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By Eric Brocken
When you walk in a garden, you might think of plants as silent, passive lifeforms—just greenery to trim or admire. Recent scientific discoveries are turning that idea on its head. It turns out, plants are more aware and interactive than what many people imagine.
Many now explore the strange and fascinating world of plant intelligence. Yes, intelligence.
Scientists are learning that plants can “talk” to each other—not with words, but through chemical signals. Some trees can warn their neighbors when pests are coming. Others, like wild beans, will change their root patterns to avoid crowding nearby plants. And vines like Boquila trifoliolata can even change the shape of their leaves to mimic others nearby— like plant-level costume changes for survival.
Plants seem to have a kind of memory. In one experiment, a touch-sensitive plant called Mimosa pudica learned to stop closing its leaves when it realized the touch wasn’t harmful. That’s not just reaction—that’s learning.
These findings aren’t just for scientists—they carry a message for all of us.
Plants are not lone survivors. They thrive by listening, responding, and adapting to those around them. In many ways, they model a kind of silent cooperation that humans can have—especially when it comes to how we grow food, support local ecosystems, and build stronger communities.
That’s where community gardening comes in and our ‘love affair’ with nature.
A shared garden space isn’t just about vegetables and other useful plants—it’s about connection. Just like plants send signals and share resources underground, participants in a community garden trade seeds, knowledge, and support. It’s a space where people can relearn that thriving happens together.
So next time you see a tomato plant reaching toward the sun or a patch of lavender leaning toward a neighbor, remember—it’s not just growing. It’s participating.
For futher information check out The Light Eaters, by environmental journalist Zoë Schlanger. Also, tune in to my radio show on Pulse FM 89.9 local radio for ‘Grow Naturally”.
