By: Taylor Brennan, Nature Educator
Next time you are touring your garden, walking on wooded trails, or exploring a beachside scenery, look for immaculate swirling patterns. These can be found in the center of a sunflower, a snail’s shell, the base of an unopened pinecone, and seen as a fern just begins to unfurl its leaves. On a larger scale, this symmetry in nature can be viewed as we track hurricanes from an aerial view or when we see snapshots of wandering galaxies in the universe.
This sensation is no coincidence. This almost-artistic expression in nature and the cosmos is known as the Fibonacci Sequence, a mathematical formula that has been around for millennia. Although there is speculation on when this formula was first created, many historians agree it was developed between the 2nd and 3rd centuries by an Indian mathematician, Pingala. It was later adapted and popularized by the Italian mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci in the 13th century. Interestingly enough, Leonardo Fibonacci used this formula to discover patterns in rabbit breeding. The outcome of offspring from rabbits are parallel to the numbers used in the Fibonacci sequence. When graphing this formula, the next number is equal to the sum of the two numbers before it. For example, 1+1=2, 2+3=5. The beginning of this formula consists of the digits 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21, so on and so forth. When these numbers are laid out on a tiled graph, they create a perfectly symmetrical swirl, connecting all outer edges of each tile as these numbers become larger.
The Fibonacci Sequence reminds me that all things in nature are interconnected in many wonderful ways. Not only do many flowers, vegetables, trees, and animals share the same earthly elements, but they also, more often than not, share similar mathematical building blocks. This creates a commonality in how nature forms, grows, and presents itself throughout its lifetime. By observing these shared spirals, I find a common tie between all walks of life: plants, natural landforms, weather systems, and beyond.
As a nature and wildlife photographer, I am constantly looking for the aesthetic behind lighting, angles, and what will capture my audience’s attention. However, truly questioning the ‘pretty circles’ I often noticed in the way waves rolled onto shore encouraged me to dig deeper. This led to my discovery of the ‘why’ behind so many of these reoccurring geometric phenomena. Once I found this symmetry in nature, I was determined to find the Fibonacci spiral in the many things I frequently photograph in the natural world. This changed my mindset to develop an ever-growing intimacy with all the beauty that surrounds me.
Spring and summer are great times to venture out and search for evidence of the Fibonacci Sequence in your backyard or wherever you explore. Flipping over logs and finding millipedes has a new meaning as their bodies are coiled up, recreating the Fibonacci pattern without them realizing. Now, when I garden, I see the Fibonacci sequence present itself when my cabbages start coming up. The way in which these large leaves circle around themselves and meet seamlessly in the middle of the plant amaze me. In flowerbeds, the twisted folds of Gerber Daisy petals right when they bloom share the same mathematical qualities as the cabbage getting ready to be eaten in my garden. Pulling weeds and finding a sleeping snail under a leaf reminds me to slow down to notice even the smallest of details, including the Fibonacci sequence evidence on its shell. When I take a short break from gardening, I often spot this symmetry in nature when scanning trees as well. All too often, I witness red squirrels and gray squirrels perched on a branch with their tails curled upward behind them, creating that all-too-familiar pattern.
This mindful perspective has allowed my eyes to follow the Fibonacci sequence along each ridge, bump, and curve I find, seeing connections between all.
Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature. ACNC is located just east of Route 62 between Warren and Jamestown. The trails are open from dawn to dusk and birds of prey can be viewed anytime the trails are open. The Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily except Sunday when it opens at 1 p.m. More information can be found online at auduboncnc.org or by calling (716) 569-2345.
Featured image: Photo by Ryann Wilcox
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