Notions on Nature

Taite's ENVS*3000 W22 - Nature Interpretation Blog

[fdenvs3000w22]

Unit we meet again...happy farewell ~

It’s so hard to believe that this semester has to end, and we’re writing our last blog post for this course already; it feels like it was just yesterday when we wrote about “discovering our sense of place.” The best part is that we learned so much about the beauty of nature and the beauty of interpreting nature while developing our skills as ideal nature interpreters who bring the past alive, make the present more enjoyable and the future more meaningful (Beck et al. 2018). I brought this up because most of my experience at Guelph has revolved around health and nutritional sciences, and I thought of taking environmental science courses just for a change. Little did I know that nature nurtures and instills a passion for the environment we all share, which became one of my strongest personal ethics that describe how much I value human kindness and warmth. Everyone needs to recognize the amount of information and academic outputs provided by environmental science courses and should be one of the mandatory credits for graduation – since our age group or even generation can really speak for the planet. Don’t you think? 

Like Aldo Leopold (1996) wrote, “Promoting perception is the only truly creative part of recreational engineering.” The key to the job interpreter is helping people perceive the world around them more acutely, the culture that preceded and coexisted with their own, and how they can affect the future ways in which humans will live in this world harmoniously (Beck et al. 2018). 

I believe that the main takeaway from this course is that even though we all may not pursue a career in this field, even if you reach out to one person and instill a sense of belonging, help them enjoy the world around them a little more and spark an interest you have accomplished something by making that difference. Not only that, but inspiring people to learn more about nature is a skill to have because if our generation isn’t aware of it, how can we pass it on to future generations? Trust me, deep inside, we all recognize how healing nature can be, especially with what we went through during COVID-19, a worldwide crisis that led to so much trauma. Much of what we understand to contribute to practical interpretation comes from other fields of studies such as education and communication (Beck et al. 2018). The education theory includes an approach called “constructivist.” As we learned in this course, it involves building new knowledge, values, and beliefs on each individual’s earlier constructed expertise and matters (Beck et al. 2018). It also recognizes that people learn differently, so we should follow different approaches. Now that we have the necessary tools to do so and have gained a privilege in raising awareness or promoting beliefs and values to others to make a difference in our shared environment. 

I want to use this privilege to encourage self-growth and recognition, create a sustainable environment, and promote awareness of endangered species. Just like we learned in the article this week by Jacob Rodenburg, there are so many issues that we need to be worried about. From climate change to habitat destruction, from oceans of plastic to those species endangered by it, from the loss of biodiversity to melting glaciers, the list goes and on and on. School just isn’t enough to teach us the power of the resources around us and reveal their true value and meanings. 

Young children adore discovery, and I resonate with the author that if I had a job description, it would be sweet and straightforward: I want to help children discover the wonder and cultivate awe. I want kids to have curiosity and nurture their wow moments while teaching them about the power and possibility of restoring nature in their backyards, parks, rivers, and schoolyards. And I am not only saying this for young children, but citizens of any nation should be able to recognize the landscape, its natural and cultural resources that they reside in. This would ultimately help them feel like they are part of the nation and promote unity and a sense of belonging. The textbook also mentioned that this healthy pride might prevent foolish actions that could preserve the resources of a country which is honestly so true (Beck et al. 2018). Those grown up in the cities are terrified of real and imagined things out in the unknown woods. Likewise, if they never learn to enjoy and be a part of the delivery of their fellow citizen’s customs, style, attitude, and living, they may perceive them as dangerous (Beck et al. 2018). In comparison, the same children familiar with the secrets of the woods and meanings of the cultural varieties by first-hand interpretive experience will undoubtedly become protectors of the resources and diversity. The readings also emphasize that one of our most essential audiences might be our smallest and youngest ones (Beck et al. 2018). They are the hope of the future because the beliefs, attitudes and emotional responses that they form to their environment can last a lifetime. At the same time, negative experiences can result in a lifetime of fear or empathy which develop over time. It’s also important to recognize that middle-aged adults are the missing groups at many interpretive sites where my responsibility would be to teach them through their children. When they bring their parents or grandparents to the park, zoo or museum, in a way, adults receive the interactive messages along with their children. Nonetheless, even if adults don’t attend programs, children interpret to their parents at home as they share about their learnings. The whole point is no one should be left and we need to recognize and address the barriers that restrict participation.

Similarly, from my podcast experience for children, we know that children often like to create miniature worlds for imagination. Miniature worlds allow them to see the bigger picture for a natural area, further encouraging them to notice and care for small things. Introducing animals through storytelling is also a vital part of children’s emotional development, so they learn to care for them. 

I also think that if I were in charge of presenting information to others, I would be responsible for considering multiple perspectives of people who take part and concern myself with the quantity and quality (more like selection, accuracy and authenticity) of the presented information (Beck et al. 2018). This also means that I have to continually enhance my learning, be open to different viewpoints, and understand their beliefs. If I cant make them comfortable in the setting, how can I provide a spiritual uplift and the desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings?

As vital as it is to interpret truthfully, it is also challenging because historical interpretation is dynamic and constantly evolving. Likewise, the meanings associated with past events changes with time as values change and local culture interprets the same event differently from people in other locations (Beck et al. 2018). Regardless interpreters must strive for the truth through thorough and unbiased research. Thus, as an interpreter, I have to provide a sense of comfort and security while recognizing that people process information differently, considering different age groups, cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and indigenous communities.

While I genuinely do recommend in-person activities and interactions, I did learn through this course that the most practical and suitable approach for me as an individual would be through technology and, in fact, blogging, which allows me to share my heart out while also adding a creative aspect to each and every post. I would use a little bit of both blogging (with a voice-over style podcast) or even vlogging because virtual resources can be just as attractive and can be viewed anywhere, anytime by everyone. We know not everyone may come outdoors, but the whole point is to bring the outdoors to them, so they once feel the pull to step outside and appreciate the beauty of nature around them. Virtually I can take all the time I need to plan, organize and implement personalized approaches and firmly believe that these techniques would suit a diverse audience and be personalized for those who learn better with visuals, reading, or interactive experiences and listening. Most importantly, it would be composed of a musical or artistic form blend accordingly. In a previous post, I mentioned that songs work in several ways to get words and facts to stick in the listener’s mind or paint a picture in their imagination and evoke emotion that makes them most memorable (Beck et al. 2018). You would think that it’s easy to integrate nature in music through lyrics, but I honestly have no words to explain how nature and music go beautifully hand in hand. Similarly, art provides another dimension to interpretation; art can mimic nature as it visually replicates objects as they actually appear in life. I would love to see any examples that you’d like to share:)

Thank you for reading! Wishing you all the best.

