During this busy finals season,
with the craziness of life surrounding me, I sought out some quiet time in
nature. Nature has always been a very sacred place to me. It always allows me
to slow down from my busy schedule and reflect on what is really important to
me.
When I moved to Texas three years
ago, I was sad to lose the beauty of the nature all around me. I had spent my
whole life in Colorado, minutes away from the Rocky Mountains. I assumed that Fort
Worth did not have this same type of natural environment. However, when I
arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. While the outdoor space in Fort Worth is
very different from that in Colorado, it is beautiful in its own way.
My favorite nature place in Fort
Worth is the Botanic Gardens. Located minutes from the TCU campus, the Botanic
Gardens is a beautifully kept space in the heart of the city. My favorite part
of the gardens is the fact that most of the plants are native to the area. I
love that the city has made an effort to preserve its natural integrity.
A beautiful spot in FW!
On this chilly December afternoon,
I ventured to the Botanic Gardens with my friend and fellow classmate, Ben
Hopper. This past week has been the coldest in Fort Worth in quite some time. Most
likely due to the weather, the Botanic Gardens was virtually empty. This made
for a wonderful reflection space.
We went on a walk all over the gardens,
exploring every space available. We began with a walk through the forest, on an
elevated bridge. We saw a variety of tall trees and squirrels preparing for the
winter. We didn’t see any birds in the forest, as they had probably flown farther
south.
I was able to get close to snap a picture!
After the forest, we saw a
waterfall and more gardens. My favorite part of the entire walk was the rose garden.
While most of the plants were bare for the winter, they were still several buds
fighting the cold weather. I snapped the picture below of a beautiful and
vibrant pink rose.
My favorite rose bud in the garden
After the rose garden, we saw the
koi ponds, though the fish and turtles had been moved inside for the winter.
While at the pond, we saw a blue heron on the shore. I first thought the bird
was a statue. While I was looking out, I suddenly saw it blink its eye and
stretch its neck. It then made direct eye contact with me. I was startled that
the bird was real, but also excited to see another animal in the gardens. I
even got a picture of the majestic bird.
A blue-grey heron in the gardens
We then headed back to the car,
with numb hands and tingling ears. It was such a nice break from the hectic
nature of finals. I love that nature has the ability to relax and realign our
lives. Our course, Texts & Treks, has taught me to really appreciate
nature, even when I’m crazy busy. This is a skill I will use for years to come.
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