Earth Dance Courtship . . . Or Is It?

Pileated Woodpeckers mate for life and renew courtship each year I imagine. Their dance is magical and I was amazingly lucky to happen upon them in the garden near my favorite Native Black Cherry yesterday morning. If you scroll fast . . .  you will get an idea of their choreography. Truly a gift! Precious . . .  as so much of our natural world and worthy of more than just our courting. We need a more serious daily relationship with the needs of our planet. Hopefully soon every day will become a better day for our beloved Earth! NOTE- I have been advised ( I am so thankful but cannot find the email to personally thank the person) and gratefully accept that these are two males?? If this was a challenge instead of courtship, it was certainly very mild mannered. Most curious.

For me Earth Day will always be a Remembrance for a dear soul, who devoted his heart, wit and wisdom to writing, educating, fighting and finally giving his life . . . for our world. I feel he has been with me these twelve years helping me be stronger in my part towards change. My heart smiles to think of Michael's spirit dancing with these magnificent birds. Thank you Mike for all you did and how you inspired so many others to fight harder too. You are deeply missed and never forgotten!

It is because of Michael that this Native (Serpentine) Black Cherry was saved from vines that were pulling it down. Now this tree is a major dancer in the gardens . . . with Michael's gentle, sweet spirit accompanied by gracious White and Gray Birch. I was looking towards the Black Cherry, when I saw the Pileated Woodpeckers . . .  the sun danced along too . . .  in their fiery crested crowns.  THANK YOU DEAR EARTH FOR ALL YOUR GIFTS.

Earths Bounty Earths Loss Celebration and Remembrance Glances From A Morning Walk

A walk on Earth Day through gardens after a rainy night... pouring rain then brings water droplets and mysterious mist into early morning light. A meandering within a landscape, below a sky closely eyeing tiny formations of new growth morphology... plants wonder... or more a wonder to perceive. So along with me do see large crusty hard trunks stretching branches wearing jewels that pierce the sky... while clouds float and morph by... birds sing and fly high... then down on the earth's surface plants unfurl and grow towards light and their purpose.

This is a day to celebrate and honor our earth. I clean with clippers and hand saw around a unique serpentine native cherry I call Michael's tree ... I recall a family gathering to honor a brave sweet man... a brilliant light for the earth in his activism towards a depth of caring an ecology of knowing and honoring our world Mother Earth. A dear friend and my editor... a depth psychologist, writer, professor now here in spirit forever a tree to honor his ashes nourish his life a gift an inspiration a struggle to find peace in a world so often fighting against a sane reality. Today I honor this slice of earth that has given a way of life to me and inspiration to all that visit. I also remember a precious soul who resides with me here still in trees, in my heart and writing and striving to be the best I can be.