Blogs about: Nature

The best in Nature-related posts from around the WordPress.com community, updated daily.

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A different knowhow
The ancient eavesdropper

Nobody ‘knows’ Nature. Humans are more aware of themselves, yet through some superiority complex, they believe to understand the inner workings of every other life. A hummingbird does not keep track of its heartbeats or check to see how many calories it burned between birdbaths - weight and health are superstitious ghosts, born to another brain child. Nor does it repeatedly peer at a thermometer to plan ahead for foul weather. Its long beak sips nectar without comprehending chemistry, while its wings jet from point A to B without the slightest idea about Newton’s gravity or the physics of flight. So too, the sun has no knowledge of our planet or its inhabitants millions of miles away in space. Its solar flares do not care about the beauty of aurora borealis nor hear complaints about discombobulated satellite telecommunication dishes. Yet, all creatures are linked across an invisible ether, survival and home hard-wired into a different knowhow. These genes speak in ton

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The One That Got Away
Flies Over Nebraska

Every fisherman has this story… now I do too. Fishing Wildwood Lake Tuesday was a great experience. Not too breezy, not too sunny. Alone on my float tube, I slowly worked down the bank; casting to shore and slowly pulling the line back in. The only sounds were those of the lake, the chirp of a song birds, the occasional cacophony of geese across the lake, and the occasional splashing of a crappie or bluegill pulled to hand. Nirvana. Exactly why I enjoy about being on the water. Until one cast; which was not unlike any other of that day. That is until the gentle tug at the end of the line. Even the strike was nothing special. Instincts took over as a set the hook and started trying to pull the fish in by hand. Only this fish didn’t move toward me. It started heading the other way. There is no second guessing when you have a nice fish on the end of your line. Your rod doubles over in a way that is unmistakable. The fish goes on a run and starts pulling line through your hand.

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Lazy Sunday’s
Ramblings of Lealdade

Give me a lazy SundayWhere I can layUnder a sky that’s blueAnd contemplate what’s trueAgainst what is but a pretense,So that I can pay recompenseTo the girl within who has run a mileBy sitting, and just stopping a while. I wish to curl up with a bookAnd soak in the calm, beside a brookWhich glitters in the light.Or perhaps spend my nightsCounting the twinkling starsAs above me they watch downOver us, clouded in a twilight gown. Give me a lazy SundayWhere I can think, and waste awayAll the if’s, and what’s, and how’sThat stop me living here and now.Where I can close my eyes and soakIn all of life’s wonders until I am brokeIn the best possible style,By sitting, and stopping a while.

5月の庭 10
La rose anglaise et le trench-coat

Lupine(ルピナス)開花中 裏庭にはメインカラーの白のルピナス2株、前庭には紫と赤の3株。あれ?もう1株あったはずがなくなってます。 2007年に我が庭に迎えて以来、特に手間をかけなくても毎年花を咲かせてくれていたのに1株が知らないうちになくなってしまっているなんて。 我が前庭は現在オダマキがかなり勢力を誇っており、特にピンク色のルピナスはかなり押され気味。ルピナスは移植を嫌うようなのでオダマキを移植させるしかない。 前庭の白色オダマキを、白がメインカラーの裏庭に移植するのが良いと思い立ち、白色のオダマキ3株を裏庭へ移植。その後には変なところで育っている小さなオダマキを移植。 Allium(アリウム)2種開花中 ギガンチウム・アリウム(写真右上)は分球でドンドン増える中、手前のアリウム(名前失念)は年々数が減っていき、2株を残すのみとなりました。そういえば、小さい青色のアリウムも最近見ないな・・・。 裏庭で庭仕事をしている時、私の周りで妙に鳥がさえずっているのに気がつきました。前庭で卵を産んだものと同じ種類。今までそれ程気にも留めていなかった鳥なのに、一度認識されると妙に気がつくものだなと思っていると、何とそこに巣が!雛が! 自意識ではなくて本当に鳥がいつもよりいたのですね。そして威嚇されていたのですね、私。前庭のカップルに比べ大家族の裏庭の鳥達。巣の中には4羽の雛と、周りには雛を守ろうとする5羽以上の成鳥。 予想した通り、その日のうちに無事巣立っていきました。全ての雛が巣立った後には巣を破壊していきました。では、また来年! (May 2013)

