Nature's Jigsaw Puzzles

 

Nature’s Jigsaw Puzzles

I love doing jigsaw puzzles. Recently, I was given a thousand-piece puzzle that showed lots of birds, which I also love. There were robins, cardinals, hummingbirds, bluejays, and sparrows all enjoying the field of wildflowers that was the puzzle’s background. So colorful. I sat down and got to work.

The puzzle wasn’t easy. It took me lots of days to finish but while I was working on it, my backyard seemed to have its own bird puzzle. There were robins flocking on the birdbath out back looking for a drink. A bluejay flapped them away so it could take a bath. Crows piled onto the grass, cawing as they searched for seeds. I heard chirping as I put the pieces into their right places, which felt like the real birds were encouraging me to work on the puzzle.

I am letting the finished puzzle stay on my dining room table for a while where I can see it when I walk through the house. I appreciate getting the bird puzzle as well as Mother Nature’s actual variety of birds. Both are gifts that I value and enjoy.

Tulips on a Tree

 

I have always loved tulips. The flowers bring Spring to mind and they have a charming look to them. But I wasn’t aware that they could grow on trees until my sister asked me if I would like to have a tulip tree for my backyard. She said that while it was beautiful, it dropped flowers into her backyard pool.  

I was delighted. It was planted toward the back of my house and after a brief season of acclimating to its new yard, put out flowers each Spring. That was many years ago and the tree has been producing more and more flowers each year.

There are things to consider when planting a tulip tree, though. It grows TALL. It overlooks much of our backyard. And my sister was right; the beautiful flowers eventually lose their petals which spread far and wide over everything. Still, I am delighted to have it in our yard and am grateful that it comes abundantly back each Spring.

Tulip trees produce beautiful flowers:

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-tulip-trees-2132098

 

Bee-side Our Window

Last Spring we noticed that we had bees flying near our front door. They seemed interested in the bushes by our front windows. One bee in particular seemed to be the most aggressive – to other bees, not to us, thank goodness. I had even named it as I watched it flitter around. It was chasing away any other bees that came by.

Well, the bushes are beginning to flower again and Bebe is back! It seems to have even more energy than last year. It is there when I open the door but it isn’t threatening. It keeps its distance as I watch it discourage any other bees that seem interested in the bushes. The strange thing is that I don’t see any nest in the bushes. What is it protecting? Last year we checked the gutters but they were clean, as they are this year.

By now I expect to see Bebe greeting me in the morning. The buzz gets a smile as I open the front door – a delightful way to start the day!

A Natural Path

There are so many natural paths close to where I live. Some are township properties, others are privately owned but open to the public. They often include waterways that add a peaceful element to the surrounding walkways.

As Winter changes to Spring, the colors start to emerge and plants blossom to make a walk even more delightful. Others seemed to be enjoying the path we recently discovered as well. We took a gentle walk on this pleasant day and let nature embrace us with beauty and peace.

I find this activity so simple and calming that I like to do it often during the nice weather. And each season nature invites us to share in the changes, to see the variety that exists naturally. I hope that everyone has access to a calming place, a space to take a deep breath and let go of any worries.    

 

Our Senses

                                                         Our Senses

It might only be February but I am already feeling the coming of Spring. My five senses are being awakened by nature. I see the pigeons gathering in flocks on wires, trees and roofs. I hear the squirrels stamping across the roof when I awaken early in the morning. I smell skunks as I drive through my neighborhood and pass a couple charging across the street. I am delighted by the gentle feel of the buds on the plants starting to open their flowers. And I can almost taste the mint that grows automatically in my tiny vegetable garden.

But I discovered that we might have more senses than we know. We are attuned to our world in many ways. We interact even when we aren’t aware that we’re doing it. Perhaps if we understand that we are connected with everything, we will be more careful with how we live.

There seems to be other senses as well:

https://medium.com/the-philipendium/the-5-senses-or-maybe-7-probably-9-perhaps-11-f9e6c54f76f0

The Holidays Are Here

 

The Holidays Are Here

So much has been happening through this year that it is often hard to get into the holiday spirit. But, fortunately, that doesn’t stop many of our neighbors from lighting up their homes to help lighten our emotional load. 

The lights don’t have to be flashing or overly elaborate to be appealing. One house in our neighborhood offers a simple light tree, which shines brightly as we pass on our walk. It helps to remind us to allow light into our lives and imagination.

I hope that this season brings joy to everyone.

Dandelion Landing

 

Dandelion Landing

It was a pleasant afternoon, sunny but not too hot. Just right for being out back on the patio reading a book. But then something took my attention away from what I was reading, a puffy seed flipping over my legs. I reached out for it but it slipped off my palm and hurried off. Then I noticed other seeds frolicking over the lawn, all determined to be on their way.

I scooped one up as it was flying over me and brought it inside where I could examine it more closely. How delicate it was and yet I knew it wasn’t fragile. It was a dandelion seed that would plant itself with the others and they would overtake the lawn if allowed to land.  

I heard of someone who was considering planting dandelion seeds instead of grass. No doubt it would be lovely to look out but not consistent with what is considered a proper lawn. Maybe it will start a fad and change our perspective about lawns. After all, there are many positives to dandelions, including vitamins.

Check this out:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324083#what-is-dandelion