I saw a garter snake on the bluff trails this week! Your poem is lovely and poignant, and reminded me that I used to think they were called gardener snakes because we always found them in my mom's garden growing up. Right now, I'm relistening to Braiding Sweetgrass (a spring time tradition), and I just finished reading a beautiful book by Lyanda Lynn Haupt that I think you'd like called Urban Bestiary. I highly recommend any book by her.
I love that play on words as it also perfectly connects the threads of this post. I added Lyanda’s book to my want to read list. Thank you! Also, love that tradition!
First off HUGE GBBO fan. I did some sleuthing to find how you can stay on the grounds where they film GBBO for our upcoming England trip and Rich and I booked a treehouse on the grounds where they filmed seasons 2-4. Second off, that Hasidic quote made me say “wow” out loud - beautiful. Third off, have you listened to the bio mimicry On Being episode yet? I think you would really like it - I just listened this week- it’s beautiful
I love your poem to remind us that heartache leads to learning. So hard to watch our children experience heartache, and yet it’s so important to deepen their understanding and connection to life. Thanks! Also, the poppy is gorgeous!
I love oriental poppies. They are my favs. I also felt like their blooming was a perfect symbol of softening and breaking open. I am glad you liked the poem and yes, a reminder of the learning which is hard. Matt De La Pena has a good article on this and the concept of shielding children from violence.
Your poem is lovely and touches my heart. My dear husband decided to selectively mow parts of the lawn yesterday...the areas with nearly knee high grass, leaving the golden dandelion laden areas for the bees. Of course, there was a smattering of dandelions which he did mow down; however, he described pausing the allow each bee to fly away before pushing the mower ahead. 🐝 💚
Your husband sounds lovely and cool. I have also participated in No Mow May, and maybe it’s just that I’m paying more attention, but I’m definitely noticing more bees. I’m slightly concerned my mower will not be a match for my high grass. I think it is safe for me to mow now that the dandelions are all a whispy white and other pollinating plants are present. I will have to follow your husband’s lead.
You would like Nancy Lawson’s Wildscape and Humane Gardener books if you haven’t already read them. They touch on this theme you are trying to address.
Mary, thank you for reading my comment today on the Poetry Unbound Substack, which led me here to your own Substack writing. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts. I’ll add that in addition to my love for Carrie Newcomer (and Parker Palmer), I have been reading and re-reading Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac almost yearly since the mid 1970’s, particularly his essay The Land Ethic. So much to learn, continuously, so much to put into practice, urgently. Thank you for doing so yourself.
Beautiful post! I've just started a course on art and ecology, so I'm reading about local green mapping projects in Ireland, as well as listening to the Future Ecologies podcast.
Something that broke my heart recently was a dead pygmy shrew I came across on the bank of a canal. It could have been natural, there was no obvious cause but seeing such a tiny creature inert like that was really hard.
As you say though, bearing witness to death is an important part of life too and a key way in which we wake up to how valuable life actually is. All organic life, not just humans.
Such a beautiful read. That poppy pic too! I have my eye of seven different spots they grow to try and remember to circle back in a few weeks for the seed heads! ✨
I love oriental poppies. I have not had a lot of luck with planting them from seed, but I have had luck with them reseeding themselves. I think spreading the seeds in the fall might be the way to go as well, but don't quote me on that. It's worth buying a small one from the nursery as that small one will soon grow into a bushel.
Your poem reminds me of this time when my family was doing a bunch of home renovations. I was twelve at the time and not really able to help much with the demolition going on, so my dad set me up at our outdoor firepit to burn any wood that couldn't be reused and didn't have paint on it. I had a massive roaring fire going when a large bumble bee flew into the smoke, causing her to fall to the ground right by the edge of the pit, which opened up in the front. I scrambled to get a stick or something to move her away from the heat, but she crawled right into the ash. I watched her wings melt and then she curled up and I knew she had died. I started to sob so loudly and uncontrollably my parents came racing out, thinking I was hurt. My dad was baffled that I was so upset about a bee, but my mum held me and hugged me and assured me it wasn't my fault. She helped get the bee out and we had a little burial for her.
This is a memory that lives so vividly in my mind and to this day I do anything I can to help the bees in honour of the one I couldn't save.
What a beautiful story. I was just reading about the impact of Carson’s book last night, so your poem was also timely. Thank you for sharing all of this.