Farheen Dhaliwal

References:

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

Rodenburg, J. (n.d.). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. CLEARING. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Farheen,

I too am shocked that we have already reached the end of the semester, but I am glad we had this one last discussion post to connect! I found that the beauty of nature was also a captivating concept and I related to your experience as most of my education at Guelph has centred around zoology and an animal focus with barely any learning on plants. I took this course to expand my knowledge of biology and I am glad I did. It sounds like this course had a similar impact on us by instilling a passion for the environment. I had never come to this conclusion on my own, but I think it is a wonderful idea that an environmental science course should be mandatory for graduation considering how topical it is. I feel like almost everyone in our generation is aware that we have many environmental issues and we need to take action, so learning more in-depth on one of these concepts is a very logical decision. Making a difference in others’ lives does seem to be a foundation of nature interpretation indeed (Beck et al., 2018). That is certainly a takeaway this course emphasized, of course, you can’t get everyone interested in nature on a deep level but inspiring some interest may just start them on their own journey. Lastly, I love how you spoke to children and their love for discovery and that we should preserve the beauty of nature so that they may still have the opportunity for similar experiences to us, we need to preserve the outdoors so that it remains for them to see (Beck et al., 2018). On top of that, we have the opportunity to lift barriers of accessibility, such as through the internet.

Great job on yet another discussion post, I hope you have a great rest of the semester!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[arenvs3000w22]

Final Blog Post

It’s hard to believe that this blog post is the last of the semester. I’ve really liked working in this format and reading the insights of my peers in this course. Many of you have had really unique and inspiring experiences with nature! It’s motivating to be reminded of the scope of opportunities that are waiting to be explored.

One belief that I’ve developed throughout the semester is that everyone deserves access to nature. I believe that nature interpreters are in an ideal position to bring nature to people with barriers that prevent them from exploring outside. Everyone has the ability to appreciate the connections between culture and landscape in some capacity, but not everyone has the opportunity to do so. As a nature interpreter, I have a responsibility to tailor programming that focuses on including those whose access to nature is limited. Nature is a place where everyone belongs. As the textbook mentions, there are strategic ways to integrate programs for disabled and non-disabled people, providing unity rather than separation (Beck et al., p. 141, 2018). There are also non-traditional ways to increase access. Virtual resources can be appealing as they are generally less costly and can be viewed anytime. They also tend to have the option to be translated into other languages, slowed down, made louder, transcribed, or paused. A skilled nature interpreter should be able to provide a sense of immersion through virtual programs, recognizing that the reach of their interpretation will extend to a much more diverse audience. Virtual resources have the capacity to plant the seed of nature appreciation as effectively as other types of programs.

Another belief I have fostered is that quality interpreters don’t shy away from ‘humanness.’ The most effective teachers and interpreters I have engaged with have sought to build a connection with their audience. They don’t adopt an air of superiority, but instead they humbly share their knowledge and admit when they are unsure of something. Rather than robotically regurgitating information, these individuals strive to incorporate anecdotes and unique perspectives. Vulnerability is a key attribute of good interpretation. I find that I feel far more comfortable asking questions to someone who has made it clear that they are my friend. Since the goal of interpretation is to inspire a passion for conservation and regeneration, it’s imperative to allow your audience to feel comfortable and safe enough to engage with the concepts you share.

As an interpreter, I have a responsibility to the next generation. I find purpose in stewarding the Earth even if it won’t benefit me during my lifetime. I strongly believe that the decisions I make today should support the best interests of the future. I won’t be here forever, so as an extension of this responsibility, I should strive to prepare the next generation to serve their descendants. Acting sustainably makes me feel good, because I feel like I am doing my small part to protect nature. I want to pass this feeling on to others, too. It is critical to recognize that you can make a difference on an individual level, and that your choices do affect nature and people. This course has led me to learn about citizen science projects and the ways in which they bring people of all ages and education levels together in working towards a common goal: conservation. It can be really encouraging to know that you can do something good right where you are. 

And, even if my interpretive efforts do not cause my audience members to become instant stewards, I can still rest easy knowing that experiencing nature benefits creativity and health in the short and long term (Louv & Suzuki, 2012).

For me, the most suitable approaches to nature interpretation are at the intersection of art and nature. I find art to be such a rich way to interpret nature that extends beyond what words alone can accomplish. Whether its music, visual art, poetry or storytelling, art has the ability to affect each member of the audience deeply and differently. And, the same experience in nature can inspire very different artistic products. Consider these two paintings, both inspired by the Grand Canyon and composed within a couple of years of each other. One is a very literal, bright take on the scene, and the other is more abstract and looming. It’s clear that different things are important to these artists, but at least one commonality exists between them – their desire to immortalize the beauty of nature. It amazes me how making and seeing art can affect people diversely, and I would love to share that amazement with others.

Carol Nelson’s interpretation of the Grand Canyon, “Grand Canyon 2″

Randy Follis’ interpretation, “Grand Canyon”

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

DavidSuzukiFDN. (2012). David Suzuki and Richard Louv @Ago. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DI1Ffdl6Y&t=272s.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Annika,

I also can’t believe that it is almost the end of the semester and I completely relate to enjoying listening to the insights of our peers. As for your belied, I absolutely agree that everyone deserves access to nature and I think it is excellent that you are focusing on tailoring programming to those who have accessibility issues (Beck et al., 2018). Especially in the age of the internet, there isn’t a good excuse to not provide virtual resources and they can be so useful as you mentioned due to how you can manipulate the speed, language, volume and various other factors (Beck et al., 2018). This could even be very useful as you present live animals to those who may be fearful and you can bring the animal up close to the camera and the viewer can get a better look at a creature they would be unwilling to be that close to in real life. Moreover, introducing a ‘humanness’ into interpretation is certainly something all interpreters should strive for to introduce more comfort into the process by getting them to want to engage and learn more. We are certainly responsible to be stewards to the Earth and teach others that they need to become responsible too. I believe if everyone took a little bit of responsibility it would make a world of a difference. Going forward, those of us who choose to have children or adopt them should try to instill the concept that they need to protect the Earth from a young age. As you mentioned, citizen science is a great way to introduce someone to this concept. Lastly, I found it wonderful that you spoke about the intersection of art and nature and the power of storytelling, those are certainly effective methods and approaches to striking interest in this subject matter (Beck et al., 2018). You described that art piece in such an enticing way, I can understand how this would be a great way to approach non-nature lovers.