Mr. Bug On Our Railing
The B0ltBl0g

Hi everyone, I can’t admit to being a bug lover, sorry to say!  I do love red lady bugs and butterflies but that’s about it. However, this little guy came by to say hello, so what else could I do but pull out the macro lens?! If anyone knows what his name is, feel free to comment and share. Enjoy! Mr. Bug In ProfileMr. Bug’s Beautiful BackMr. Bug’s Mug

The beauty of Flowers
daisygnome's Blog

  As I sat down with my carmel frappe this morning looking through all the images I captured of flowers. I was thinking about how flowers bring out that beauty in life and enhance our senses . ” The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” ~ Hanna Rion  Each flower brings its own set of colors to the world and somehow works together with other flowers and nature to complete a portrait of breathtaking wonders.

If Only We Learn to Listen…
Source Reflections

My garden is a wheel Its hub a light reflecting amethyst Its rows concentric circles Wheels inside of wheels inside of wheels The spoke paths connect The innermost wheel To the outermost wheel Like a medicine wheel I spoke to the Devas of Nature They told me what to do I listened carefully taking notes And followed their instructions as best I could They pointed me to the exact spot And the shape that it would be They told me its dimensions And the distance between each row. They told me what to plant And which species should be neighbors I co-created with Nature What could be more fun than that? The invitation awaits you Listen to the Nature Spirits They want to help you, too Perelandra will show you the way. I am a part of Nature Why should anyone doubt That I can communicate with myself To learn the purpose of my land Co-creation is the key To working hand in hand Nature moves through us Bringing balance to our lives If only we learn to listen…

For this sickly lion, his dachshund friend makes an awesome dental hygenist
OK, This Is Awesome

Bonedigger and Milo have been best friends ever since Bonedigger was born at the GW Zoo five years ago.  Poor Bonedigger has a metabolic bone disease that’s left him crippled, and brave Milo has taken up the mantle of protecting and caring for him.  Aren’t animals the awesomest?

Exploring our Little part of the World
Not A City Girl Any More !

We   went on the hike down the creek that ended with waterfalls. I gave the ending away on my Wordless Wednesday. I just had to post the pick of BabyGirl and Midnight looking at them when we first arrived there at the falls. The hike there was just awesome and we all had a great time. It was about 1  1/2 miles up the creek to the falls. We rested on a ledge by the falls and had our lunch and while everyone else was in the heat we had Mother Natures air conditioning. We started out about 11 am and ended at 4:30 pm for the entire hike and spending time at the falls.  I discovered Midnight could swim as some parts of the creek were deep enough for swimming and of coarse catching little fish and chasing floating sticks.  (next blog will be about the sticks. I didn’t post some pictures involving sticks because that is a whole other blog to write ) BabyGirl looking for the little fish. I noticed her scooping water in her mouth and discovered she was trying to scoop fish. A look ahead o

Savoring Spring
Deep in the Heart of Textiles

Here on the Gulf Coast, we usually only get about two days of Spring before jumping straight into six months of “Sauna,” but this spring we have had two months of absolutely lovely weather!  (High temps in the 70s, lows in the 50s or 60s.)  I don’t know if different animals are around because of the nice weather here, or if I’ve just seen more because I’ve just been outside more, but I have gotten some good pictures this spring and I thought I’d share. I would never have noticed this female summer tanager, if I hadn’t seen the male fly right over to her. Harper’s barking brought me over to see this Gulf Coast box turtle. It may spend its whole life in an area the size of a football field! My husband held down this coral snake (gently) just long enough for me to get a picture – then we let it go. The pollinators are out. I have a huge crop of volunteer sunflowers, and the bees are taking advantage of them. The prickly pear are bloomi

Friday Fun: Neature Walk
The Jim Snyder Way

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, here’s an “informational” nature walk video for all you outdoorsy type.

