Page 33 - August Banner 2018_Neat

Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper August 2018 Page 33

by Christine Maccabee
I also know that Nature can be a was, and still is, that woke me
I don’t know what the fluttering
healer.
On The Wild Side childhood and grew up with adults up this morning. I am beginning
I was fortunate to have a blessed
to believe that it is a poor bird
around me who were sensitive to trapped between the inner and
the beauty of nature. One of my outer walls. Somehow, I will try to
first memories as a child of two or rescue it. I also do not know what
three years of age is standing at the that strange insect on my wild
base of my grandfather’s butterfly spinach is, though I intend to find
“Wonder” bush, which was flush with purple out. Perhaps, I will have made a
discovery worth writing about in a
flowers and loaded with tiny
butterflies of all varieties. I know I nature magazine!
“Have you got a brook in your little heart, where watched this phenomenon for long Soon, I will be off on a vacation
bashful flowers blow, and blushing birds go down to periods of time and was in a state to see the awesome ocean. As
much as I love the ocean, I also
of awe and wonder, which never
drink, and shadows tremble so.... left me. worry about the terrible assault
Yesterday, I discovered a
Beware, lest this little brook of life, some burning tiny insect on my wild spinach, upon it by the industrial world.
I do wonder, or question, how
noon go dry.” otherwise known as lambs quarters, and if we can deal with all the
which is one of the best wild edibles challenges we have ahead of us to
~Emily Dickinson
(I eat steamed with other garden clean up our materialistic messes
greens like kale and collards). of plastic pollution and on-going
I awoke this morning to the sound I was going to write about This exotic-looking insect barely spills of toxic chemicals, etc. People
of soft fluttering of wings, unsure as Reverence for this article, but a moved on its leaf, and looked dedicated to such cleanups have a
to whether it was in the cottage or sense of wonder naturally leads to like something straight out of the strong sense of what is important.
just outside my window. I wondered a feeling of reverence for life. From rainforest. Putting it on a fresh They, no doubt, understand the
what it could be: a bat, a large moth, the time we are born, we begin leaf last night and giving it a drop importance of wonder in our lives
a bird? It was flying around, but I to wonder at the world, watching of water, I saw that it had moved and are working to preserve that
could not see it, as it was too dark and soaking up everything as little about half an inch over night. I for our children and our children’s
yet at 5:00 a.m. After a couple of babies, truly like a sponge. Not only wonder if perhaps I have found a children. These warriors for the
minutes, the sound stopped, but I do we grow healthy because of the new, yet undiscovered insect. Here earth are my heroes.
was now fully awake and full of goodness of our mother’s nurture, on my 11+ acres, I have an amazing I pray you and your loved
wonder to get back to sleep. but our spirits are fed as well by variety of wild native plants, each ones and friends are having some
Living as close to the natural our sense of wonder, of curiosity. I one in service of specific insects. awesome moments this beautiful
world as I do, with wildlife of all wish all children had the loving care Such diversity is imperative to the summer, filled with wonder.
forms very near me and all around I experienced, the opportunity to web of life as we know it, and As for me, every day I walk
me, my usual state of being is one of expand their spirits with a sense of so much of that web is still not out my door and smell the sweet
wonder. My cottage is located down wonder, but sadly this is not always understood—or appreciated— perfume of mimosa and milkweed
a short wildflower pathway from the the case. Too many children in the by humans so busy with human flowers, I hear bird songs, I see
back of the big house, and summer world are traumatized from a very things. I guess that is the awesome the bees and butterflies feeding
is a great time to sleep out here, early age by war, cruelty, negligence, wonder of it all: There is always voraciously on my Bergamot and
and to write. At the call of the first and/or loss of a parent to begin that something amazing to discover. Monarda flowers, my mood shifts
bird, I am awakened (no need for an essential nurturing of their souls Everyone experiences that, even from ponderous to wondrous. I
alarm clock here!), and the musical through wonderment. However, the if it is just the wonder of another guess you might say my sense of
chorus of bird songs swells as grey spirit is unceasingly at work to heal caring human being or a pet in your wonder since childhood remains
skies lighten, awakening the world. all wounds, so there is always hope. life. There are infinite, unending intact, and for that I am grateful.
wonders here, where we dwell in the May you never loose yours. God
midst of this mystery called Life. bless.

Christine is a Wildlife Habitat Naturalist and Native Plant
Specialist, who is available for consultations. Write her at
songbirdschant@gmail.com.