Great discussion post and good luck with the rest of the semester!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Goodbye Nature Nerds

Wow, what a semester this has been! I hope all of you have been exploring nature as spring begins to uncover the ground to make room for new growth.

As an aspiring nature interpreter, my personal ethic is to keep the focus of nature interpretation on inspiring a passion to take care of the environment in others (Beck et al., 2018). Teaching others that it is great to explore nature and get out into the wild is amazing, but to make them cognizant that, as they do so, they could ultimately damage the environment is critical because we want to encourage responsible and respectful nature enthusiasts (Beck et al., 2018). In contrast with the expression encouraging you to “take the road less travelled,” perhaps consider sticking to the trail as foot traffic can trample flora. Moreover, do not take biotic or abiotic items from the natural environment as it may disrupt the ecosystem, remember to pick up after yourself or your pet and dispose of the waste properly, do not wash dirty dishes in freshwater sources instead use your own water away from streams, if creating a campfire you have to contain it whilst burning and remember to completely extinguish it before you leave, and these are just a few tips. If you practice these habits, it makes all of the difference in preserving the natural environment ensuring that it remains for others to experience and appreciate.

Do you have any other good advice for habits to protect the environment?

A belief I hold when it comes to nature interpretation is that nature is for everyone, but it is to be appreciated in different ways based upon one’s abilities or background (Beck et al., 2018). For example those with various physical disabilities may use different senses to enjoy nature. Deaf individuals may rely more heavily on their sense of sight and, contrastingly, a blind individual may rely more heavily on their hearing. I believe some individuals may argue that they are not getting the “full experience,” however, I counter that with there is no one standard by which everyone enjoys nature. Other than just in terms of disabilities, individuals have different perspectives due to varying cultural and religious upbringings. I strongly hold that, though these various factors may impact the way in which they perceive the beauty of nature, everyone is capable of appreciating it (Beck et al., 2018). As the colloquial phrase implies, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Moreover, these varying perspectives teach the rest of us different ways to view nature and, as a nature interpreter, it is best to understand how others view nature and learn more which increases my breadth of knowledge as an interpreter making me better at my job. Learning from others also would allow me to make nature more accessible to others, such as through developing virtual nature walks or programs, as well as other activities that best suit individuals’ various learning styles, such as by developing podcasts for auditory learners, creating visual art portraying nature for visual learners, and designing hands-on activities for kinesthetic learners, etc.; there are many options available for different types of learners (Beck et al., 2018).

Beyond protecting the environment, which I consider the greatest ethic with which a nature interpreter must adhere to, the major responsibility that I believe the nature interpreter has to impart upon others is that we all should be held responsible to take care of the Earth: each of us has an impact, for better or for worse (Beck et al., 2018). Though it may feel like our actions are little as we are only individuals on this Earth containing billions of people, if everyone took some responsibility, we would make a difference as a whole. The issue is getting others to believe or to care at all. I believe the best route to getting others to understand would be to tell individuals the truth and not sugar coat as I believe little white lies told to comfort individuals do more harm than good. I think that individuals need to be aware of the severity of the dire situation facing our environment to want to take action. The large example that I’m sure is on all of our minds is climate change. We need people to understand that every action they perform has a consequence and that there is a need to reduce our carbon footprint to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure that we have clean air and water for generations to come. But I only think that this strategy works if you provide advice on how to help out because we do not want to open pandora’s box of negativity. In the case of climate change, advice that would convince me to try to make a difference to protect our environment but not intimidate me from even trying would include recommending I eat less meat and dairy, take public transportation when possible, reduce energy use by turning off lights in rooms where you are not present, try to reduce the waste you produce, etc. Actionable day-to-day tasks are very motivating, especially as a starting point, and then you can work up to larger tasks such as attending protests and trying to change legislation.

Would you take this approach, or do you believe that there is a better way to go about getting others to comprehend the severity of the situation? If you have a new idea, share it so we can all be better informed!

Thank you all for sharing with me this semester, I have learned so much from all of you that a textbook could never cover so I am grateful. I am certainly going to miss these enlightening conversations that we were having weekly. In closing, I hope you continue to get out into nature and explore responsibly. I can’t wait to find out what you are all up to someday, maybe we can all catch up somewhere in nature on a hike.

Not goodbye, but see you later nature nerds!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[fdenvs3000w22]

The one giant tree ~ blog 08

What generally comes to your mind when you think of a tree? Probably some bright green leaves that symbolize the relief from summer’s heat or the orange, yellow, red, brownish leaves that hint at the fall, some roots, the shade, the cool breeze and a trunk. But not all trees follow that formula. One natural example of this beautiful creation is the clonal groves (as seen below):

Now, it may seem like they all are individual trees, but they’re actually all part of ONE giant tree in reality. Clonal gloves represent a swath of forest connected underground by a single network of roots, which means that each trunk is genetically identical to others. The most famous example of a clonal grove is Pando, quaking aspen (i.e. trembling aspens) in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest. The word Pando itself means “I spread” in Latin, perfectly describing its cluster of aspens spread from a single seed. While its tricky to tell exactly how long Pondo has been around because the individual trunks only live up to about 100-150 years. Scientists have predicted that this organism has been growing for at least 80,000 years now.

Yet it’s so hard to decide the most memorable part about aspen: the tall tube-like clusters of the white stand? The sounds of the quaking leaves? Or because they’re one of the first things to turn vibrant yellow in the fall? The leaves of the trembling aspens catch the breeze so that it looks like the tree is shaking and turn a brilliant gold in the fall and notably are the only trees that change colour like that in the West. Regardless of what comes to mind when you think aspens, they hold the title of the most widespread trees in North America and are one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world. Underneath the soil, the dense network of roots connects all of its 47,000 stems, covering over 100 acres of land. But don’t be disappointed; that’s not the only place you’ll find this grove. Its quaking aspens are the dotted edge of conifer forests in clusters across Canada from the Midwest, North into Alaska, and West through Arizona and New Mexico.

