Healing Butterfly Garden Brings Beauty and Education to Mott | UofMHealthBlogs.org.
A nice story about a lovely new addition to the health system campus. Here’s more about how it came about:
Butterfly garden explodes in color for U-M Health System patients, staff (Detroit Free Press)
I’ll have more to share about the trip, and more photos, but this at least is the start of a blog reboot going into 2013
Those of you who share my interest in making backyards and other suburban spaces wildlife-friendly will enjoy this photo series from the New York Times, Species Close to Home. Times readers from around the world sent in photos of interesting or unusual animals they saw in their backyards. Some photos are wonderful photography and all share a love of animals and nature.
I took these photos in June, but the same hot and heavy weather is still with us. I imagine I can see the heat being gently exhaled by the earth and water behind us, rising up to surround everything and everyone outside.
I had a great time observing the not-again-in-my-lifetime Transit of Venus earlier this month. The Detroit Observatory is just a couple of blocks from my office, so as well as seeing the transit, I also made a much-overdue visit there and saw the historic telescope.
I’ve long resisted entering my observations in eBird. Too much trouble, too restrictive a format, and I don’t need all those fields – I just want a record of what species I’ve seen. Only compulsive listers would keep records that intense.
What’s changed my mind? Partly practical considerations: Birdstack has closed, and I haven’t found listing software for the Mac that I like. Partly a belief that the world around us is changing as a result of human behavior, and that it’s important to address that change with a positive, effective response.
The article that inspired this post, Early Bloomers, was in today’s New York Times online. A thoughtful piece, referencing and comparing Thoreau’s observations in the 1850′s with current bloom times and local species to reflect on the changes that come with urbanization and climate change.
The authors of the Times article,RICHARD B. PRIMACK, ABRAHAM J. MILLER-RUSHING, and BECCA STADTLANDER, note “Despite their dramatic cumulative effects over the last 160 years, these changes would be largely imperceptible without the biological yardstick Thoreau’s records provide.”
While I might wish to write like Thoreau, a more achievable goal is to provide a record of what I observe in a less literary form. I’m honored that eBird wants my data. In addition to not being a poet or essayist, I’m neither scientist nor expert birder. The memory of what I’ve seen and loved in the natural world would vanish without a trace. However, even if I can’t preserve the poetry, I can do this small thing to preserve the world.
Big, slow flakes swirling around rewind me of snow globes. This must be what it’s like to be inside one, except the snow doesn’t get recycled. And nobody’s shaking our world.
Big bird gets cold feet.
You’ve heard of “water off a duck’s back”? Snow doesn’t think it’s water.
Not the flowers – this photo was taken back in August – but me, defying the gray days by showing the bright orange petals overcoming the drab background.
Despite the snow, there’s open water in the wetland. Two pair of mallards are hanging out. Not exactly the first robin of spring, but this time of year they are the most interesting birds on the block.
It’s hard to know what to write here. One month ago, I thought I was slowing down the number of posts on Wrenaissance for a while. I thought I was going to the Midwest Birding Symposium as an official blogger. I thought I had an overly busy and heavily scheduled life.
One of my favorite quotes is “Life is what happens while you’re making plans.” Life happened. Out of nowhere, the sudden illness and death of an immediate family member has set us reeling.
I’ve had a longer break from blogging than I expected. I missed going to the MBS, let alone blogging it. My schedule is in tatters, and obligations are unmet.
So I sit here, and for a change I have no plan for blogging, for birding, or for the rest of my life’s affairs.
I don’t know how often I’ll be posting here, or what my content will be. For a time, I need to stop thinking, stop planning, and let life happen.
Updated January 8, 2012
Thank you to those who sent private comments or emails while I’ve been off line. Your kind words and encouragement are much appreciated, and they have helped more than you know.
I’m going to continue in a low-maintenance mode for the foreseeable future, including moving back to blogger (wrenaissance.blogspot.com) and sharing primarily through less involved platforms such as Google plus. We’ll see where that leads.
It’s been great doing this. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve gotten to know some terrific people. I hope I’ll still see you out and about in cyberspace.
