OurBrownCounty 14July-Aug | Page 58

MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT.

Food • Drinks • Music • Fun

Friday, May 16: The McGuires( 6 – 10 pm) Sunday, May 25: Scott Strange( 5 – 9 pm)

Friday, June 6: Two for the Show( 6 – 10 pm) Friday, June 20: JoBuzz( 6 – 10 pm)

Cookout Buffet each night( menu varies) Cash Bar

245 N. Jefferson Street in Nashville, IN 812-988-8400 • www. hotelnashville. com

JEWELS continued from 50 Who cares about a beetle or a fly whose name I don’ t recognize, a mussel in a slow-moving stream, or some silly bird like the Henslow’ s Sparrow? I don’ t know these plants or animals, I assume they can pass out of existence and nothing will happen, and it’ s just a waste of taxpayer money to investigate.” It’ s thinking like this we must guard against because every species, however trivial, has a job to do.

The analogy of a plant having a“ job” helps us comprehend the role things play. To consider positions in food chains, complicated living systems that function“ behind the scenes,” and to imagine parts that make up a whole, is to appreciate these intricate elements. However inconsequential or petty these components, it sometimes takes their disappearance before we notice something is different and something isn’ t right.“ Saving all the parts” is the key to intelligent tinkering, as stated by noted conservationist, Aldo Leopold.

Like rare jewels, rare flowers, shrubs, ferns, and grasses can increase value to landscapes and homeowner inventories. Less common insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals all have jobs, niches to the biologist, and fulfill a duty. Awareness and appreciation of what we have, protection of all natural resources, and considering all of nature to be of value are foundations of active conservation. But the key to abundance in nature, as has always been the case, is private lands in private ownership. How we manage our own lands will determine future diversity and health. •

Great Lodging, Family Fun,

and Fine Art

Lunch Served Daily • Bubble Tea available

58 Our Brown County • July / August 2014