The teacher was doing something strange with his hands. Everyone around me was doing the same thing. So I did it, too. Then I stopped looking around, because of what I felt. I was in a park in Beijing, in 1991. It was at the end of a tai chi session. I had briefly studied tai … read more Silent work
Category: Trees
To See A Tree: A naturalist’s journal of the Southern Appalachians. Our ambivalent and ignorant relationship with the natural world
Branching out
Winter keeps invading my spirit. I rally and laugh, and then a cold wind knocks me down to burrow under layers of fleece. The singular gift of winter in North Georgia is the lovely lace of bare trees. White oaks, red oaks, maples, poplars, sweet gum, sourwood, their dancing arms and fingers choreographed to some music … read more Branching out
Bluebirds and icicles
As I drove down the main road away from home, I braced myself for a lot of driving. Today was a long day full of errands and medical appointments. The car in front of me was going slower than I wanted it to, and I was annoyed. There was a sudden, brown blur. A hawk landed … read more Bluebirds and icicles
Walking in winter
After a leisurely lunch out today, Tom wanted to drive up the mountain and take a walk. I was dragging. Tired and a little queasy. It was cold; I didn’t have my hat and scarf with me. But we went. I struggled on the uphill walk, my jacket draped over my head. The wind picked … read more Walking in winter
At the speed of a cranefly
My day was saved by this leaf. Perfect day for a hike: sunshine and near 70 degrees. But I couldn’t bear the thought of hiking. Even after sleeping nearly 12 hours, I got worn out from just heating and eating lunch, taking a shower and distributing leftover cornbread to the birds. No energy left for … read more At the speed of a cranefly
Flowers in winter
NOVEMBER 30 In these two weeks I have had so little fresh air, so little contact with nature. From the recliner I see trees and a bit of shrubbery, but it’s winter. The two bouquets of flowers in their vases are like a touchstone, the promise of being able to stroll outside again without help. … read more Flowers in winter
In the care of the birds
The following post was written Sunday afternoon. I am posting it today, Friday, from my hospital bed because it somehow seems appropriate for the events of this week…. This morning I went out to the deck to check on the herbs – they were all green and glowing, untouched by the 30-something lows this weekend. … read more In the care of the birds
The last harvest
I made stir-fry today with Thai holy basil fresh from the stalk. This is a treat I did not expect to be having in mid-November, even in Georgia. Here it is, November 11, and we still haven’t had a freeze or even a frost. I planted these herbs in early March, which means they have … read more The last harvest
No power
What is zero to the zero power? If you’re like me, you might flash on the introduction to the old Ben Casey TV series. A hand wrote on a chalkboard the symbols for “man, woman, birth, death, infinity,” while the narrator somberly recited those words. Even at the age of five, I knew this was something heavy and … read more No power
Margaret, grieving
Gerard Manley Hopkins said it best in Spring and Fall: To a young child: Márgarét, áre you gríeving Over Goldengrove unleaving? …It ís the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for. These words come to my mind so often, but most of all now. This weekend, autumn is at its peak. The … read more Margaret, grieving