Local wildflower preserve showcases Earth Day's purpose

Earth Day first appeared on the national agenda 41 years ago. On the heels of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" and the major environmental legislation it inspired, caring for the Earth became a recognized part of the American conscience. Yet, nine years before Earth Day ever began, Winston-Salem was quietly hosting its own natural renaissance under the care of a young mother of two.

On a spring day in 1961, Emily Allen was clearing the overgrown lot behind her family's new home. Ivy, vines and underbrush had overtaken several acres. All she wanted was a neater, cleaner backyard for her family to enjoy.

Then the magic happened. Emily pulled back a handful of tangled vines to discover a blooming showy orchid. She was amazed by its beauty, though she wasn't sure what type of flower had captured her imagination. That chance encounter piqued Emily's fascination with native plants. For her six acres of forested paradise, Earth Day had already begun.

The backyard's transformation from a single showy orchid to the widely acclaimed Emily H. Allen Friendship Garden has followed two primary paths: knowledge and action.

As Emily sought to identify the showy orchid, she quickly entered the world of native-plant enthusiasts. Soon she was reading every book and magazine on woodland plants she could find. Emily attended workshops to learn from the best botanical experts of her time. She even enrolled in classes at Wake Forest University. Despite her lack of formal training, Emily became one of the most respected native-plant authorities in the region and was soon being consulted by other experts.

Her growing understanding of native plants and their habitats drew Emily into action. She worked for decades improving her garden's habitat, ridding it of non-natives and tenderly caring for her plants. When a call went out for volunteers to rescue native plants from sites planned for development, Emily always responded. Her trips weren't limited to the Piedmont. She rescued plants from areas now submerged by Lake Jocassee in South Carolina, atop Eagle's Nest near Waynesville and many places in between. Emily's work ethic is as revered as her knowledge of native plants.

The Emily H. Allen Friendship Garden is the product of a search for knowledge and an eagerness to act. The two alone are not sufficient. When the two are combined, the real magic happens. Emily's specialty is sharing her considerable knowledge with others. Garden clubs, botanical classes and many others make a yearly pilgrimage to learn about the beautiful wildflowers that arrive with spring and the ferns that accompany summer. A loyal group of volunteers spend countless hours caring for, and learning from, the garden. Emily's inspiration has led many to further their interest in native plants.

She revels in introducing young minds to the natural world. Her storytelling ability and charm make her a natural educator. She can speak the scientific language of scholars or shift to an entertaining tale of jack-in-the-pulpit reproductive behavior that will leave the more casual audience captivated and blushing. Either is fine, so long as the visitors leave the garden with a better appreciation of the natural world than when they arrived.

Earth Day was first introduced to celebrate the human connection to our only planet. The years leading up to Earth Day had witnessed the ravaging of nature. The Industrial Revolution, the introduction of automobiles and significant advancement in the chemical industry had outpaced our ability to care for the land as earlier generations had. We as citizens needed to regain a greater appreciation for nature and take action to ensure that we were being good stewards of the Earth.

Rachel Carson took a broad approach by publishing a book connecting the dots between environmental and human health. Our neighbor Emily Allen focused on protecting our native species and establishing a preserve to celebrate them. Both wonderful women combined their respective desires to learn more and apply that knowledge to make the world a better place. Both have been successful beyond their wildest dreams and the Earth is better for their efforts.

As we celebrate the 41st Earth Day this week, we should all follow the examples of these two remarkable women. One chose to work on the national stage. The other continues to work quietly in her Winston-Salem backyard. Yet the approach was the same. Learn about nature, then take action to care for it. That is the true meaning of Earth Day.