As a Canadian I didn't learn about her work until I moved Stateside for a time. It breaks my heart how the toxicity of a capitalist mindset convinces people that living things can only have value if they can be bought and sold.
I read that book years ago and thought it was so powerful. I too think it’s far time we realized the pitfalls of capitalism and seek more balance. I think we should lean more on Indigenous wisdom and systems of reciprocity. I think your sentiment here could be turned into a good poem.
I’ve loved that Parker Palmer image of a broken-open heart for a long time. (As well as Bake-Off!) The Hasidic tale is new for me and I appreciate it so much. Thank you!
thanks for these thoughts Mary. I have to admit feeling a lot of nostalgia between your references last week to Robin Wall Kimmerer (who taught the lecture portion of the general botany course I took twenty years ago) and this week to A Sand County Almanac (which was required reading for a wildlife management course I took a couple years later).
Of course your story calls to mind the heartbreaking part of A Sand County Almanac when Aldo Leopold recounts the regrettable story of killing a wolf in his ignorant youth. Sadly it seems like we haven't travelled any farther along the path to redememption in the seventy five years since he died.
Thanks for being here and sharing your thoughts. I can’t believe you were one of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s botany students. That is amazing. I also can’t believe we haven’t talked about that before, or maybe we have and I just forgot and didn’t make the connection. Yes, Leopold killing one of the last wolves is heartbreaking. Talk about learning from heartbreak. I think you would like Nature’s Best Hope. It was there I was reminded of the return of the Sandhill Crane to the land Leopold worked so hard to restore.
I saw a garter snake on the bluff trails this week! Your poem is lovely and poignant, and reminded me that I used to think they were called gardener snakes because we always found them in my mom's garden growing up. Right now, I'm relistening to Braiding Sweetgrass (a spring time tradition), and I just finished reading a beautiful book by Lyanda Lynn Haupt that I think you'd like called Urban Bestiary. I highly recommend any book by her.
I love that play on words as it also perfectly connects the threads of this post. I added Lyanda’s book to my want to read list. Thank you! Also, love that tradition!
First off HUGE GBBO fan. I did some sleuthing to find how you can stay on the grounds where they film GBBO for our upcoming England trip and Rich and I booked a treehouse on the grounds where they filmed seasons 2-4. Second off, that Hasidic quote made me say “wow” out loud - beautiful. Third off, have you listened to the bio mimicry On Being episode yet? I think you would really like it - I just listened this week- it’s beautiful
Loved, loved the biomimicry episode! Thank you!
I love your poem to remind us that heartache leads to learning. So hard to watch our children experience heartache, and yet it’s so important to deepen their understanding and connection to life. Thanks! Also, the poppy is gorgeous!
I love oriental poppies. They are my favs. I also felt like their blooming was a perfect symbol of softening and breaking open. I am glad you liked the poem and yes, a reminder of the learning which is hard. Matt De La Pena has a good article on this and the concept of shielding children from violence.
I love your poem, and the tale you follow it with is a perfect complement. Deep lessons from you this week, Mary Hutto Fruchter! Thank you.
Thank you for reading and being here. 😊
You Must Revise Your Life by Wm Stafford
I cannot wait to read this. Thank you!
Your poem is lovely and touches my heart. My dear husband decided to selectively mow parts of the lawn yesterday...the areas with nearly knee high grass, leaving the golden dandelion laden areas for the bees. Of course, there was a smattering of dandelions which he did mow down; however, he described pausing the allow each bee to fly away before pushing the mower ahead. 🐝 💚
Your husband sounds lovely and cool. I have also participated in No Mow May, and maybe it’s just that I’m paying more attention, but I’m definitely noticing more bees. I’m slightly concerned my mower will not be a match for my high grass. I think it is safe for me to mow now that the dandelions are all a whispy white and other pollinating plants are present. I will have to follow your husband’s lead.
You would like Nancy Lawson’s Wildscape and Humane Gardener books if you haven’t already read them. They touch on this theme you are trying to address.
Hi Misti. I will definitely check them out. Thank you!
Mary, thank you for reading my comment today on the Poetry Unbound Substack, which led me here to your own Substack writing. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts. I’ll add that in addition to my love for Carrie Newcomer (and Parker Palmer), I have been reading and re-reading Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac almost yearly since the mid 1970’s, particularly his essay The Land Ethic. So much to learn, continuously, so much to put into practice, urgently. Thank you for doing so yourself.
