In 1996, many of the plants I had always known as wildflowers suddenly morphed into native plants. So what had changed? Not the plants themselves, of course, so it had to be me—the way I thought of them. What or who had prompted that change, and exactly what was my new perspective? “Our job is […]
last summer I rescued these babies from a bed I was being paid to weed, which once again perplexed me- how could someone consider these beauties weeds? not want green hearts and purple flowers in her bed of catnip and irises under the pink crepe myrtle? I brought them home thrown haphazardly into my 5-gallon […]
Long ago, somewhere in the eastern deciduous forests, the elements necessary to produce new plant species “realized” that, if they could just manage to grow, blossom, and set seed quickly enough, they could take advantage of several crucial things: the abundant sunshine that reaches the forest floor before the trees leaf out; the plentiful rains […]
I find the refreshing gifts of nature so helpful. Going to the porch and sitting out there in the sunshine, looking into the trees – especially the arborvitae now and in any season, and gazing at blooming trees and seeing their contrasts. Listening to the birds, appreciating the ever-changing sky, taking time to daydream, stretch, […]
Note from Linda: This essay is written by Rachel White, a board member of Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (FOMR) – Malheur is in eastern Oregon. Paul and Carol from Pennsylvania sent it to me writing that they had visited Malheur, enjoyed the refuge, signed up for their newsletter, and look forward to reading […]
Note from Linda: What about keeping a journal? A diary? A notebook? Is this something you want to do? Explore your connections to nature? Record your feelings, your emotions? Susan from central Illinois is sharing her latest journal page with all of us and giving us something to think about. There are several things I […]
The following poem is from the book Ten Second Rainshowers: Poems by Young People. The poems were compiled by Sanford Lyne and the book is illustrated by Virginia Halstead. Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – 1996. Carol from Pennsylvania sent this to me and also recommends this book to everyone. Sometimes children have […]
Stress hooks its claws into the brain creating false truths and unreal realities to confuse, to assault, to breaking point There’s no refuge in the past or future The only answer? Breathe. When thoughts spiral out of control like a jet plane on a fatal collision course there’s no respite and no saving grace. When […]