The deciduous aspen stands thrive in various environments as they quickly colonize recently burned or bare areas as long as they receive the proper conditions. They prefer moist soil but can also survive near the springs or desert conditions. Aspens grow throughout the year, even in the winter; the thin white outer bark layer consists of a delicate green photosynthetic layer that allows the trees to produce sugars and grow when other deciduous trees might be dormant. This serves as an ideal source for deer and elks as they can obtain nutrients from the green sugary layer in harsh winters.

Now you may be wondering how these trees develop. Scientists have discovered that the Clonal aspens like Pando reproduce the traditional way and aren’t very good at it. This is because they have three sets of chromosomes than the usual two sets. So, when the conditions are supporting, they stick to sending up new shoots under the grove from the mass of the roots. And this traditional method has allowed Pando to survive for the longest time. Still, lately, it has been worrisome that they may not be able to clone themselves as quickly to stay alive in the future, and several places in the West are beginning to see diebacks of the aspen. The main reason behind this is that deer, and other animals heavily feed upon the shoots, which prevents the trees and clones from reaching maturity.

While being in nature is known to lead to better health, kindness and even creativity, I have always believed that there is something extraordinary about being among trees in a forest. While the most prominent role of trees is that they produce the oxygen that we breathe and sequester the carbon dioxide to help protect our atmosphere. My favourite part of trees is the psychological benefits of walking through a forest. Forest environments are known to have a significant contribution to promoting mental health. For instance, deliberately spending time in the woods, commonly referred to as “forest bathing,” can help us heal from the stresses and strains of our hectic daily lives. Can you think of any other benefits that we get from interacting with trees?

I am sure as the research continues to grow, so will my tree appreciation. As described in our textbook, experiences of awe stimulate purpose, creativity, curiosity, wonder and perspective. In regards to mental health, the experience of awe can reduce stress and improve mood (Beck et al. 2018). Forests are essential to many Canadians’ spiritual wellbeing and recreational activities. They serve as natural playgrounds for cultural traditions and spiritual sanctuaries for many activities (Beck et al. 2018). The sustainable management of the forest ecosystem allows us to benefit from all the beautiful things nature offers, whether at a park or museum or even visiting the Clonal gloves. It’s not about memorizing the name of the plants or the birds that we share the planet with but more like an opportunity to question, grow, and be moved, momentarily stunned or puzzled by something you could have never pictured would exist in nature around us (Beck et al. 2018).

Thank you for reading!

Farheen D.

References:

Bartels, M. (2016, July 8). This looks like a forest, but it’s actually just one tree - and it’s one of the oldest and largest organisms on Earth. Business Insider. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://www.businessinsider.com/pando-aspen-grove-utah-oldest-largest-organism-2016-7 

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

Kilvert, N. (2018, October 18). The world’s largest organism, known as ‘The trembling giant,’ is collapsing. ABC News. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-10-18/pando-aspen-clone-utah-collapse/10383562 

Magazine, S. (2018, October 18). Pando, one of the world’s largest organisms, is dying. Smithsonian.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pano-one-worlds-largest-organisms-dying-180970579/ 

Tree profile: Aspen - so much more than a tree - national … (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/tree-profile-aspen-so-much-more-than-a-tree

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Farheen!

Great post this week! It was fascinating reading all of that descriptive imagery that I think comes to mind when most Canadians think of trees. I certainly wasn't aware that there are many examples of trees that don’t follow that formula, in which you were describing deciduous trees, other than the coniferous ones. I had never heard of a clonal groove before reading your post and it sure made me wonder how many trees I thought I have seen were actually just part of a single clonal groove. I also wonder if there are many clonal grooves present in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada as that area resembles Utah the closest, which is where the famous example you provided is from. Moreover, it is impressive how many fantastical elements these trees have, ranging from the colouring to the sounds. This type of nature certainly provides us positive benefits through providing us psychological benefits by promoting mental health, but I also believe that another way that it benefits us is through encouraging us to engage in our various senses (Beck et al., 2018). Having to focus on our five senses: taste, sight, touch, smell, and sound, requires us to slow down to explore nature more and ground ourselves in the present instead of racing towards the future (Beck et al., 2018). Being in university, and imagining that you can probably relate in some aspect, I think we could all use a moment to stop and explore a clonal groove, or if not some other amazing part of nature.

I am looking forward to reading more of your posts.

- Taite

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[aeb-envs3000-w22]

Hibernation: Nature's Nap

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word ‘hibernation’? For me, it used to be something along the lines of this cartoon:

(Rich, 2018)

To put it into words, it’s a bear taking a really long nap and waking up once spring arrives. I have some news for you – it’s so much more than that!

Hibernation, also known as multi-day torpor, is characterized by “pronounced temporal reductions in body temperature, energy expenditure, water loss, and other physiological functions and [is] the most effective means for energy conservation available to endotherms” (Geiser, 2013). But what does that even mean? In other words:

Hibernation is characterized by time-based decreases in body temperature, amount of energy being spent to survive, how much water is leaving the body, and what other functions the body is carrying out. It is the best way for ‘warm-blooded’ animals, or those who maintain a constant body temperature regardless of the environment, to save as much energy as possible (EB, 2018).

It is currently believed by scientists that hibernation in bears is triggered by environmental cues such as changes in the ambient temperature and the length of days based on hours of sunshine (Evans et al., 2016). As these cues begin to occur, the bears participate in hyperphagia, also known as a ‘food frenzy’ (Dybas, 2020). This begins in late summer and leads them to forage for up to 18 hours a day will consuming 15 to 20 thousand calories a day (Dybas, 2020). This leads to a build up of fat stores, allowing them to sustain themselves through months of hibernation without losing virtually any muscle of bone mass (Dybas, 2020). As spring approaches, physiological cues such as changes in body temperature and general discomfort lead to arousal and emergence of bears (Evans et al., 2016). Overall, the annual life cycle of a bear can be divided into five basic stages (NABC, 2022):

Hibernation: A state of continuous dormancy with evident decreases in heart rate and metabolic rate. Oxygen consumption and respiration rates also decreases, with individuals taking less than 4 breaths per minute.