Earth Shaking
WriteNRant

We find ourselves lost in the expressions of our minds. There is no recourse. Volcanic reaction. The recompense of tidal waves stewing, the ache of a pulse deep within the earth. She breaths the fire that suffocates her and lingers on the aftertaste of some bitter sweet long since sour. This is fallout the discourse of love, the chemical reaction which soothes the crust until foundations have cooled. It expands away at the island we thought needed company and creates space for the illusion of guests better left uninvited. The island, a land mass anchored ashore. It is the prison she built herself. And when the tidal waves come, there is no defense. Vulnerable, unguarded, open for attack. They rape and pillage the peace of mind she once had. No thought goes astray without the wave. Splitting the earth, it all falls through the cracks. Lightening divides the sky and so in suit the land follows lay ruined. Let it be known that this is the tomb of the stratified, the divided.

TGIF – What are you grateful for today?
Cloaked Monk's Blog

I am grateful for wonderful people that come around and walk with me for a spell. It seems like the chaplaincy work is on the cusp of an explosion and I am working hard to keep the threads in my hands. For the new people that are joining and bring new excitement and energy, I give thanks! Lester, Carolyn, Mari, Emily, Natasha, Tsukina, Jeff, Matt, and Kaitlyn. For the people who have been walking me that are getting excited about a new vision, I give thanks! Lisa, Joe, Velena, Michael, Zach, and Benny. What are you grateful for today? “Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” ~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables   This Old EarthFerns always make me think of dinosaurs!   #TGIF #gratitude #grateful #spiritualpractice #TGIFriday

I Need Your Advice…
thought blossom

I am hoping to submit some photos to a local gallery and I need your advice on which photos to submit. The title of the exhibit is “In Bloom,” and aims to feature photos that highlight the delicate beauty of flowers: Show us your most sensual works exploring flower power.  Rapturous still life images; the bloom on the vine, the bud in the vase.  Floral portraiture ever-nuanced, ever-growing. Humans bloom like flora and fauna; the girl on the cusp of womanhood, a boy breaching the threshold to manhood. Romance us with your interpretations of this tenuous beauty, these arrangements of organic sensuality. So to all of my wonderful followers, I would love your input on which photos catch your eye the most. Please comment on the post to let me know which ones are your favorites. I trust all of your artistic opinions! Thanks so much! -Nicole  

For The Birds: Rescue Mission
MingoMomma

Yesterday, while spending some time outside with my kiddos, we encountered a little bird acting very strangely.  It was trying to fly, but was unable to.  It was also unable to stand upright and kept falling backwards.  I was immediately concerned that this bird might have a broken wing or leg, but upon inspection of the wings and feet, I found that they seemed to be fine.  I am not a vet or an expert, but the bird seemed to be moving its wings without problems, and was able to grip with its claws and move its legs.  So why was this little bird unable to stand or fly? I put the bird, which I believe was a Wood Thrush, on a soft towel in a box with air holes.  The box was actually a Build-A-Bear box my son found for me to use.  So sweet of him to donate his box.  I called the Wildlife Rehabilitators who referred me to a vet in Charleston who cares for wild animals.  I drove over an hour to take this bird to the vet.  I had a bit of a let down when they just took the bird to the back wit

Spines of a Mexican Old Man
pkphotooftheday

Hi Everyone! I planted this cactus as a tiny seedling and now, every time I get near it, “Ouch!” The Old Man has lovely white hair. PK

How Wild Parsnip Can Cause Burns
Survivor Medic

Although the taproot of the parsnip is edible, other parts of the plant are known to cause irritation of the skin. This condition, technically called phytophotodermatitis, is more commonly known as “parsnip burns.” Since this plant has essentially become naturalized in Wisconsin and in many other parts of the country, and being that you’re likely to encounter it, knowing how it can cause injury is important. The first thing that you need to know is that there are chemicals inside the parsnip plant known as furocoumarins. If these chemicals get onto your skin, and then you are exposed to ultraviolet light, then you will be affected. This is not an allergic reaction and it is not the same as what happens after exposure to poison ivy or poison sumac. It’s as simple as that. If you get the juice from inside the plant onto your skin and then stay in the sun, then you WILL experience this reaction. The furocoumarins, when exposed to the ultraviolet light from the sun,