"A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though, to the outer ear, these trees are now silent, their songs never cease." ~ John Muir A Timely Return It's been a month shy of 3 years since I last posted on this blog. I didn't really mean to be absent this long but one thing led to another and time escaped faster than a kid chasing an ice cream truck! I'm inspired to write and photograph again and it only seemed fitting I restart this on Resurrection Day. It's His creation I love to explore and it's coming to life this month! Let's see what we can find! Put Nature Preserves on Your Adventure List If you are tired of the crowds and the familiar trails of a state park or there isn't one … [Read more...] about Return: To Bring Back To A Former Place
Spring
Our Pandemic Spring Walk
'Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.' ~ John Muir Like most Americans, we've been sheltering-in-place at home for 2 months during the Coronavirus pandemic. One way we've not gone stir crazy is to get outside. Last Sunday we spent the sunny afternoon bushwhacking off trail through a local university-owned forest open to the public. The forest is used for research and outdoor labs for courses. At the beginning of our hike we found 10-15 nesting boxes newly installed about 10 feet off the ground. I'm told by a professor in the forestry department they are for a long-term study on flying squirrels. The Wonder of Wildflowers Spring wildflowers were in their glory all through the … [Read more...] about Our Pandemic Spring Walk
“Yes it could be, it surely could be, something special just for me!”
That's a line 'little Winthrop' (aka Ronnie Howard) sings in musical The Music Man and it describes exactly how I feel about Spring. April and May are my #1 favorite months of the year. With late snows and cold temperatures in the 1st week of April, Winter has held it's tight-fisted grip on us for an extra long time but the final finger has been peeled back and Spring is finally bursting out. Even though the general landscape doesn't seem any different, if you look closely, you'll see little signs of a new season popping up here and there. What are the typical signs you look for? Spring beauties, crocuses, and daffodils blooming, bluebirds scouting out a nesting box and the sandhill cranes flying overhead are some of my favorites. See the bee in the photo below? The presence of insects is another signal … [Read more...] about “Yes it could be, it surely could be, something special just for me!”
And Then Spring Whispered
John Steinbeck wrote “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” Well . . . this year, warm weather will be mighty sweet! Enter the Lion Winter keeps knocking at the door. From the early December grey chill to the many subzero temperatures mid-winter to the late snow this spring, we have endured a very long and very cold winter. March arrived like a lion with biting winds and the coldest temperatures on record since 1879! Most folks around here are aching for the spring warmth and sunshine to come once again. But sometimes the wait is all the sweeter. This is what we woke up to on St. Patrick's Day! It was one of the most beautiful snowfalls we've had this winter season. The flakes of snow were gigantic and they quickly covered every twig. Our walk … [Read more...] about And Then Spring Whispered