When I think of Fort Worth, natural beauty is not the first thing that comes to mind. Before this semester, I only knew a couple of places nearby where you could find some nature in the midst of the metroplex. However, in our trips to the nature center and in subsequent adventures to find more wilderness, I have discovered that I simply was not looking hard enough for nature.
Finding nature in the city like Eiseley has done in his writings is fun, but in my experience, it is not fun if that is your only interaction with nature. I need an outlet where I can be completely on my own in the middle of nature without any sign of civilization in sight. That connection with nature is so much purer when I can be away from others and truly soak in the nature around me. That is a big reason why I’m moving to Denver after graduation, and it was important for me to find a place like this in Fort Worth.
While it may not be as immersive an experience as a national park, the Fort Worth Nature Center offers a lot of fun outdoor activities that I look forward to enjoying a lot more in my last semester here on campus. After volunteering for as long as we did, I feel like I have seen a lot of the area, and it does offer a great way to experience nature without driving too far from campus. With the wildlife there, it offers a great chance to just sit and observe, deepening that connection with nature.
That connection can also be felt at Benbrook Lake. Watching the water move has a calming effect. It helps me to realize the world is more than what is going on in my life and that there is quite literally more beneath the surface, with creatures poking up from the surface every once in a while to remind me that they had not disappeared. Seeing the sun set and observing the stars come out felt magical, like a whole different side of the world had finally gotten the courage to show itself.
The botanical gardens, despite being right next to a major road, offer a great escape from the city. The Japanese garden is one of my favorite spots because it encourages a meditative state. With water features, beautiful plants, and even a zen sandbox, it feels like a chance to connect with the living things there and center myself on what is happening in the present, leaving all worries aside.
Fort Worth definitely has natural beauty. You just have to be looking for it.
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