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3.
The Boy Carver Statue
 Through
the trees, a statue of “The Boy Carver” rests serenely
in the woods. Perhaps in your mind’s eye you can catch a
glimpse of the young boy playing in his beloved woods,
caring for his plants, and exploring and discovering the
world around him.
George
was intensely curious about nature and wondered how and why
things behaved as they did.  He
wanted to know why the same soil could produce both red and
white flowers, and why some plants had fruit and others did
not. No one on this rural setting could answer his
questions. To find the answers young George realized he
would need an education. He would have to find the education
he longed for in some other place because the nearby school
in Diamond would not accept black students. After leaving
the Carver farm, in search of an education, George would
often experience discrimination and racism.
As you
walk toward the statue, imagine being a young child, full of
wonder, marveling at all you see and becoming aware of the
many different plants and animals, colors and patterns,
smells and sounds. As you become involved with the trail and
the life found around it, you may come to know some of the
joys and wonders that Carver felt as a child, being a part
of, not separated from, all that is around you. These
feelings stayed with George throughout his life, fueling his
quest for knowledge and understanding.
 Robert
Amendola sculpted this tribute to a young Carver in 1961.
The statue depicts George tenderly cradling a plant in his
left hand illustrating his life and respect for nature. It shows why, as a boy, he was called “the plant doctor.”
Before
crossing the bridge, please take the small side trail to The
Carver Spring. Using all your senses, acquaint yourself with
the things around you. Look and listen for the very small as
well as the large and obvious. See things not as separate
objects but as parts of the whole.
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