On page 113 Dillard writes:

"John Cowper Polys said, ‘ We have no reason for denying to the world of plants a certain slow, dim, vague, large, leisurely semi-consciousness.' He may not be right, but I like his adjectives. The patch of bluets in the grass may not be long on brains, but might be, at least in a very small way, awake. The trees especially seem to bespeak a generosity of spirit. I suspect that the real moral thinkers end up, wherever they may start, in botany. We know nothing for certain, but we seem to see that the world turns upon growing, grows towards growing, and growing green and clean."

Written response #10 -- Personal response to Dillard's writing

What about plants? What do you make of this allegation that plants might have a "semi-consciousness"? How are plants an important part of our world? Are plants a significant and worthy object of study for an environmentalist? Tell a story about plants in your life-- a garden? Poison ivy? Lawn mowing? Wildflowers?