Walking hibernation: The few weeks following hibernation during which metabolic processes slowly return to normal. During this stage, consumption and excretion are both lower than normal.

Normal activity: This stage typically spans from when plants begin to sprout in the spring until mid-summer or fall. They spend their days consuming up to 8000 calories per day. If they are denied access to water or food, they will become extremely ill, unlikely in winter when they hibernate instead.

Hyperphagia: The period of excessive eating and drinking in order to prepare for hibernation.

Fall transition: Process after hyperphagia, when metabolic processes begin to change in preparation for hibernation. Bears become extremely lethargic and will sleep for most of the day.

Now, I know I’ve talked about bears so far, but did you know that there are a lot of other species that also undergo torpor, or hibernation? Other hibernators include many amphibian, reptile and fish species (EB, 2021). Insects can even hibernate too (Richard, 2009)! One major example of this is monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), which migrate over 5000 kilometres to their overwintering sites, called ‘hibernacula’, before burying themselves to hibernate (Richard, 2009).

Did you learn anything new today about hibernation/torpor?

References:

Dybas, C. L. (2020). Into the den: Investigating hibernation. BioScience, 70(2), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz145

Evans, A. L., Singh, N. J., Friebe, A., Arnemo, J. M., Laske, T. G., Fröbert, O., Swenson. J. E., & Blanc, S. (2016). Drivers of hibernation in the brown bear. Frontiers in Zoology, 13(7), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-016-0140-6

Geiser, F. (2013). Hibernation. Current Biology, 23(5), R188-R193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.01.062

North American Bear Center [NABC] (2022). 5 stages of activity and hibernation. North American Bear Center. https://bear.org/5-stages-of-activity-and-hibernation/

Rich, B. (2018). Hibernation’s End? [Cartoon]. Hedgeye. https://app.hedgeye.com/insights/66658-cartoon-of-the-day-hibernation-s-end?type=cartoons

Richard, E. L. Jr. (2009). Encyclopedia of insects (2nd ed.). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374144-8.00127-2

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica [EB] (2018, November 15). Endotherm. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/endotherm

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica [EB] (2021, February 14). hibernation. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/hibernation

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Amanda!

Excellent post this week! I certainly learned a lot more about hibernation than I ever was taught in school or the knowledge I acquired practically through listening to others or the media. Though I did know that more than just bears hibernated, such as ground squirrels and bats, I knew nothing about the actual definition of what hibernation was beyond thinking of it as a long sleep. I had no clue that hibernation consisted of “pronounced temporal reductions … and [is] the most effective means for energy conservation available to endotherms” (Geiser, 2013). Though it is logical that the body experiences a decrease in temperature due to a slowed-down metabolism, I had never come to this conclusion prior to reading this blog post. I was very surprised to learn that the length of days based on the hours of sunshine impact when hibernation is triggered (Evans et al. 2016). In any of your research could you find any information on why this has an impact on hibernation? I am admittedly still confused about that aspect. Though I was already aware that bears calorie-load prior to the hibernation period, I had no clue to what extent. They were some very impressive amounts! I like how you continued your post by breaking down the annual life cycle of the bear as it is reminiscent of all the animals I see reappearing at this time of year during the start of spring. It makes me think of past years when I visited my grandparents in Manitoba at this time of year and saw all of the ground squirrels reappear. It's amazing to know why this actually works in this order and how.

Thank you so much for another excellent read this week.

- Taite

Evans, A. L., Singh, N. J., Friebe, A., Arnemo, J. M., Laske, T. G., Fröbert, O., Swenson. J. E., & Blanc, S. (2016). Drivers of hibernation in the brown bear. Frontiers in Zoology, 13(7), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-016-0140-6

Geiser, F. (2013). Hibernation. Current Biology, 23(5), R188-R193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.01.062

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Math within Nature.

Unit 09 Blog

Though they may seem so different, math and nature intersect with a common ground rooted in symmetry, the natural constant, and Fibonacci’s sequence.

Symmetry can occur in three different ways: rotational symmetry, bilateral symmetry, and translational symmetry. Rotational symmetry can be described as when you rotate an object upon its own axis, its shape still looks the same. Rotational symmetry is replicated in nature very frequently in flowers, for example, but they are also an example of bilateral symmetry at the same time. Bilateral symmetry occurs when an image is inverted perpendicularly through the plane, this could also be considered reflection or mirror symmetry. Butterflies are a classic example of bilateral symmetry in nature, so are many other insects. Lastly, translational symmetry occurs when each point in a figure is moved the same distance in the same direction. This was certainly the one furthest from my mind, but upon further inspection, looking at many images of nature enlightened me to the fact that it the structures of crystals and honeycombs present in a beehive.

Have you noticed any other types of symmetry in nature? If not, do any particular examples of symmetry in nature fascinate you? Explain why. Personally, I quite enjoy bilateral symmetry as it reminds me of that form of art I would do as a child where I would fold a paper in half, open it and place paint on one side in a design, fold it closed along the already formed crease, and reopen it to a beautiful, bilaterally symmetrical, image. Moreover, I believe it is appealing to the human eye as we humans are, mostly, bilaterally symmetric and familiarity is comforting.

As for the natural constant, mathematically known as “e”, is something known as Euler’s number (Ping, 2016). Named after famous mathematician Leonhard Euler, Euler’s number is a constant that appears with exponential growth or decay (Ping, 2016). What is riveting about this mathematical constant is that it is easily found in the natural world within the growth of plants or ammonite shells (Ping, 2016). There are countless occurrences of it within the natural, but you may recognize it from logarithmic equations in math classes.

Lastly, I want to mention the Fibonacci sequence. If you are like me, you recall learning about this string of numbers in which each number that appears is a sum of the previous two numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc. (Carlson, 2019). What is unique about these numbers is that the ratio between any number and the one prior it follows a 1:1.618 ratio famously known as the golden ratio (Carlson, 2019). In nature, it can be observed in the shell of a snail, the petals of flowers, the pattern of sunflower seeds, or the spiral pattern of a pine cone (Carlson, 2019). In the media, you may have heard references to the golden ratio in related beauty: it is commonly held as the mathematical symmetry algorithm underlying what we perceive as attractive (Carlson, 2019). This related back to nature’s presence in our lives as a “gift of beauty” (Beck et al., 2018). All of this said, if math is in nature and nature is beautiful, then math can be beautiful. Do you agree? Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Can you think of any other examples of math in nature?

