Let Your Garden Grow Wild | Rebecca McMackin | TED

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: 麗玲 辛

So full disclosure,

大揭密：

I am the nerdiest gardener you are ever going to meet.

我會是各位遇過最怪咖的園藝家。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Technically, I'm an ecological horticulturalist,

嚴格說來，我是生態園藝學家，

which is a fancy way of saying that I design and manage gardens

這是個很炫的詞，其實就是說 我設計和管理奢華美麗的花園，

that are extravagantly beautiful

while also providing habitat for plant populations,

同時提供棲息地給植物種群、

wildlife communities and even soil organisms.

野生動物群體，甚至土壤生物。

And you might wonder, isn't that what all gardeners do?

各位可能會想納悶，不是 所有圖藝家都在做這些嗎？

Unfortunately, no.

很不幸，不是。

The vast majority of gardens are ecological deserts, and in fact,

絕大多數的花園都是 生態沙漠，且事實上，

an incredible amount of environmental damage has been done

大量的環境破壞

都是以打造漂亮花園的 名義來進行的。

in the name of making pretty gardens.

In the US alone,

單單在美國，

we dump over 100 million pounds of insecticides,

每年我們在草坪和花園上 傾倒的殺蟲劑、

herbicides and synthetic fertilizers on our lawns and gardens every year.

除草劑，和合成肥料就超過一億磅。

There just isn't a garden pretty enough to be worth all of that,

沒有一個花園會漂亮到值得這麼做，

and the reality is that it's completely unnecessary.

且事實是，那些都是完全不必要的。

Gardens and landscapes that are absolutely gorgeous

美侖美奐的的花園和景觀

can also help the world around us.

也能幫助我們周圍的世界。

They can provide food, water,and shelter to wildlife.

它們可以為野生動物 提供食物、水，和庇護。

Gardens can and have brought back plants and animals from the brink of extinction.

花園能夠、而且已經做到 拯救瀕臨絕種的植物和動物。

There is a movement happening all over the globe.

有一場運動在全球各地展開。

Gardeners, garden designers, landscape architects,

園藝家、花園設計師、景觀建築師，

even entire cities are finding ways to beautify our environment

甚至整個城市，

都在想辦法美化我們的環境，

while making space for the animals we share this land with.

同時提供空間給與我們 共享這片土地的動物。

I've seen biodiversity return to one of the toughest places to live

我曾見過生物多樣性重新返回

地球上最難生存的地方之一：

on the entire planet:

the middle of New York City,

紐約市中央。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

where I cared for, designed

在那裡，我照顧、設計、 並協助建造公共公園和花園。

and helped build public parks and gardens.

(Applause)

（掌聲）

At Brooklyn Bridge Park, where I was director of horticulture,

我曾在布魯克林大橋公園 擔任園藝主任，

we took these massive derelict shipping piers out over the water

我們把大型廢棄的貨櫃碼頭搭建 在布魯克林和曼哈頓間的水域上，

between Brooklyn and Manhattan

and turned them into an 85-acre post-industrial public park.

把它們變成了一個 八十五英畝的後工業公園。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

它是由 MVVA 設計的， 建造費時十多年。

It was designed by MVVA and built out over a decade.

And it's hard to imagine now,

現在很難想像，

but this lush landscape was built on parched concrete.

但這片蒼翠繁茂的景觀 是建立在乾涸的水泥地上。

This is about as appealing to wildlife as a parking lot.

它對野生動物的吸引力 和停車場差不多。

And yet, just a few years after construction,

然而，建造幾年後， 我們就迎接了候鳥、

we welcomed migratory birds,

rare insects and clouds of butterflies,

稀有昆蟲，

和成群的蝴蝶，

all among millions and millions of park visitors.

同時還有數百萬公園訪客。

When people go to Brooklyn Bridge Park,

大家去布魯克林大橋公園 通常是去打籃球或野餐，

they're usually there to play basketball or have a picnic.

They have no idea that they're walking through a monarch habitat

但他們不知道他們正在 穿越帝王蝴蝶的棲息地

or a firefly sanctuary.

或螢火蟲的保護區。

It just reads as a beautiful park with lots of butterflies

這看起來就只個美麗的公園， 內有許多蝴蝶和魔幻的夜晚。

and magical evenings.

And if we can do that in the middle of New York City,

如果在紐約市中央 我們都能做到那樣，

amidst all that traffic and concrete,

在那麼繁忙的交通 和大量水泥之中都能做到，

you can do it anywhere.

其他地方更不是問題。

Indeed, we must incorporate habitat everywhere immediately,

的確，我們必須立即 將棲息地整合進其他地方，

especially in our cities.

