Garden Genes

When in our garden, it requires little thought to see that species have their preferences. Even without an awareness of Darwin's revelations, one, simply by being aware, learns the likes and dislikes of our property's residents .

Particularly interesting is that a tree's genes can result in a different looking plant even within a species, and this is not an unusual occurence. These genetic variations occur in all species and manifest themselves in myriad ways. The Japanese Maple pictured here has a dwarf nature coupled with an umbrella top that is very appealing to the eye, and this tree can grow no other way with the particular gene structure it contains. This variation, however, does not appear to provide the plant with any natural advantage that could easily explain its continued existence in Darwinian terms. It suffers from a serious height disadvantage that makes it almost certain to get shaded by larger trees, and this dwarf nature also makes it a target for even small herbivores that could eat its entire supply of life giving leaves. Perhaps only its beauty has enabled it to persist in nature, with gardeners interested in maintaining beautiful surroundings its greatest ally.

While reflecting upon this phenomenon, I was walking in nearby Newburyport on this Memorial Day weekend when I noticed amidst the city festivities a man dressed as a clown surrounded by mothers and young children. He was inflating and twisting balloons into animal shapes, according to each, on whim, its own distinctive shape; manifesting each, if you will, with a distinctive genetic map. The gathered children were facinated and happy, as was the clown, though at the sudden popping of one creation as it neared its completion, he did excuse the mishap with an apology about tired hands that had instilled imagination into these rubber objects for too long throughout the day.

Later, while walking home, I saw a similarity between the dwarf Japanese Maple and the clown. Both were probably unable to act in any other way, each steered inexorably by an inner map determining its appearance, disposition, and action. Morevoer, both had found allies in the common quest for gene perpetuation, one for its beauty and the other for its delightful spreading of happiness and mirth.