xp_logs | Modern Nature: The Arrival (Reply)

The group arrives at the Botanical Garden and begins their wait to see the main exhibit.

Autumn in New York was always a sight to behold. The landscape was set ablaze in a forest of red and yellow and orange, as leaves made their presence known before dropping to the ground to be raked up and swept away, leaving their trees barren for the cold winter months ahead. And as winter crept up closer and closer, more and more trees were falling victim to this most unfortunate of fates. The ones that remained, however, stood in stark contrast to the gray skies, providing much needed color in the city made of steel and asphalt.

There were several places that the rare breed of people known as New Yorkers could experience the beauty and magnificence of nature, but none were probably as busy as the New York Botanical Gardens. The discovery of a new plant had attracted visitors from near and far alike, anxious to participate in this historical occasion. Even the long lines that wound through the other exhibits to almost past the entrance gate could not deter visitors as some waited patiently, others less so, as more and more people continued to arrive.

Crystal looked at the small group of students she had brought on the trip, hoping they were as excited as she was. While the idea of a field trip at Xavier's brought up thoughts that were not generally considered at other schools, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was a school, after all, and schools were supposed to take students on field trips. It was all part of the learning experience, and it was good to get the students out of the school itself and out in public.

Catseye was wearing herself out trying to look everywhere at once and take in all the different sights and smells that hit her when she exited the Xavier’s vehicle and joined the queue of people awaiting entrance to the Native Plants Garden. "It smells like the woods only different!" she exclaimed excitedly, "lots of woods smells but also different earth smells and plant smells and so many people smells! It is so strange! How come all these plants don't live outside like the plants in the woods?" she queried aloud, though not directing her question at anyone in particular. "Because they are from different countries that do not have the same air and earth?"

"It is too cold here for some plants," said Klara. Though she didn't have much experience at all with exotic plants, she had plenty with farming and growing plants. "Well, too cold for them to grow naturally anyhow. And then the earth, yes...there are different kinds of soil for plants to grow within."

Of course, with her powers, that wasn't really an issue for her anymore. Instead, the issue was keeping them alive. Which did require the correct climate and correct soil.

"Plus the fact that they're all different and from other places just makes them more unique." Nicholas Gleason had been trailing at the back of the group with his notebook open, furiously scribbling down the Latin names of the plants to keep up with his assignment. He felt like such a nerd, which was a good thing to him. The more he could take in the better, and there certainly was a lot to try and take in at the Garden. As he put, a dot on "Aeonium" in "Aeonium arboreum" he turned back to his classmates. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Callie kept close to the other students, saying nothing as she played with her camera to make sure it was on the right setting. They were all coming out blurry for some reason, and she could never remember exactly how to fix it. So it was trial and error time. "Yeah," she commented finally, her voice distant as she frowned at the apparatus in her hands. "It's also open all year, so each season the plants are different too."

Catseye looked from Nick taking notes to Callie taking pictures and lashed her tail. "Should I be writing things down or taking pictures or doing something else?" she asked Crystal.

"Have you seen anything you find interesting yet?" Crystal asked Catseye. "Notes can help people remember information they may wish to recall at a later time; pictures can serve the same purpose. While we are here on a school trip, I also want you to have fun, so see what catches your attention and what you wish to write about or take pictures of. Everybody's experience will be different, and I want yours to be uniquely your own."

Klara didn't own a camera, though she thought that perhaps she might ask for an inexpensive one for her birthday this year so she could take pictures without having to borrow anyone else's. For the moment, she was writing down notes with her surprisingly tidy penmanship. She put a little star beside plants she was particularly interested in so that she could read up on them later. Although she was still getting used to her laptop, she had recently learned how to use the internet to search for information. Of course, books were still better, and definitely something she preferred for doing assignments, but it was nice to have that information a quick search away.

Crystal's head turned away from her students for a moment to look at the line ahead of them. She was sure there was only so much note-taking the students could do before getting extremely bored. Still, the kids already seemed interested in the plants they were seeing, even if they weren't at the main attraction yet. "Callie, Catseye, Klara, Nick, please look around and choose your favorite plant so far. Explain to us what you like about it, and as we go further down the line, see if it remains your favorite or if you find a different one you prefer instead."