stepping outside. Many different sensations can be felt: the cool wind through the door, the warm sun on your face, the different noises that all hit you at once. Once outside you look back at the building you were just in, noticing it by its structure and organization. The influence of man is still present outside, from the bricks in the courtyard to the freshly cut grass. Natural elements are cut into a uniform fashion, tamed. Plants themselves can be controlled by man, by cutting the grass and the placement of different plants and trees, man is able to influence their growth. A tree that grows standing alone, rather than in a forest, is able to achieve a more uniform symmetrical growth. The competition with other trees is taken away, there is no need for a tree to use its energy to out grow others in height. With a group of trees, those on the outer edge will only have branches on the side most exposed to light, those within have a fuller canopy. Plant growth seems more random in a forest compared to landscaping done for a school. Yet there is still some aspect of control, a path through the center, and signs that point to the presence of man. To find where nature is at is fullest you have to only walk to the outer edge of campus, past the parking lots. There lies a tangled mess of plants. Utter chaos. This patch was left unattended for a long time; it represents what the area would probably look like with the absence of man. Nature exist in many forms. There is no real escape from it. The air you breathe, the buildings you inhabit, and even sometimes the clothes you wear. Their roots lie tangled in nature.