Plant of the Week: Viburnum

The viburnum family is one of the most beautiful and successful on the entire planet. Add Otzi, the most widely known individual from the fabulous Alps and Earth Day can be a learning experience. Within sight of Innsbruck, Austria he was discovered just 5,300 years after he died from wounds that included one from a Viburnum shafted arrowhead.

“Earth Day” became official here in the U.S. after our idea was taken political by the bitter Democratic operative Gaylord Nelson. Swinging in on anti-war and anti-Nixon sentiment he still gets credited with starting the “modern environmental movement.” Add in fear, salesmen and women all over the world and we have the usual outcome, a political stalemate that only benefits prolonged programs, payrolls and pensions. Planning suffers.

Here in the US we have the Gore vs. Henry Ford and Republicans labeled as lovers of dirty air and water. Add in largely useless and expensive regulations and result is dirty air and water. My hometown of Greenwich, CT is downwind from New York City and New Jersey; we experience some of the worst air quality in the country. Asthma is the latest fear focus by anti-business fund raisers; it should be on real planning. Tobacco is a great scapegoat receiving attention instead of the fact that something shared by New York City residents and those here that just by breathing we inhale the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Promised effective regulations by Nelson and his minions existed prior to 1970 “selective enforcement” perfected by his party, continues to this day. Result tens of thousands of pages of regulations trickled down to the village level. Air and water quality not effectively improved. How does the noble Viburnum Family get us out of this?

Planning starts with existing conditions, it never ends but should continue with obtainable benchmarks and flexibility to react to changing data and increased understanding. The EPA works in reverse. Petty political power plays rule. Recent headlines point to the evil of coal. In 1970 the wet behind the ears Nixon administration set national standards for the first time regarding air quality. People dropped dead on the streets of Pittsburgh in 1949 due to air quality. This city had not turned off streetlights for 23 years. This started a series of investigations and various regulations that were put together under the EPA in 1970, despite Democratic opposition.

The “education” marketing lead by Nelson quickly grabbed the media attention and pressure that still symbolizes theirs’ as the party of protectors. Instead of fighting back to the original concept of standards for Clean Air & Clean Water the subject is largely avoided to this “Earth Day.” Air in Pittsburgh is better. Regulations shut down the polluting plants. Instead of encouraging and providing incentives to meet the standards pointed punitive sent the plants to countries that welcomed them. Industry exists by providing sensible affordable solutions to problems. Why do we not encourage industry? Politics?

Otzi was exposed to sunlight as the glacial remains melted around him. His position on the mountain range suggests a buildup of glacial characteristics occurred after his death. Cairo was abandoned and the population was forced to go up the Nile to Luxor 3,500 years ago as a result of a Mini Ice Age bringing high salinity to the Nile at Cairo’s location. Directly South of the Alps perhaps Otzi could see Cairo from his last glance through his window of life. Global Warming and Global Cooling has occurred at least 17 times since life existed on our planet. Both are likely to occur again. Seismic activity that rearranges the plates and continents is likely the main cause and has a good chance of still ongoing. Planning should include assumptions of both. The last 10,000 years has been dominated by global warming and the rise of humans. 100 million people were displaced from an Indian subcontinent due to sea level rise over the last 1,000 years. Fear salesmen try to convince you have caused that by driving a Suburban.

Push your elected officials to solve real problems of clean air and water. Do not let the fear industry NGOs and pension packers dominate your thoughts. Demand consideration of your health not the potential for catastrophe, it is happening every time we take a breath. Otzi did not have the 911 cellphone option we have. What he did have, judging the clothes and gear and forensic analysis of what he had in his system, is very similar to ours.

Plant and enjoy a Viburnum knowing that its family is found all over the world, known for its beauty and practicality and success. Not a bad hope for a family’s heritage. Otzi’s parents should be proud that the facts about his life may bring sense back into understanding our future.
Speculators betting on the future of the planet with one enemy, carbon dioxide, are sure to be losers. Planting a Viburnum on Earth Day will give you and your family a sense of understanding that we are just beginning to understand our past, present and even our future. Swallowing the Nelson legacy is not tasteful and will continue to be harmful until we stop being “earth educated” by his pathetic legacy and start demanding clean air and water.

Make a difference in the present, not speculate about the future. Incentivize our industries not threaten punishment that they can buy influence away. Breathe easier. Otzi legacy is not just a Viburnum assisted wound but an undeniable fact the Global Cooling can do. Common sense would demand we plan for both to honor 100 million displaced by warming and understand their descendants are thriving.

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Peter F. Alexander, Landscape Architect Planner
A traditional practicing professional who designs and accomplishes projects from Perennial Gardens to Regional Planning. Inspired by Norman Newton, Peter Goldmark and Michael Everett he is dedicated to restore Landscape Architecture as the primary effort by mankind to plan for the future. Insisting on inclusion of fun and positive conclusions for all is the base. Copies of the book can be made available by contacting pfalexla@gmail.com a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the By River Parks Foundation.