尤其是在我們的城市裡。

We are facing a biodiversity crisis of catastrophic proportions.

我們正面臨災難等級的 生物多樣性危機。

We're changing the planet so quickly that plants and animals cannot keep up.

我們改變地球的速度 快到植物和動物都跟不上。

You may have heard of the insect apocalypse,

各位可能有聽說過昆蟲末日，

and unfortunately it is just as terrifying as it sounds.

不幸的是，它確實 就像聽起來的那麼可怕。

We have lost nearly half of insects on planet Earth

從我小時候到現在，

我們已經失去了地球上 約一半的昆蟲。

just since I was a little kid.

各位可能不喜歡蟲子，

Now, you might not like bugs,

but they are still keeping you alive.

但牠們確保大家可以活著。

One in every three bites of food that you eat

各位吃的食物中，每三口就有一口

是昆蟲授粉的直接結果。

is the direct result of insect pollination.

And this isn't just a problem for humanity.

而且這不只是人類的問題。

Where we have the data,

在我們有資料的地方，我們 已經失去了四分之一的鳥類。

we've lost a quarter of our birds.

In North America, it's 29 percent.

在北美還高達 29%。

Most of these birds feed their babies exclusively on insects.

這些鳥類大多數都只拿 昆蟲來餵食牠們的寶寶。

So it's not just climate change that we need to solve right now.

因此，我們現在需要 解決不只是氣候變遷。

There is some existential multitasking required of us.

我們需要同時處理一些生存危機。

Thank goodness that there are solutions

謝天謝地，有解決方案。

and many of them literally involve planting flowers.

其中許多是真的和種花有關。

So let's talk about gardening for biodiversity,

咱們來談談為了生物 多樣性而做的園藝，

because while you might not be a gardener,

因為，雖然各位可能不是園藝家，

I am still going to ask you to get your hands dirty.

我還是要請各位親自動手做。

All it takes is a pot on your stoop to have a positive effect.

只要在你家門外階梯上放 一個花盆就能產生正面效果。

The first thing we should all be doing are planting plants

我們大家應該做的第一件事

是要種植來自當地的植物，

that are from the places where we're gardening.

We call them native plants,

稱為本土植物，它們很重要， 因為它們與當地野生動物一同演化。

and they're important because they evolved alongside of the wildlife there.

Plants and animals often form relationships

植物和動物之間通常會發展出 關係，甚至會對彼此依賴。

and even dependencies on each other.

舉例來說，

For example,

the eastern red columbine

東紅耬斗花

is arguably the most cheerful of our spring wildflowers.

可說是我們春天的野花中 最能讓人感到愉快的。

But of course they're not blooming for us.

但當然它們不是為我們盛開。

Their red flower heralds the return of the ruby-throated hummingbird,

它們的紅花預示著 紅玉喉北蜂鳥的歸返，

the East Coast's only hummingbird.

東岸只有這種蜂鳥。

After these tiny birds have flown thousands of miles

這些小鳥從中美洲飛行 數千英里遷徙到東北部之後，

on their migration from Central America to the northeast,

they rely on the sugary nectar of the columbine to refuel,

牠們要靠耬斗花的 甜美花蜜來補給能量，

and they have reason to believe

且牠們有理由相信，下次牠們 回來時，這種花會等著牠們。

that this flower will be waiting for them when they do.

The Columbine stores their nectar at the end of long spurs,

耬斗花的花蜜儲存在長花梗的末端，

where only the long tongues of the hummingbird can reach it.

有蜂鳥的長舌才夠得著。

As the bird drinks the nectar, they pollinate the flower.

蜂鳥喝花蜜時， 它們就會授粉給花朵。

Both organisms are benefiting here,

在這情況下兩種生物 都能受惠，事實上，

and in fact, the ruby-throated hummingbird

紅玉喉北蜂鳥

is the eastern red columbine's pollinator partner.

是東紅耬斗花的授粉夥伴。

The bird and the flower could not be more charming,

這種鳥和這種花非常迷人，

but it's the dynamics between the two where the real magic resides.

但真正的魔力存在於 兩者之間的互動。

Let me explain.

讓我解釋一下。

Birds have an extra photoreceptor

鳥類有額外的光感受器，

that allows them to see red incredibly well.

讓牠們能夠非常清楚地看見紅色。

Flowers have taken advantage of this

花朵利用了這一點，

and use the color red to communicate.

用紅色來與鳥類溝通。

As the hummingbirds fly over land on their journey,

當蜂鳥在旅途中飛越陸地時，

a wave of red flowers blooms to greet them.

