I've been enjoying seeing the signs of the changing seasons. Although on the calendar divides the year into four major seasons there are so many more micro seasons I've observed in my nearby nature. In Japan, there are 72 recognized micro seasons! I am of Japanese heritage but never learned about this until a few years ago. People around the world have been making observations in nature, and marking the calendar by these natural events. In Japan they sound like this "First cherry blossoms" or...

Happy Spring! As the season changes to spring in the northern hemisphere I pause to notice what is going on around me. As the bare winter trees begin to wake up one by one, you might notice: who's first. In March, I see the Western Redbud ( Cercis occidentalis ) has transformed from bare zig-zaggy stems to fully covered with clusters of tiny pink pea-like blossoms! I've been patiently waiting for them because they are feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds! On this particular day i...

I love seeing deciduous trees when they have lost most of their leaves, with bare branches in the winter. So much is revealed now, that was previously hidden by a lush coat of foliage. We can learn to read their story: We can see the true forms, branching structures of the trees, the scars that tell of their history, or abandoned nests of animals who used this this as home. As I walk around in nature, I am drawn to notice that each species of tree has a distinctive shape to its crown and...