Category Archives: nature

Sep17

of giants, glaciers, stone, and wolves.

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Kummakivi Balancing Rock

This rock stands in the middle of the forest balancing on another much smaller rock. There is a legend that the rock was placed here by giants, but there is also a scientific explanation for this. Geologists say that the rock may have been moved by the power of glacier over 8,000 years ago. This captivating stone can be found in Valtola, Southern Savonia, Finland.

The rock is well-visited no matter what you believe to be its origin story, and the best time to visit the rock is summer and early autumn, as you can easily get to the forest. It can be difficult to get to the middle of deep forest during long winter nights when there will be snow and maybe even wolves.

i’m a fan of the giant theory and would love to see this up close.

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“how one walks through the world,

the endless small adjustments of balance,

is affected by the shifting weights of beautiful things.”

-elaine scarry

Aug17

“if you see me, cry.”

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Hunger Stone :

Recent droughts in Europe once again made visible the “Hunger Stones” in some Czech and German rivers.

These stones were used to mark desperately low river levels that would forecast famines.

This one, in the Elbe river, is from 1616 and says: “If you see me, cry.”

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“when the well is dry, we will know the worth of water.”

-benjamin franklin

 

 

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credits: history review

May24

“no mow,” said the bee.

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bee kind

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“for this,
let gardens grow, where beelines end,
sighing in roses, saffron blooms, buddleia;
where bees pray on their knees, sing, praise
in pear trees, plum trees; bees
are the batteries of orchards, gardens, guard them.”
― Carol Ann Duffy, The Bees

May13

hard wood.

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the class discovered this tree with magical writing all over it
and even though he’s only mastered the alphabet this year
‘a’ chose to read it out loud to everyone
in his own magical language
a master translator at work.
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“he was made of hard wood.”
-hungarian proverb
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Arborglyphs, dendroglyphs, silvaglyphs or modified cultural trees
is the carving of shapes and symbols into the bark of living trees.
May2

at last, may.

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yes it was yesterday, i think they may have over-celebrated and lost count. 

the fairy dance

the soft stars are shining,

the moon is alight;

the folk of the forest

are dancing tonight:

o swift and gay

is the song that they sing:

they float and sway

as they dance in a ring.

o seek not to find them,

the wee folk so fair;

they’re shy as the swallow

and swift as the air:

if you come, they are gone

like a snowflake in may:

like a breath, like a sigh,

they vanish away.

 

-katherine davis (1892-1980)

 

 

 

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image source: peter gray’s vintage art and postcards

Apr22

on earth day, and every day.

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kinder in their natural habitat capturing the ever-elusive giant stick

 

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“live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink,

taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the Earth.”

-henry david thoreau