Allure of the Sea
So, what is this allure of the sea? Well, for one thing, the sea is usually blue or green or turquoise—all soothing colors. The blue color gives a sense of coolness and calms the mind. Research shows that it is the world’s (people in the world) favorite color. That’s interesting to me because so much of the world is covered in blue water, and of course, blue sky. Green is restful to the eye and provides a sense of balance – a sense of peace. Turquoise, as you might expect, seems to follow along the lines of blue and green as far as the feelings people associate with it. It also may instill an increase in energy.
Redwood Trees and Sea Oats
A redwood tree can grow up to be 300 feet tall and more than 20 feet in diameter. Just as an aside, they capture more carbon dioxide than any other tree on earth. They need a lot of space.
Sea Oats, on the other hand, grow up to around 6 feet tall at maturity and have leaves around 2 feet long. It tolerates salt spray, grows near the ocean shore, and is vital in shoreline stabilization.
Blue Whales and Sea Otters
Blue whales are the largest animal on the planet. They can grow to over 100 feet long and weigh up to 130 tons (260,000 pounds). At birth, a blue whale calf is around 23 feet long and will weigh 5,000 to 6,000 pounds. They need a lot of space. On the other hand, an adult sea otter grows to 4 or 5 feet and weighs around 100 pounds. When the mothers dive for food, they tie their babies into kelp to ensure that they will not float away (just a fun observation).
Plants with Green Leaves – Photosynthesis
In the simplest terms green plants undergo photosynthesis. This is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, (that humans, for instance, exhale in every breath), releasing oxygen in the process to create energy for themselves in the form of sugar. This is not a bad deal for us humans and other oxygen-breathing organisms on the planet. In fact, it is quite a remarkable reciprocal relationship between plants and animals.
As an aside, many of the plants that use this process to make food for themselves, (for instance vegetable crops and fruit trees), are ultimately providing food that we humans and other animals depend on to survive.
