Oregon Wildlife

What We Can Learn from Plants and Animals

It is no secret that Oregon is home to some of the most lush and green landscapes that Earth has to offer. But, it is not only the forest that makes Oregon so beautiful: it is the individuality of each and every plant and animal that comprise it. All beings play a valuable role in creating the harmonious ecosystem that is unique to Oregon. There is a wide array of wildlife and native plant varieties that call the forests and valleys of Oregon their home. All plants and animals that reside in the natural world embody valuable qualities such as resilience, abundance and growth. This harmonious coexistence can teach human beings how to live better lives. Nature doesn’t get caught up in the nonsense that life throws at it. It adapts and flows with change.

Many of the plants and animals that are central to Oregon’s ecosystem remind me of ways people can live better lives through building a closer relationship to the Earth. All of nature is interconnected and every aspect relies on one another to thrive. Humans can benefit greatly from this simple, but crucial, life lesson: we need each other. Humans, in their efforts to get by in modern society, look out for themselves. We have become disconnected from one another – and from the natural world.

In nature, trees, plants and animals work in unison. Understanding nature can help us unlock valuable life philosophies. Take the example of Anna’s Hummingbird. This species is the most common hummingbird living along the Pacific Coast of Oregon, and they are the only hummingbirds that spend their winters in Northern climates. When the temperatures drop, their breathing and heart rates slow, only to return to normal as temperatures begin to rise. This adaptability allows the Anna’s Hummingbird to slow their metabolic rate, conserving energy in order to keep their bodies alive during challenging conditions. This synchronicity with the environment offers humans an opportunity to appreciate the mystery and beauty of the natural world. To stop and watch a hummingbird in flight is a rare and magnificent thing. They move quickly. Their wings flap so fast they are hardly visible. Hummingbirds can even fly backwards! Like the hummingbird, life moves quickly; and that brief glimpse of something beautiful and seemingly small, is something to be cherished.

The abundance and beauty of Oregon’s wild places is a symbolic reminder to embrace both the good and bad things in life. The marionberry is one of the most prevalent species of blackberries that originated in Marion County, Oregon. It has adapted well to the climate that is unique to the state. It is marketed as the “Cabernet of Blackberries” because of its strong flavor compared to other relatives of the blackberry. While the marionberry is described as sour, it has a sweet, soft, center spot that offers robust flavor and is revered for its “goodness.” The marionberry is a deeply resilient vine. Marionberry has vigorous stems that produce roots which allow it to grow rapidly in areas where it might be unwanted. The marionberry has painful thorns, which make them difficult to harvest and challenging to remove, but the fruit offers a perfect balance of flavors. Marionberries are ideal for jams, pie fillings or plucked straight off the vine. These uniquely Oregon berries teach us that we can put up thorny walls, but our authentic selves will always have a sweet spot.

Oregonian plants and animals do not hurt their home. They strive to strengthen it by being resilient, harmonious and flexible. Nature works together in order to maintain an intrinsically balanced ecosystem. These examples can offer lessons on ways we can reduce our negative impact on the Earth. They also remind us to connect more deeply with each other, and to flow with the way of nature.

WRITTEN BY OLIVIA STEIN ILLUSTRATED BY SOPHIE BARLOW DESIGNER ALLY WOODRING