一波紅色花朵綻放來迎接牠們。

This beautiful dance of symbiosis is happening all around us,

這種共生的美麗舞蹈 在我們周圍處處可見，

among plants and animals that have evolved together for thousands,

存在於數千年甚至數百萬年來， 一起演化的植物和動物之間。

if not millions of years.

In return for planting native plants,

種植原生植物的回報 就是我們可以卡到前排座位

we get a front-row seat to the wonders of the natural world.

來欣賞自然世界的奇觀。

It's hard work,

這是辛苦但最好的工作， 因為在我們付出努力之後，

but it's the best kind because at the end of our efforts,

我們不僅會得到生物多樣性，

not only do we get biodiversity but we get butterflies.

還會得到蝴蝶。

When butterflies visit flowers, they're there for a quick drink of nectar.

當蝴蝶在花朵上逗留時，

牠們是去快速喝點花蜜。

But if we want to support their full life cycle,

但若我們想支持 牠們的整個生命週期，

we need to provide them with food when they are very hungry caterpillars.

牠們還是非常飢餓的毛蟲時 我們就得提供牠們食物。

Caterpillars eat leaves, but they can't just eat any leaf.

毛蟲吃葉子，

但不是任何葉子都行，必須是 牠們已演化能消化的樹葉。

They need the leaves they have evolved to digest.

帝王蝴蝶和乳草是最著名的組合，

Monarchs and milkweed are the most famous duo,

but every butterfly and moth has a plant or even a few

但每種蝴蝶和蛾都會在 某種或幾種植物上產卵。

that they lay their eggs on.

These are their host plants.

這些是牠們的寄主植物。

At Brooklyn Bridge Park a while ago,

不久前，在布魯克林大橋公園，

I saw American lady butterflies visiting our flowers.

我看到美洲紫斑蝶 在我們的花朵上逗留。

So I looked up their host plants

於是我去查了牠們的寄主植物，

and found that their favorite was a tiny white flower

發現牠們最愛一種小白花， 叫做珍珠永生花。

called pearly everlasting.

So I ordered a few,

所以我訂購了一些，希望 這些蝴蝶最終會找到它們。

hoping that the butterflies would eventually find them.

However, when I opened the box,

然而，當我打開盒子時，

it was like butterflies just materialized out of thin air

蝴蝶就好像突然憑空出現，

and went straight for the pearly everlasting.

直接朝向珍珠永生花飛去。

We had to brush the butterflies off the plants

我們得把蝴蝶從植物上拂開， 才能把它們放到地上。

just to get them in the ground.

Now I know that it might be a shock for some of you to hear

我知道在座有些人可能會很訝異

聽到像我這樣的人會希望 昆蟲來吃我們的花園植物。

that people like me want insects eating our garden plants.

But even bugs we refer to as pests can be important for biodiversity.

但即使被我們稱為害蟲的蟲子

對生物多樣性也可能很重要。

Long ago at Brooklyn Bridge Park, our catalpa trees got covered in aphids.

很久以前，在布魯克林大橋公園， 我們的梓木上滿是蚜蟲。

They are a common garden pest

牠們是常見的花園害蟲，

that suck the sugary liquid out of leaves.

吸食葉子中的甜蜜液體。

People encouraged me to spray them with pesticides, but I didn't.

別人鼓勵我用殺蟲劑 噴牠們，但我沒這麼做。

And the following year we found the two-spotted lady beetle

隔年，

我們在梓樹上發現了兩隻二星瓢蟲。

on our catalpas.

This was the first sighting of this ladybug in New York City

這是三十年來首度在紐約市

in 30 years.

看到這種瓢蟲。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And the thing about them is that they eat those tiny aphids

牠們有個特點，那就是牠們 會吃掉梓樹上的小蚜蟲。

that are on our catalpas.

So if we had sprayed the trees,

如果我們對樹木噴灑殺蟲劑， 瓢蟲也會受到傷害。

we would have harmed the ladybugs as well.

Gardening is a long game.

園藝是場長期賽局。

With patience, we can return balance to these systems.

有耐心的話，我們可以 讓這些系統恢復平衡。

When we allow pests to live in our gardens,

當我們容許害蟲 生活在我們的花園中，

predators like ladybugs will soon move in.

像瓢蟲這類捕食性動物 很快就會搬進來。

By building up biodiversity,

透過建立生物多樣性，

pests are kept at bay.

就能遏制害蟲。

Most gardeners try to maintain these clean, sterile environments

大部分園藝家都會試圖 保持環境乾淨、無菌，

that are the exact opposite of what wildlife wants.

