travels, reflections, poems….
Wasps are one of the least appreciated creatures on the planet, but we have always suspected they deserve some respect. We just never investigated why that might be the case. So, our thanks to the Guardian for bringing this book to our attention in an article titled Why we should all love wasps: Wasps have […]
Learning To Appreciate Wasps — Organikos
The Holler has the best neighbors. (click/tap to enlarge) Check out the marvelous modeling mama, grosbeak! She is photogenic from every angle, and loves having her picture taken. She is a very friendly neighbor. The orioles, and acorn woodpeckers add a splash of color to the scene. Cheers to you from our Holler neighbors~
Neighbors~ —
Africa’s First People. The Hadzabe tribe of East Africa. One of the oldest tribes in the world and perhaps the last authentic hunter-gatherer tribe on the planet.
Africa’s First People (Hunting in the Rain with 40,000 year old Hadza Tribe) — Diary of an Aesthete
We have entered the micro-season of “Bamboo Shoots Appear”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of First Summer. To honor this season, we are learning all about Bamboo and reading haiku by Basho, Issa, and Buson.
Micro-Season: “Bamboo Shoots Appear” — Naturalist Weekly
As the weather grows a little warmer and there is more light during the day, the population of birds swell and their sounds echo throughout our Northern California Sanctuary. With the coming of Spring there is a proliferation of bird species of all types, ranging from blue jays to robins, hawks to owls, ducks to […]
Springtime at the Northern California Sanctuary — Iseum Sanctuary
This is the first time I have ever seen Joshua Trees in bloom! These trees were recently designated an endangered species by The California Fish & Game Commission. They are vulnerable because they exist in a limited area in The Southwestern US and Baja California. Their range is mostly contained by the boundaries of the […]
Blooming Joshuas~ —
As part of the Amazing Earthfest, taking place all this week, Forest Voices of India will present The Living Earth: Ancient Perspectives.
Here is the link to read about, and register for, the one hour long Zoom presentation this Friday, May 13th 6 pm, U.S. Mountain time.
https://amazingearthfest.org/events/the-living-earth-ancient-perspectives
Fifty minutes of this presentation is a movie which features Dr. Nanditha Krishna, well-known authority on the culture of India and the world of nature. Also featured are Josh Nunez telling Native American stories, Musuni Letura from Kenya, and Chris Gorzalski with the Great Old Broads for Wilderness. The speakers offer views of the earth as a living being — with humans belonging to nature, rather than dominating nature. There are beautiful musical interludes by Bobbi Cheney, along with scenes of nature.
Following the movie, there will be a short time for live questions and discussion.
Registration is free. To register, click on the link above!
These gorgeous huge poppies are bloomin’ up The Holler! Also known as the Matilija Poppy, these are the largest flowers in the poppy family, and they are the largest native California flower. The blooms are 8 inches in diameter, and the bushes grow to about 10 feet in height, They are a challenge to grow, […]
Romneya~ —
Lappet-faced Vultures, Botswana, Africa Turkey Vulture, CA We were driving on a California country road this week surrounded by sweetly fragrant ceanothus wildflowers, when we came upon two lethargic turkey vultures standing in the road. Turns out they were doing us a big favor. Because they were not moving for us, we slowly drove toward […]
Vultures are Cool — Jet Eliot
(Pink blossoms on a beaver tail cactus. Photo by Dawn Pisturino.) ALL PHOTOS BY DAWN PISTURINO. We got enough rain this winter for the cactus to blossom. It truly is a lovely sight when the desert is in bloom. (Rose-colored blossom on a prickly pear cactus. Photo by Dawn Pisturino.) But those cactus needles are […]
Blooming Desert — Dawn Pisturino’s Blog