Nature Notes ~ Winter 2019

Nestled in Nature

I went up to the mountains a few weeks ago to rest and recharge. Being in nature always does the trick for me. When I'm feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or depleted, what I need is a strong dose of peace and quiet...and nature. This is my happy place!

​One of my favorite baseball caps that I wear when I'm out and about, reads on the front, "Attitude Adjusted", then on the back, "Evergreen Colorado". This perfectly describes how I feel after a few hours, or even a few minutes, outside enjoying the fresh air. My attitude is definitely better; less cranky, more zen. I know when life gets too crazy and being in the city becomes more than I can handle, I need to get the heck out of Dodge or in my case, Denver.

So when I arrived at the trailhead and got out of the car, I started to breathe a little easier. I walked along Bear Creek and then around the lake. It was heavenly. ​My cares drifted away and I was re-connected to what calms and inspires me; the rhythm of the natural world.

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​It was an unusually cold day for being so early in the season. The roads were a bit icy driving up and it was snowing off and on, but I knew I had to be in the woods and with the river. Some people might think it was too gloomy to be out, but I like cloudy, raw days. These types of days make me feel all nestled and cozy, especially with the ancient conifers towering above me.

The sound of the flowing river was just what I needed to cleanse any worries or stress. I could quiet my mind and rest for awhile.

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​As I was driving home later, I felt calm and peaceful, happy and hopeful. I was glad I made the trip. Nature has such a magical way of restoring us. Here's a cool article about how the natural world improves our well-being. Science is backing up what we tree huggers already knew. Nature's an incredible healer, a gift, no matter what the weather or the season.

Happy winter solstice, dear ones! 

Sending warm wishes all nestled in nature,

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Sneak Peek at a New Painting!

​​After what seems like a very long few months, I'm finally finished with the Home for Butterflies painting! Here's a sneak peek at the Clouded Sulphur, a beautiful "flying flower" native to the prairies, meadows, and foothills where I live.

​This image brings attention to the relationship between butterflies and native wildflowers. A professional digital scan of the original will be done soon and prints will be ready just in time to celebrate spring! Woohoo!

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Conservation Corner

During the holidays when we're out enjoying a relaxing meal at our favorite restaurant, attending a work party, or visiting friends and family, here's a reminder to bring your own plastic ware to save those yummy leftovers!

Like me, you probably have a ton of nifty containers stored away that you've collected over the years. So instead of adding even more plastic to the recycling bin, it's great to re-use these little gems to live more lightly on the land. Here's to BYOP!

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Winners of the Earth Day Print Drawing!

A big congratulations to Rich and Natalie from Bar Harbor, Maine! They're the winners of the 2019 Earth Day print drawing! I'm delighted to share my work with these amazing naturalists who own an adventure guiding business called The Natural History Center. Rich, Natalie, and their team take nature lovers on birding, hiking, kayaking, and eco tours in some very cool places. They will even personalize a tour just for you or you can join them on a pre-scheduled adventure trip!

They host tours and expeditions along the coast of Maine and Canada, and even South America! When I last heard from Rich, they were guiding a group on a small cruise ship off the coast of Chile. The trip began in Barbados and ended in Argentina. Rich said that they had already seen many amazing landscapes and tons of wildlife, including 174 species of birds!

So if you're planning a vacation, this is a fantastic way to explore and experience nature. I met Rich and Natalie when I lived in the Adirondacks, and they are the real deal. They're passionate ecologists and wonderful guides. And you better believe, their excitement is contagious! 

Explore The Natural History Center's beautiful and informative website to learn more and plan your awesome nature adventure! Congrats again to Rich and Natalie!

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Walk Around Evergreen Lake

​Evergreen Lake wasn't quite frozen over yet, but it was well on its way. By late-December, there will be scores of folks skating, ice fishing, and playing hockey on the thick ice. During this transition period though, there was hardly anyone out enjoying the lake. The trail was quiet which is just the way I like it!

​​I love the soft crunch, crunch, crunch sound of the snow as my hiking boots make a fresh path. I could see outlines of the surrounding mountains through the flurries, and it wasn't too windy which was nice. 

I stopped over at the lake house to wander around, but it was closed maybe due to the weather or possibly because the bridge for cars was under construction and muddy. So I circled around and made my way back to town for lunch. What a lovely day out in the snow I had!

Wishing you happy holidays and a cozy winter solstice!

Where's one of your favorite places to recharge in nature? The trail near your home, your own backyard, or a nearby lake or river? Please leave a comment below! I love hearing from you!