這與野生動物所想要的完全相反。

The more we can stop being tidy,

我們越能停止保持整潔，

the more wildness we can bring into our gardens and landscapes,

將越多的荒野特質 帶入我們的花園和景觀中，

the better habitat we provide.

我們就能提供越好的棲息地。

Wherever possible, we should stop mowing.

只要容許，就應該停止除草。

Why not get rid of your lawn?

為什麼還要留著你的草坪？

Or shrink it drastically.

不然就把它大幅縮小。

Lawns should be area rugs, not wall-to-wall carpet.

草坪應該是區域的小塊地墊， 而不是整片式的地毯。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Leaves that fall to the ground should be left there.

落在地上的葉子應該就留在那裡。

They're literally called leaves.

它們就是落葉，

We should leave them.

本該 “留” 落地上。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Bumblebees nest in those leaves, birds will forage in them,

大黃蜂會在那些樹葉中築巢，

鳥類會在樹葉中覓食， 蝴蝶也會在其中過冬。

and butterflies overwinter in them as well.

Seed heads can be sculptural while feeding the birds,

種子穗可以當作雕塑， 同時當鳥類的食物，

and old flower stems can be tucked away to allow tiny bees to nest in them.

而老的花莖可以收集起來， 讓小蜜蜂在其中築巢。

All of these practices create new looks for our gardens,

所有這些做法都會 為我們的花園創造新風貌，

but part of this work is changing our ideas of beauty.

但這項工作有一部分是在 改變我們對美麗的定義。

Traditional gardens were often about displaying control over nature.

傳統花園的重點通常是展示 對大自然的控制權。

But we no longer wear powdered wigs and hoop skirts.

但是我們已經不是在 十七、十八世紀了。

在做園藝設計時不需要獨裁主義。

We don't need to be authoritarian in our garden design.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And it's not all or nothing.

且這不是全有或全無的局面。

There's almost always space on our land where we can go a little wild.

我們的土地上幾乎總會 有空間可以讓我們狂野一下。

The rose mallow is this tropical-looking hibiscus

玫瑰木蜀葵是一種看起來 像熱帶槭樹的木槿，

that grows throughout eastern North America.

生長在整個北美東部各地。

The stems are often cut down by gardeners in spring,

在春天，園丁通常會把莖切下來，

but we left them up one year

但我們會把它們留一年，

because we found that there were a bunch of beneficial insects

因為我們發現一堆有益的昆蟲 會使用這些莖。

that used those stems.

And what we ended up with, I find absolutely stunning.

最終我們得到的，

我覺得絕對令人驚嘆。

It might not be a look for every garden,

它可能不是適合每種花園的外觀，

but certainly we can find space for it.

但我們肯定可以為它找到空間。

因為幾週後，

Because a few weeks later,

we found a song sparrow nest nestled in between those uncut stems.

我們發現了一個歌帶鵐的巢，

就在那些沒被切下來的莖之間。

And soon we had baby song sparrows hopping around outside of the garden.

很快地，小歌帶鵐 就在花園外面跳來跳去。

There's a direct link between that garden practice

這種園藝作法和一隻活生生的小鳥之間

and an actual baby bird.

有著直接的連結。

在現今擔心害怕的時期，

In these scary times,

it can be so hard to know what to do and how to help.

可能很難知道該怎麼做及如何幫忙。

But it feels great to cultivate life with your own two hands.

但能用自己的雙手 培育出生命的感覺很棒。

And there's an abundance of research now to show how beneficial gardening is

而且現在有大量的研究指出

園藝對我們的健康 甚至幸福感都很有益。

for our health and even our happiness.

Because we all deserve to live in a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

因為我們都值得生活在 一個健康蓬勃的生態系統中。

但更棒的是我們能成為 這些生態系統的一部分，

But it feels even better when we're part of those systems,

supporting the plants and pollinators around us

支持我們周圍的植物和傳粉昆蟲，

the way that they support us.

就如同它們支持我們一樣。

Like many of you,

和在座許多人一樣，

I am at times immobilized with climate grief,

我有時候會因氣候憂慮 而感到動彈不得，

thinking about the world that we're leaving for our children.

想著我們會留下什麼樣的 世界給我們的孩子。

But gardening, honestly, brings me so much hope

但是說實話，園藝帶給我好多希望，

that we can solve some very big,

覺得我們能夠解決一些 非常重大、非常嚴重的問題，

very serious problems, that we have the solutions already.

我們已經有解決方案了。

And many of them simply involve planting flowers.

且有許多解決方案都與種花有關。

Thank you so much.

非常謝謝。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌聲和歡呼）