How to Grow a Planet

Not my photo - Professor Iain Stewart

TVO (TV Ontario) has some really great shows I must say. One type I quite enjoy are the nature documentaries. TVO aired a three-part BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) series recently called How to Grow a Planet. It was hosted by geologist Iain Stewart.

This program was utterly fascinating. It showed how plants played an all-important part in shaping not only our physical planet, but all life forms we see today - ourselves included.

We are shown the evolution of plants from humble, water-based life forms, to those which developed roots that allowed them to gain a foothold on land. This gradually transformed our planet from a desolate, barren rock to one teeming with life. Early plants (grasses and trees) provided sustenance for insects and other animals including the prehistoric dinosaurs.

This was followed by beautiful, complex flowering plants which use insects and other animals to pollenate and propagate. Many of these flowering plants produced seeds which could lie dormant until the most advantageous time for them to germinate arrived (rainy season for instance).

As well, a number of flowering plants provide fruit which sustain many different animals. This was another way for them to spread their seeds (which are in the fruit). After an animal consumes them the seeds pass through and are deposited elsewhere starting the cycle of life for that plant once again.

We see how they transformed our atmosphere from one that would be nearly impossible for any animal to survive in to one where we thrive. This was done by creating the oxygen we need to breathe.

At one time our planet's atmosphere was very different from how it is today. There was relatively little oxygen in the air. Plant life changed all this using the truly amazing process of photosynthesis. It's where plants combine sunlight with carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) to make the sugars it needs to survive. Its waste product - Oxygen.

If you have the time I'd highly suggest watching the videos. They're about an hour long each.

How to Grow a Planet: Life from Light

How to Grow a Planet: The Power of Flowers

How to Grow a Planet: The Challenger

Allan Gardens

I went to Allan Gardens last Sunday after church. It's been quite a long time since I last visited, so I thought I'd go have a look.

I remember the last time I went it was to try a "new" used film camera body I bought to replace an old one that I got wet when I went canoeing at Algonquin Park. That was probably sometime in the mid-90's I'm guessing.

This time I went to do the same thing–take photos. This time with my current camera a Canon 20D (which itself is somewhat dated since I bought it in 2006).

Allan Gardens is located between Carlton Street to the north, Gerrard Street to the south and Jarvis Street to the west and Sherbourne Street to the east. If you take the TTC you can get off at College Station on the Yonge subway line, walk east on Carlton and pick up some snacks at the newly opened Loblaws (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) along the way.

From their website:

Allan Gardens Conservatory is over 100 years old with a garden-filled greenhouse that covers over 16,000 square feet. This garden is open to the public year-round. It contains tropical plants from all over the world from palm trees to cacti. There are also seasonal plantings throughout the year.

I have to say I don't remember too much about that previous trip I took. But, I somehow thought the place was bigger than it turned out to be. If you were to walk straight through all the greenhouses without stopping you could probably do it in 10-15 minutes tops.

Of course, if you were like me, and you liked taking pictures... well it would take you much longer. And, for me, that was the case. I took a long, long time. But, I think I got some good shots, so that's what was important.

On my way out I bumped into an old friend from church, Phyllis Chong. She was visiting with two of her friends. I hadn't seen her since the mid to late 90's. She's now attending The Stone Church on Davenport.

Unfortunately they arrived as the Conservatory was closing. So, for them, they'll have to come another time to view the plants they have there.