I also love Parker Palmer. I’m so glad you are here.
Beautiful post! I've just started a course on art and ecology, so I'm reading about local green mapping projects in Ireland, as well as listening to the Future Ecologies podcast.
Something that broke my heart recently was a dead pygmy shrew I came across on the bank of a canal. It could have been natural, there was no obvious cause but seeing such a tiny creature inert like that was really hard.
As you say though, bearing witness to death is an important part of life too and a key way in which we wake up to how valuable life actually is. All organic life, not just humans.
The course you are taking sounds amazing. Thank you for the podcast rec. I will definitely check that out.
It was recommended listening from the course! hope you enjoy!
I love all of this, Mary, but I copied this bit in my journal:
Perhaps they will even grow into people who keep their eyes open
and pay attention
to all that is cool, lovely and beautiful
and all that is not
Thankful to have found you and that we’re pulling on such similar threads!
The feeling is mutual, Sara. Welcome! 😊
Such a beautiful read. That poppy pic too! I have my eye of seven different spots they grow to try and remember to circle back in a few weeks for the seed heads! ✨
I love oriental poppies. I have not had a lot of luck with planting them from seed, but I have had luck with them reseeding themselves. I think spreading the seeds in the fall might be the way to go as well, but don't quote me on that. It's worth buying a small one from the nursery as that small one will soon grow into a bushel.
Ah! This is all so lovely. Thank you for sharing.
Your poem reminds me of this time when my family was doing a bunch of home renovations. I was twelve at the time and not really able to help much with the demolition going on, so my dad set me up at our outdoor firepit to burn any wood that couldn't be reused and didn't have paint on it. I had a massive roaring fire going when a large bumble bee flew into the smoke, causing her to fall to the ground right by the edge of the pit, which opened up in the front. I scrambled to get a stick or something to move her away from the heat, but she crawled right into the ash. I watched her wings melt and then she curled up and I knew she had died. I started to sob so loudly and uncontrollably my parents came racing out, thinking I was hurt. My dad was baffled that I was so upset about a bee, but my mum held me and hugged me and assured me it wasn't my fault. She helped get the bee out and we had a little burial for her.
This is a memory that lives so vividly in my mind and to this day I do anything I can to help the bees in honour of the one I couldn't save.
Also, I wrote this poem after I learned about "Silent Spring" and what motivated Rachel Carson to write it: https://open.substack.com/pub/kschatch/p/birdsong?r=ntqgr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
What a beautiful story. I was just reading about the impact of Carson’s book last night, so your poem was also timely. Thank you for sharing all of this.
As a Canadian I didn't learn about her work until I moved Stateside for a time. It breaks my heart how the toxicity of a capitalist mindset convinces people that living things can only have value if they can be bought and sold.
I read that book years ago and thought it was so powerful. I too think it’s far time we realized the pitfalls of capitalism and seek more balance. I think we should lean more on Indigenous wisdom and systems of reciprocity. I think your sentiment here could be turned into a good poem.
I think you might like this if you haven’t found it already. https://open.substack.com/pub/chasingnature/p/virtues-in-a-little-brown-butterfly?r=qqbxq&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
So beautiful, Mary.
Hiding pencils in the garden = brilliant. Lovely piece, Mary.
I’ve loved that Parker Palmer image of a broken-open heart for a long time. (As well as Bake-Off!) The Hasidic tale is new for me and I appreciate it so much. Thank you!
thanks for these thoughts Mary. I have to admit feeling a lot of nostalgia between your references last week to Robin Wall Kimmerer (who taught the lecture portion of the general botany course I took twenty years ago) and this week to A Sand County Almanac (which was required reading for a wildlife management course I took a couple years later).
Of course your story calls to mind the heartbreaking part of A Sand County Almanac when Aldo Leopold recounts the regrettable story of killing a wolf in his ignorant youth. Sadly it seems like we haven't travelled any farther along the path to redememption in the seventy five years since he died.
Thanks for being here and sharing your thoughts. I can’t believe you were one of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s botany students. That is amazing. I also can’t believe we haven’t talked about that before, or maybe we have and I just forgot and didn’t make the connection. Yes, Leopold killing one of the last wolves is heartbreaking. Talk about learning from heartbreak. I think you would like Nature’s Best Hope. It was there I was reminded of the return of the Sandhill Crane to the land Leopold worked so hard to restore.