Talk to you soon fellow nature nerds!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Carlson, S. C. (2019). Golden ratio. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/golden-ratio

Ping, X. (2016). ​​Why natural constant “e” is called “natural”. The University of Melbourne. https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2016/09/04/why-natural-constant-e-is-called-natural/

[dhenvs3000w22]

Nature Interpretation through Music - Blog 7

Where is music in nature to me…

The diversity of birds communicating across different ecosystems, the background noise of leaves and bushes brushing and swaying in the wind, the sound of water and streams bashing upon rocks and barriers, species interacting with one another.

When you truly think about it, whether you are submerged within any terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem or landscape, any amount of noise you may hear can affiliate with the production of its own uniqueness of instrumental notes forming music to your ears.

Gray et al. (2001) raised a question stating “Is music-making in humans defined by our genes?”. This is quite interesting to read such that I believe certain humans as much as animals may obtain this. But also visualizing at the same time, each and every single person on Earth grasps their own uniqueness to music-making and having a voice through various areas of art.

I think it can be as simple as that.

Where is nature in music to me…

I believe that nature continues to inspire composers and artists, maybe because of its infinite variety; inspiration appears to be sparked invisibly, and all one has to do is open his or her eyes and ears and enjoy the beauty around them before they begin pouring out their emotions. Nature has an enormous way of impacting individuals in a positive way, this is a topic I try to stress in every blog post such that nature offers more than what we can imagine or personally know.

A song that reminds me of nature is…

West coast by OneRepublic

This song allows me to imagine traveling somewhere warm. It talks about where you may be in a point of time surrounded by gray skies, that you can break out of that and go somewhere that makes you happy. It allows me to envision going to a place of positivity, where it's warmer, brighter, no rain or clouds in the sky, being kissed by the sun. My safe space in nature is the beach which I have talked about in other posts, such that this song allows me to feel as if I am there.

Give it a listen if you’d like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBPE2fZsVYU

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Dalia,

Wonderful post this week, I really enjoyed reading it!

Let me just say, wow! You described the sounds of nature beautifully and I can imagine the music that all of those elements create when you listen to them in harmony. The diversity of biotic and abiotic factors and the ever-changing factors in an ecosystem form a unique experience every time you visit. I always forget to think about aquatic environments, but perhaps I think that may be the most musical environment due to the gurgling water, the croaking of frogs, the humming cicadas, etc. I believe it is up to the discretion of the listener whether or not they hear the amalgamation of sounds as music or if they don’t. I am curious what your opinion on this matter is: is it up to the discretion of the listener to decide if they are listening to music or not when hearing sounds in the natural world?

I think when you spoke of the question that Grey et al. (2001) posed, I am torn about whether I agree or disagree. I guess my answer to the question “Is music-making in humans defined by our genes? would be yes and no (Gray et al., 2001). As you said, we all have our unique vision when it comes to interpreting music, but I also strongly believe that it has been instilled into us to make music due to its ability to transfer information in an easily memorizable way (Gray et al., 2001). I believe that it is an oral tradition that has all types of learning patterns associated with it: vertical traditions, oblique traditions, or horizontal traditions (Gray et al., 2001).

Nature is certainly a large inspiration for composers and artists because our lives have been intertwined with the natural world for so long. We often return to nature to find peace, go on a walk and listen to bird songs or sit by a lake and meditate, listening to the lapping of waves on the shore. We may not even be cognizant of why we do this, but most individuals I know say they find peace in nature.

I hadn’t heard this song before, but I really enjoyed West Coast by OneRepublic. They create a strong sense of imagery through lyrics speaking about the landscape and the weather in a very alluring way. Moreover, they evoked strong positive feelings through the imagery, very convincing to visit the West Coast, even for an individual like myself who prefers cooler weather.

I am looking forward to reading about what you post next!

- Taite

Gray, P., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

[gvhenvs3000w22]

Music in Nature

Where is music in nature?

TLDR; its everywhere! From songbirds, to the sounds of crunching leaves in the fall, trees creaking in the forest, bugs chirping, the sounds of animals communicating surrounds us in nature. A great memory is the feeling when you wake up in a tent, to the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels squeaking, singing their wake up song just for you!

Where is nature in music?

When I read this question, the first thing that popped into my mind is the song Blackbird by The Beatles. The first time I heard this song, the introduction of the bird chirping at the end of the song was just the cherry on top of such a beautiful song! With a calm beat and a soft guitar, the songbird’s song really suits the vibe of the song and always makes me smile. Hearing this song always puts me into a calm state, just as I feel when I am surrounded by nature listening to the birds sing!

Another way that nature is used in music is in indigenous cultures. The drum represents the heartbeat of mother earth, as drums are made by stretching animal hide over a wooden frame. Using animal hide to create a drum is a great example of how nature can be found in music.

Songs that take me back to nature are camp songs! As the youngest in my family, I always enjoyed trying to get my cousins and brother to sing along with my nonsense. My favourite camp song is one that my mom taught me, its about being chased by a bear! I often forget the words so I am thankful that she spent many years attending and working at a summer camp so the songs are stuck in her head. I always make sure we sing all our camp songs atleast once a year at a campfire. 

I have another memory with the song Forest by Twenty One Pilots. A few years back in Killarney, I brought my ukulele to my favourite rock, and played the song quietly while looking out onto the lake. Although I don’t play much ukulele anymore, anytime I hear that song it transports me back to my rock, watching the sunset and playing my song.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Grace,

Great post this week, I really enjoyed reading it!

I am in complete agreement that music is everywhere in nature. I love how you described the wonderful sounds one experiences when waking up in a tent, it was certainly relatable from the perspective of a fellow camper who loves the outdoors. Despite this, I think you forgot to include the less favourable sounds in the middle of the night like your dog yelling at the raccoon rustling around in your cooler … or is that just me?

Blackbird is an excellent choice as there is the actual inclusion of the bird chipping at the end of the song, but also within the lyrics, they are speaking directly of nature, the blackbird, to represent a larger meaning with its statement about racial discrimination. Additionally, it is such an excellent song due to its calming effect like you were saying I think in part due to the simplistic instrumentals.

