03 February 2020
Spring Births Clarity and Confusion; All Rights Reserved 2020 Sally W. Donatello
Click onto image to enlarge. Let me know your response to this photomontage. Prints are available upon request.
Pens:
Spring is accelerating its arrival. Temps are forecast to waiver between 40s and 60s throughout the week, clearly unseasonable. Daffodils are growing skyward. Birds are scouting birdhouses. It’s extraordinary. January is usual our coldest month, but this year it was mild and at times toasty warm.
This winter bird sightings have diminished, piercing my heart and mood. Today at least the sunlight will reign. And I plan to submerge myself in a walk at a local park. Then I will continue to work in my upper gardens, where I will trim grasses and widen more gardens.
Every year I reduce grassy areas, and celebrate another plot to plant native species or wildflowers. I’ll do anything to give back to wildlife its habitats, and encourage the wild’s staying power.
Most days I hear the hawks overhead and their songs expand my emotions, giving them a moment of both calm and exhilaration. When I submerge myself in nature, I reduce the inner chatter and concentrate on tasks. My mind is bathed in a mini-sabbatical.
In the Lens section is a photomontage that represents the clarity and confusion that Mother Nature and human nature undoubtedly are experiencing. This winter is a prime example.
While some areas of the world have extreme reactions (drought, fires, hurricanes, extinction of species) to the piercing of the nature world, here in the Mid-Atlantic of the USA spring seems to have arrived. It feels great, but also terrifies. In my lifetime (many, many, many decades) the four seasons have existed in a rhythmic pattern. With the climate crisis that syncopation probably has evaporated forever. And so it is both clarifying and confusing. We know the score; we must act on the confusion and pain that the clarity has given us.
The image’s foreground is meant to show winter’s leafless trees, and the background exemplifies life that soon will burst forth. Spring will return a force of energy to the landscape. While its essence is being altered, reactions must follow. The question remains: How much confusion and pain does it take to energize humanity, to understand that our very existence is being changed in plain sight?
Still, encouragement comes from Britain’s step to fight the climate crisis. Here is the link to view the announcement:
“Reshape economy to fight climate crisis, says Prince Charles;”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/22/reshape-economy-to-fight-climate-crisis-charles-tells-davos
Here is a quote:
“Climate change, biodiversity loss and global warming are the greatest threats humanity has ever faced, he warned, adding that capital needs to be properly deployed in order to tackle these threats.”
Lens and Pens by Sally 
Great photo and interesting text. Fortunately, more people are becoming aware and everybody is increasingly contributing towards improvement. Here in London, supermarkets are reducing plastic mainly because customers don’t want it anymore. Slowly making progress, I chose the positive view 🙂
I agree. We must muster our optimism to fight this environmental crisis. Every contribution benefits our spirit and adds to each and every other contribution. Most importantly, there must be a bridge to global action and partnership. Thanks for your response to the post.
Sally, I would love to see this in a large canvas on a wall. Delightful colour.
Thanks for the morning smile, I appreciate your comment.
I see a nature’s cathedral. It’s a lovely photo, Sally.
Otto, thank you so much for your response.
Lovely image Sally. It is heartening to see someone with Prince Charles’ profile speaking out and offering some substantive ideas, but given the UKs current government, I won’t be holding my breath waiting for action.
Su, I do agree. It’s one thing to espouse a plan, and another to actually do it. I want to believe that he will act upon his pledge.
I believe he will; not so sure about others he’ll need to help him. But the conversation has begun and that in itself is grounds for hope.
I agree, time will tell.
We can modify our behaviour, Sally, but nature will react and respond as she always has. In some ways we have too much information at hand and it’s difficult to sift through for what’s the best course.
Jo, I agree, the influx of information is anxiety-producing on its own. I’ve always said that Mother nature will have the last say. Thanks.
I know you love Spring, but as you acknowledge to lose Winter so soon has adverse effects of its own, to the environment and wildlife. Sadly, there are still those who continue to deny such change is happening, that we just respond with a bare minimum when necessary, rather than try to reverse/prevent it.
I appreciate you response, and know that you understand how I feel about humanity’s intervention into the health of the planet.
That’s beautiful, Sally!
janet
Janet, thanks so much.
Beautifully processed, Sally! A wonderful recognition of Greta Thunberg !! 🙂
Amy, thanks so much.