Success Story 6/13/2024

Brandon George, Kenton County Horticulture Agent

A Wild Horticulture Wednesday at Middleton-Mills Park

On June 12^th, 2024, the Kenton County Horticulture Agent participated in the Wild Wednesdays Program at Middleton-Mills Park. This event is designed to educate children during the summer months on a variety of science-based topics with speakers invited to share their knowledge. Organized by Rhonda Ritzi, Recreation Programs Coordinator for the Kenton County Parks & Recreation, over 100 children of varying ages and parents attended. The topics I presented included the lifecycle of trees, and the products we use that come from trees, to help inspire a sense of awe and appreciation for plants amongst the group of children in attendance. Enthusiastic children shared with me things they observe that come from wood and I encouraged their parents to challenge them to try to identify trees with their children over the summer to help them overcome plant blindness and appreciate the ecological functions plants have. By definition, “plant blindness is a proposed form of cognitive bias which, in its broadest meaning, is a human tendency to ignore plant species. This includes such phenomena as not noticing plants in the surrounding environment, not recognizing the importance of plant life to the whole biosphere and to human affairs, a philosophical view of plants as an inferior form of life to animals, and/or the inability to appreciate the unique features or aesthetics of plants” (Allen, William). It was a great opportunity to engage a younger audience and share the work that Cooperative Extension does in Kenton County.

Sources:

https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/53/10/926/254897?login=false

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