That was fascinating learning about those aspects of music in Indigenous culture, prior to reading this, I knew nothing. Do you happen to know what type of animal hide could be used for drum making? Thinking about other musical instruments, horse hairs are used in the bow of violins and I am sure that historically there were even more examples. I had only previously thought of the connection of hearing music in nature’s sounds or incorporating nature into music through lyrics or instrumentals emulating the sounds.

Camp songs are fantastic and a great representation of oral traditions, especially when you try to get everyone involved at least yearly at a campfire. If you continue to do this kind of event, everyone will learn to memorize and recognize the musical patterns and these learned oral traditions get passed onto future generations (Gray et al., 2001). Moreover, having been a camp counsellor, I can certainly attest to having these kinds of songs stuck in your head. One reason that I think this occurs is that it is a musical style consisting of repeated patterns that enable listeners to retain the music they hear (Gray et al., 2001).

I loved hearing about your memory associated with Forest by Twenty One Pilots and how it transports you back to a time and place. I can totally visualize what your memory would be like having listened to the song now.

Good luck with your future posts, you’re doing a great job!

- Taite

Gray, P., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Music and Nature.

Unit 07 Blog Post

Where is music in nature?

Music is absolutely everywhere in nature!

All of the sounds we hear, the flora and fauna, form a musical symphony. Together the rustling of the leaves in the trees, the creaking of branches and the rush of a stream, accompanied by melodic bird song and the chittering of squirrels form a beautiful “soundscape” that is intriguing (Gray et al., 2001).

Based on the definition that “music has been defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes” I believe that these naturally occurring sounds fulfill the majority of these requirements other than the fact that I do not believe that music made in nature has an intention of being produced for human liking, but rather that humans coincidentally enjoy (Gray et al., 2001). The songs of nature consisting “rhythmic repeated utterances” happen to be constructed in a similar way that human composers create (Gray et al., 2001). Moreover, like humans, every individual creature creates a different sound even when part of the same species; everything has its unique voice.

Throughout my writing on this topic, I have been likening music in nature to music composed by humans, but I think it should be the other way around. Humans have certainly been inspired by the music of nature that predates us, we did not invent music (Gray et al., 2001). Birds, for example, create songs consisting of rhythm, pitch and combinations of notes among other musical elements and motifs, something human composers often emulate (Gray et al., 2001).

What other animals do you think may share a lot of core elements of their songs and music with humans?

Where is nature in music?

My instant answer to this question is imagery. By imagery I mean both lyrical imagery and imagery conveyed through the instrumental aspects of a piece. Many famous songs reference different aspects of nature in tandem with trying to convey an emotion, for example, when referencing personal growth, one may use lyrics of blooming flowers as imagery, or when referencing overcoming hardship maybe climbing a mountain would be used as imagery in the lyrics. Furthermore, instruments are often used to imitate the sounds of nature. Often a flute or other light and airy woodwinds are used to represent bird song or various percussive techniques can be used to copy the sound of crashing waves on shorelines. We humans feel a great need to incorporate nature into our lives through creating, performing, and listening to music (Gray et al., 2001).

Where is music in nature?

It may seem like an obvious choice as this song was composed as part of a collection based upon the seasons, and you may already have a clue what I am referencing, but this would be “Spring 1” of Max Richter’s album “Recomposed: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.” I would recommend you give it a listen before I explain my thoughts on it, so go ahead and follow that link to the YouTube recording of it. I hope you enjoy it even just 1% as much as I do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41IOkVjy3MM

I find it clearly succeeds in imitating the feelings associated with spring. It is chaotic, but uplifting as many things are occurring, new birth and life is appearing everywhere. It is almost overwhelming, but it reminds me of how I feel when standing in a field of flowers blooming in the spring. It makes me think of the warm sunshine reflecting off the dew drops on the grass, bunnies nibbling on grass, bright bursts of colour everywhere, and vibrancy more than anything. I think all of this is achieved by layering many string instruments to demonstrate just how much is happening, performing the song in a major key to evoke a sense of happiness, the incorporation of scales creating a sense of how quickly everything is happening, etc.

What did you think of this song and how did it make you feel?

Talk to you soon fellow nature nerds!

Gray, P., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

[efenvs3000w22]

Unit 6

Unpacking the given quote for this week’s post has proved to be challenging for me. I have spent some time thinking about it, and my mind keeps going back to the idea that history is a narrative. It depends on who’s telling that narrative. In another class of mine, we learned how important it is to conduct scientific research to include different narratives. In particular, including various knowledge systems, such as the scientific community and local and Indigenous knowledge. There are many forms of knowledge and many narratives surrounding natural history, which can greatly differ from different points of view. I think an example of such is National Parks in Canada. They are seen as beautiful and vital pieces of Canada’s history to help maintain our country’s historical natural landscape. Their creation is usually seen as positive, but that is a colonialist viewpoint. I do not want to speak for a point of view that is not my own, so I want to say that I am not a part of a First Nations community. It is a fact that the creation of National Parks in Canada displaced many First Nations communities. They were excluded from entering and prohibited from doing any activity in the parks, such as hunting for these people (McNamee & Finkelstein, 2012). This land, described as pristine, has been cultivated for a very long time by First Nations communities before creating the parks, so even the idea that National Parks conserve the integrity of natural history is not wholly accurate (McNamee & Finkelstein, 2012). My point is that the idea of having complete integrity in history is not possible. There are always different narratives that influence the integrity of history. With National Parks, which have a goal of preserving natural history, their efficacy is subjective. They have a history of violence that is often forgotten. As suggested in the course notes for this week, who’s narrative are we hearing when we are told the history of a place? It is crucial to incorporate different areas of knowledge and even what knowledge is, as it can come in many forms.

The natural landscape we see around us now has been shaped by our land use and development history. The forests we see in southern Ontario are majority new-growth forests because centuries of logging and land development decimated old-growth forests in the area (Land Owner Resource Center, n.d.). The natural beauty we see in forests in southern Ontario now is not the same as what was here before colonialists settled here. Maintaining the integrity of biodiversity as it is currently does not necessarily depict the natural history of a place. The history of a place is difficult to claim the integrity of, as nature is constantly changing and being affected by numerous facets all the time. Trying our best to understand history through different points of view and from different information can give a more complete image of the past. It is important to consider the effects past actions have had to make better choices in the future. As the quote suggests, just because it is in the past does not mean there are no repercussions still around from that history - such as with new growth forests and the formation of National Parks.

