I wonder if the bobcat will visit. I wonder if I want him to visit. I have entered nature’s world and left the human world behind for this brief respite. I am residing in a grove of aspens and the intermingling of the wind and their leaves are trying to tell me something which feels scary. I look around to see if the bobcat my neighbor saw this summer in these woods is lurking. Then I wonder if this fear is due to not feeling fully welcome here in the woods. Similar to how one feels when they are new in a group. I ask the wilds around me for permission to be here. In the human world I would not abruptly push into and begin to engage with a group of people I didn’t know. So, I ask again, “Is it OK to be here?” It feels as though the younger trees, not as wise in their knowing approve, but the older, wiser trees are not as sure. They have seen the destruction man brings to the world and they wonder what my motives are. I tell them I come in peace, I will not harm them.
I see three aspens
grouped together in a circle, a family, originating I bet from the same root
stock and spreading out while sheltering one another. It takes close proximity
to be able to offer care and support. There is an oak near this circle, the
aspens serve as pioneer trees in this woodlot, they being the first trees to
come in and get this forest started, while the oaks with their longevity follow
and create the foundation for the long haul. What tools do we humans have for
the long haul aside from one another? Are we putting things in place which will
help sustain us into our future generations? This ability to provide for the
future is being played out all around me here in this forest.
There are many white
pines sprinkled throughout here, their soft leaved bundles attached to yielding
branches providing shelter to animals during the long cold winter. When all else feels
stark and lacking, the pines offer warmth. Providing this haven takes a toll on
the pine, especially when its branches are laden with heavy snow, pulling its
branches downward, appearing to make it difficult for the tree to continue
standing, reminding me providing shelter comes at a cost.
The sun has just barely
broken above the treetops to my west, straining to break through the clouds
offering warmth on this cold morning, telling me light is available just around
the corner. It is amazing how loud the tree’s voices become with just a little
bit of wind, aspens being the loudest as they quake and tremble. Are they
trying to tell me something I currently find it impossible to know? Could I
learn their language and thus gain their wisdom if I were to sit here long enough?
The ground at my feet is
covered with colorful yet fading leaves that have fallen, ready to break down
and nourish the soil as life continues. When nature journaling, I find
sometimes writing helps me to think and process and other times just sitting
quietly without writing brings on the thoughts.
I left the house this
morning putting coat over my pajamas as I wanted and needed to get away. I
followed my instincts which led me to this spot in the woods next to my house.
It is quite amazing how this forest manages its beauty all on its own. It does
not need humans to oversee it with our use of chemicals, chainsaws and leaf
blowers. If anything, there is much we need to learn from nature in how to care
for our Earth. If we could learn to shift away from nature destruction
practices and embrace instead nature loving ways, I bet this forest would be
more receptive to receiving me here in the woods. Understanding that I desire
to honor her wisdom on how to live in the world.
With these thoughts,
here are some great books which discuss the use of native trees and plants in
your landscape I would highly recommend:
Attracting Native
Pollinators, Xerces Society
Natural Landscaping,
Sally Roth
Gardening with Prairie plants,
Sally Wasowski
The American Woodland
Garden, Rick Darke
Gaia’s Garden, Toby Hemenway
Principles of Ecological
Landscape Design, Travis Beck
Bringing Nature Home,
Douglas Tallamy
Noah’s Garden, Sara
Stein
Planting Noah’s Garden,
Sara Stein
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