Living with the Monarchs in Winter~

Just two days later, it was a different scene.  I walked through the same grove of trees on my way to the Dunes.  The 9AM sun was out, the sky was blue.. and orange.. dotted with orange wings flying above me and around me.  Wonderful!  I looked up into the tree.  The first morning light was hitting this group of monarchs as they “nested” together, wings closed.  They had picked a good spot to get the first warm sun of the day.  One by one, as they opened their wings, the nest became more colorful, their wings filling with warmth.  And I reflected how wonderful it was to LIVE with the Monarchs.. not just stop & visit and be amazed and go away again.  But, to spend time with them “in my backyard” so I could truly observe them.

This Magical Season

                          Christmas Tree on Wheels, Photo by Kathy Vilim 



On the Winter Solstice,

It’s the Winter Holidays, that Magical Season when we celebrate the wonder and beauty of Nature, the  balance of life on earth: between plants & animals, people & trees… It is also a time for reflection, as the days grow shorter & cooler and we spend more time looking out the window at the landscape of our gardens. I reflect that we have taken so much from this planet; isn’t Christmastime a perfect time to give back to wildlife?
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To all my readers, I wish you a very special Christmas Holiday Season this year~ Thanks for reading~ native gardener