Discovering the Beauty of Nature

By Nathaniel Whitmore

I think that it is the sense of discovery that makes mushroom hunting so exciting. There are some who do not like to eat mushrooms, but even those who do not like the taste or texture of mushrooms often enjoy finding them. I have also noticed that children delight in finding mushrooms. Even when my daughter was just learning to walk and talk, she would point out mushrooms growing in the yard and woods. When I mention this to other parents, they often report that their children have a similar affinity to fungi.

There is a mushroom that is often known locally by the name “Sheep’s Head.” In the fungal field guides, it is often under the name “Hen-Of-The-Woods” (not to be confused with “Chicken-Of-The-Woods,” which is also a delicious edible mushroom and one of my personal favorites). In Japan, this same species is known as “Maitake,” which means “dancing mushroom.” This name refers to the dancing for joy that reportedly happens when finding this mushroom (or, at least, happened historically). The reasons for such levels of excitement are several. First of all, the size of the mushroom, which is often enough to require both arms to lift it up and carry it, is impressive and surprising. Also, people could be very excited about the thought of cooking and eating the mushroom, or about the thought of using its valuable medicinal virtues to relieve someone of sickness. But perhaps it was most often so exciting because of its financial value. Historically, Japanese and Chinese emperors were the only people who could afford it. The point is, though, that people get excited about discovering Maitake, along with many other wonders of the natural world.

Ginseng is known as “Green Gold” and Maple syrup as “Liquid Gold”, but surely it is not their financial value that makes Ginseng and Maple trees so valuable. Ginseng is worth so much financially because of the value the Chinese bestow upon it as a medicinal tonic. Often Americans believed Ginseng to have little to no virtue other than that it could be sold to the Chinese for a pretty penny. It is a constant source of grief for me to consider that our wonderful natural world is often reduced to financial value and either ignored as worthless or sacrificed for financial gain.

Everybody seems to know how valuable a Cherry tree if it is cut and sold, but few know of many other details of Cherry trees. The wild Cherry trees do provide fruit. Granted, it is often high up in the forest canopy far out of human reach, but if you do chance to find some on a smaller tree, it is a special treat. Besides, birds need to eat, too. Cherry bark has medicinal use as a remedy for lung congestion and coughs. (Does this have any connection to the now popular artificial cherry flavoring of pharmaceutical cough syrup?) There are also the amazing and delicate mycorrhizal relationships between the trees and the fungi, which is a perfect example of nature’s interconnectedness.

Cherry does give us a beautiful wood to make into furniture and kitchen utensils. Loggers, woodworkers, and landowners should take advantage of the beauty of the wood. We should not, however, lose sight of the Cherry tree as part of an intricate and wonderful ecosystem. It should be easy for us to gain just as much pleasure in the sight of a magnificent tree in the middle of the forest as a sign of the glory of natural order, as it is for us to take pleasure in the sight of a fine piece of furniture, or for us to dream up the things we could buy with the money made from a fallen tree.

If we consider the high (even epidemic) rates of depression, addiction, and social dysfunction in our modern world, it becomes obvious that our values as a society are at the root of these kinds of problems. I could easily turn this into a discussion about money and superficial pleasures, but I do not want to get off course. The point that I want to make is that appreciation of natural beauty is important for our health and happiness. The awe that is inspired by the wonders of nature is an irreplaceable source of nourishment for our fundamental level of happiness. So, if you have found yourself somewhat disconnected from life or from nature, it is important to re-establish this connection.

As a teacher and herbalist, I help people learn about wild edible plants and medicinal herbs and help people to regain their health through the use of medicinal herbs, dietary changes, exercise, and other natural health practices. I show people which plants and mushrooms are edible and which ones are medicinal. This includes many fascinating details of identification, harvesting, and preparation of these plants, along with details about the environment in which they grow, and various details about human health. While all these details of plants, people, and the environment are fun to learn about and teach, my basic joy is demonstrating that nature is the primary source of beauty and health in our lives.

My desire is to continue to list the benefits of taking time to appreciate nature. I would like to point out that walking in nature and admiring the wonder of plants, animals, the sun, the moon, and other natural things reduces stress (a very significant contributor to ill health in modern people). I would like to discuss the benefits of walking in the woods- how walking is an ideal exercise, and there are additional benefits when it is done in a natural area. (Not only is walking physically beneficial, but it is good for the mind. Many great thinkers have attributed their success as inventors, philosophers, and the like to the practice of taking long walks. Also, many health experts have mentioned that walking is particularly beneficial for depression.) I could go on and on about the benefits of simply taking time to appreciate nature (especially in comparison to watching television or partaking in other unhealthy pastimes). The proof, however, is in the experience.

Nathaniel Whitmore practices herbal medicine and shiatsu at the Honesdale Wellness Center, where he also teaches classes and workshops. He can be reached at (570) 224-0264 or e-mail wathakes@gmail.com.

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