Fiskar’s Project Orange ThumbCreative SubmissionHaddonfield Child CareHaddonfield, NJ

“In an inter-galactic exchange program, an alien is sent to Earth to learn of our ways. The United Nations chooses you to explain how gardening makes you feel. Express it non-verbally because, of course, he doesn't speak your language.”

What do aliens already know about plants?

Being more technologically advanced, they probably have already formed an opinion of our plant life based on intercepting television transmissions, which, since they travel at the speed of light, have traveled 81 light years out into space.

What have they been watching?

• Anything transmitted for television, including movies, situation comedies, televangelists and even the Home Shopping Club!

• How have plants been portrayed in movies and TV?

Little Shop of Horrors

• Two versions, one in 1960 and one in 1986, both shown on TV many times, usually in

the middle of the night

Is that Jack Nicholson?

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

• Possibly a favorite among insomniac aliens, filmed in 1978.

• Alien fans of “Tomatoes” will be glad to know that a remake is in progress for 2009.

Day of the Triffids

• The big screen version was filmed in 1963, with a BBC remake in 1981. Now these were plants!

Batman and Robin, 1997

• More recently, Uma Thurman played “Poison Ivy” in Batman & Robin.

• Other B movies featuring “plant” life….

How do we convince them that plants are harmless, and beautiful?

We could use poetry……..

• To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.

• ……William Blake

He may not understand the words, but he could feel the emotion and rhythm…..

• …or show pictures of beautiful gardens and flowers…..

…but maybe the best way is to let him experience a meadow…….