Barred Owl

It was an unexpected bonus to discover a Barrred Owl at the Eloise Butler Wildflower garden.  I went to take pictures of the flowers, but discovered this stately bird perched on a branch nearby the walking trail.

Reasons to doubt anthropomorphic climate change

I used to wonder how on this green earth people could still doubt the negative impact of anthropomorphic climate change, and our personal and corporate responsibility to radically reduce our carbon footprint. Then I was reminded of our lackluster science education, compounded by our tremendous dependency upon oil. Additionally, there are millions of individual and corporate investors who have oil stocks and or mutual funds, which are heavily invested in the oil industry. Disparaging oil in this country is a bit like suggesting; take a big gulp, that Coke isn’t all that good for your health. A radical idea to be sure, but sadly oh so true.

Natural elegance

River Birch catkin alongside Weeping Willow

How elegant are the dangling tree catkins this time of year.

Weeping Willow catkin

Mallard and Canada Goose

 A mallard took to flight nearby a Canada Goose swimming in the pond at Bassett Creek Park.

Morning Poem by Mary Oliver

Every morning

the world
is created.
Under the orange sticks of the sun

the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches ---

and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands of summer lilies.

If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination

alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn

that is heavier than lead ---
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging --- 
there is still

somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted ---
each pond with its blazing lilies

is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not

you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.

-Mary Oliver

Bringing up a new generation

Canada Geese and Goslings

Once again it is that time of year again at the park....
Ready or not, make way for a new generation of Canada Geese!

Common Tern

Common Tern

A surprise visitor has been enjoying Bassett Creek Park; a Common Tern.  We don't usually see these beautiful birds in our region.  It has been fun watching it dive for fish.  It becomes submerged when diving under the water to make a capture.