Your final words - the perfect call to action and a sound reason to justify our existence as nature writers I reckon. I’m always looking for reassurance that writing about nature is a worthwhile pursuit when so many other are actually ‘doing’ something to save this planet of ours, and your words are another reminder that writing is a powerful action in itself. Thank you ☺️
What I admire about plants is their patience and persistence. They just keep on keepin’ on, quietly and patiently year after year after year. If they are not happy they move on and relinquish their space to someone new. Plants are chill. I think I’d like to be a plant.
A few years ago we spent an afternoon in Republic, WA at the Stonerose fossil site. It's lake sediment deposits from Eocene upland lakes, ~35-55 MYA. It's mostly preserved plant debris- leaves, twigs, etc.
Very recognizable maple and hemlock types. For a small fee you get a rock hammer and collection bag. They get first dibs on any unusual fossils.
I am similarly moved by plants. I wonder if you've read Doug Tallamy's book: Nature's Best Hope and the following one: The Nature of Oaks. These are inspiring books and bring forward the big topic of local plants which host the larvae of local insects which feed the nestlings of local birds. No native plants, with a few exceptions, no baby food. A baby bottle for a baby bird looks a lot like a caterpillar, and, in fact is a caterpillar, and the like, and little else. Local insects generally can't digest the leaves of plants from somewhere else. They didn't evolve to do so in the arms race between plants and animals. On the flip side, plants from somewhere else neglect to bring their insects along when we move them here. Thanks.
I'm having a little trouble keeping up with your book recommendations. It's a good problem. Somewhat alleviated by the fact that I am now 7th in line for "Klamath Knot" from spl.org.
Your final words - the perfect call to action and a sound reason to justify our existence as nature writers I reckon. I’m always looking for reassurance that writing about nature is a worthwhile pursuit when so many other are actually ‘doing’ something to save this planet of ours, and your words are another reminder that writing is a powerful action in itself. Thank you ☺️
This is a great piece. I totally relate to it.
What I admire about plants is their patience and persistence. They just keep on keepin’ on, quietly and patiently year after year after year. If they are not happy they move on and relinquish their space to someone new. Plants are chill. I think I’d like to be a plant.
A few years ago we spent an afternoon in Republic, WA at the Stonerose fossil site. It's lake sediment deposits from Eocene upland lakes, ~35-55 MYA. It's mostly preserved plant debris- leaves, twigs, etc.
Very recognizable maple and hemlock types. For a small fee you get a rock hammer and collection bag. They get first dibs on any unusual fossils.
Highly recommended!
Have you read Loren Eiseley's essay, "How Flowers Changed the World" in his book, The Immense Journey? It's a marvelous imagining of plant evolution.
I have but many years ago. I'll track it down again. Thanks for the suggestion.
I am similarly moved by plants. I wonder if you've read Doug Tallamy's book: Nature's Best Hope and the following one: The Nature of Oaks. These are inspiring books and bring forward the big topic of local plants which host the larvae of local insects which feed the nestlings of local birds. No native plants, with a few exceptions, no baby food. A baby bottle for a baby bird looks a lot like a caterpillar, and, in fact is a caterpillar, and the like, and little else. Local insects generally can't digest the leaves of plants from somewhere else. They didn't evolve to do so in the arms race between plants and animals. On the flip side, plants from somewhere else neglect to bring their insects along when we move them here. Thanks.
I'm having a little trouble keeping up with your book recommendations. It's a good problem. Somewhat alleviated by the fact that I am now 7th in line for "Klamath Knot" from spl.org.