Nature’s Live Theater: PBS Presents American Spring LIVE
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
April 29, 2019
On this day, dear enthusiasts of nature's grand spectacle, we stand on the cusp of a most extraordinary televisual event.
At 7 pm CT, PBS unveils "Nature: American Spring LIVE," a three-night extravaganza that promises to immerse us in the vibrant rebirth of the natural world.
Imagine, if you will, being transported from the comfort of your armchair to the far-flung corners of America's diverse ecosystems.
From the towering peaks of the Rockies to the teeming swamps of the Everglades, from bustling inner-city parks to the pristine solitude of remote wilderness preserves, this Emmy- and Peabody-award winning series will be our guide to spring's magnificent awakening.
But this is no mere passive viewing experience, oh no!
We are invited to join intrepid scientists as they make real-time observations in the field, allowing us to witness firsthand some of the most pivotal moments in nature's annual calendar.
Can you picture it?
The first tentative shoots of a rare wildflower pushing through the soil, or perhaps the return of a migratory bird to its ancestral nesting grounds?
As Nature executive producer Fred Kaufman so eloquently puts it:
Nature throws a party every year, and it's called spring.
It is the most active time in the natural world for plants and animals, from birth and rebirth to migrations to pollination...
In addition to witnessing incredible wonders, the goal... is to inspire people to go outside and get involved with science.
Everyone can play a part in our natural world.
What a marvelous invitation to not just observe, but participate in the grand dance of the seasons!
So, my fellow garden enthusiasts and nature lovers, I implore you to mark your calendars, set your recording devices, or simply plank yourselves firmly before your television sets for the next three evenings.
For while we may pride ourselves on our horticultural knowledge and our intimate connection with our own little patches of earth, "American Spring LIVE" promises to expand our horizons, showing us the intricate tapestry of rebirth and renewal on a truly continental scale.
And who knows?
Perhaps as you watch a bumblebee pollinate a prairie flower in real-time, or witness the unfurling of a fern frond in a misty forest glade, you'll be inspired to look at your own garden with fresh eyes.
After all, the miracle of spring is happening not just on our screens, but right outside our windows, in every park, and on every street corner.
So let us celebrate this grand performance of nature, and remember that we too have a role to play in this annual revival.
Happy viewing, and may your own spring be as vibrant and full of wonder as the spectacles we're about to witness!