Emily

References

Land Owner Resource Center. (n.d.) The Old-Growth Forests of Southern Ontario. Government of Ontario. Retrieved February 15, 2022 from https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads//2021/07/oldgwth.pdf

McNamee, K., & Finkelstein, M. W. (2012). National Parks of Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-parks-of-canada

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Emily,

Amazing post this week, I really enjoyed reading it!

The thought you came to that “history is a narrative” that depends on who’s telling the narrative resonated with me. A one-sided narrative will almost always be biased in some regard so having multiple voices provides the general public with enough information into different perspectives so that they are able to come to an educated conclusion. Most science communication, in regards to environmental science, is taught using a very Western perspective without including the knowledge system of Indigenous peoples. I had no idea that the National Parks in Canada displaced Indigenous communities and prevented them from entering or the ability to perform their regular activities. As with the majority of interpretation, what I have seen from National Parks has been focused on the colonizer’s viewpoint and I feel that we are missing part of the picture, after all, we want a wealth of knowledge to create the most accurate and authentic picture of what occurred (Beck et al., 2018). Of course, one cannot attain complete integrity and accuracy in history, but we must seek to attain this as best as possible (Beck et al., 2018).

It was fascinating to learn about the forests located here in Southern Ontario. I was not aware that they were new-growth forests due to logging and land development. It does make me wish there was more historical interpretation of what the lands looked like before the colonization of the area. The natural history of the area has been lost and it is a shame, but it does inspire me and hopefully others to keep records through various written documents or art forms, such as photography so that those in the future can look back and discover what changes have occurred as nature constantly changes. I believe that some provincial parks have done a decent job at this, allowing future generations to come the ability to comprehend how the land has changed over time.

Do you think that any other institutions focused on the beauty of nature have done a good job at recording natural history and interpreting the information?

I can’t wait to read more of your future posts, good luck!

- Taite

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[asenvs3000w22]

Nature Interpretation through History

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.”

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

To me, Hyams’ quote speaks of the importance of interpretation in keeping the merit of ancient things or history as a whole alive. In essence, he is saying that ancient artefacts and places on their own hold no unusual merit, but it is the interpretation of these things that holds true merit. His railway station analogy also reiterates the importance of acknowledging the whole of history and not just the small part that we encompass.

Over the decades, and even centuries we have developed various tools and techniques for interpreting histroy. For example, chronological thinking is at the heart of historical interpretation. This type of thinking has allowed for the interpretation of data presented in timelines, in order to create new timelines that allow us to explain historical continuity and change. Archaeologists use tangible elements of a place (natural surroudning, artefacts) to advance the intangible meanings associate them.  This association between intangible and tangible things can allow for the full spirit of a place, event, or object to emerge (Beck et al. 2019). This is because many of the intangibles  reflect on feelings that everyone can relate to (suffering, triumph, love, generosity) these may be referred to as universal concepts" (Beck et al., 2019).

 In terms of this relating to nature interpretation, I think that nature interpreters such as those that work in national parks can further use these universal concepts to explain the Genius Loci of a place to visitors (Beck et al., 2019). However, as I have mentioned in previous posts, this will require the acknowledgment of indigenous peoples and the fact that many national parks and sites were once home to indigenous peoples. Inviting indigenous people back into these spaces and allowing them to share their stories of love, suffering and triumph will make the distinctive nature (genius) of these locations (loci) all the more apparent.

 Reference:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Redshelf eBook. Sagamore Publishing. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://platform.virdocs.com/r/s/0/doc/1948104/sp/245407251/mi/718086528?cfi=%2F4%2F4&menu=index.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Aasna,

Great post this week, I really enjoyed reading it!

I found myself interpreting the quote in a similar manner: the main messaging that Hyams was trying to convey is that we need interpretation to help keep history alive. Ancient artifacts do not hold their own merit simply due to age, I believe that would be preposterous. It is certainly the interpretation of any item that determines whether it holds true merit. For example, a wedding ring holds more merit than a regular diamond ring because the wedding ring symbolizes love and commitment within a relationship and the other ring does not hold such meaning.

I agree with you as I think that the railway station analogy was a well-written way to describe how interpreting the small parts as a whole is what matters, not them as individual pieces. As individual pieces, elements like artifacts, monuments, and places of historical significance do not produce a significant impact, but together they tell a story, for example through a chronology of what happened, and that story is what resonates with people (Beck et al., 2018).

Prior to this week's readings and your discussion post, I hadn’t thought critically about what tangible ways or what professions interpret history. Archaeologists are a great example of those that take the tangible and connect it to the intangible through reflecting on how it represents relatable feelings that are universally experienced (Beck et al., 2018). The best interpretation is used objective authenticity, the tangible aspects of authenticity, to create personal authenticity, an intangible connection, for the viewer which occurs transcending time and space (Beck et al., 2018).

What professions do you believe excel at historical nature interpretation?

I really love the ending of this post where you are connecting this week’s topic to a modern issue we are just starting to resolve. Historians at national parks have historically been the only ones to share their voices on what happened, but inviting Indigenous people to explain the Genius Loci of a location in nature allows them to share the intangible feelings that connect them to the land, something historians would be incapable of doing (Beck et al., 2018).

Good job and good luck with future posts!

- Taite

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[tkpenvs3000w22]

History: A Valuable Treasure

Unit 6 Blog Post

There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.

- Edward Hyams

Upon reading this quote, I found myself very impressed with how eloquently Edward Hyams was able to convey the importance of history (Beck et al., 2018). He begins by describing that it is not history itself that matters for individuals, but the meanings we ascribe to it.

One of the most important messages I took away from history classes and schooling is an iteration of a famous quote that I believe many of you will be familiar with. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, famously wrote “those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” (Virginia Tech, 2022). Though we may not always be able to prevent something from happening, our knowledge of past mistakes can provide insight as to how we should proceed in the present and future (Virginia Tech, 2022). Churchill’s quote relates to the one at hand, Hyams’ quote, as both quotes reference that an acknowledgement of the past is required to better ourselves in the future and that there is a value to studying and interpreting history (Beck et al., 2018).

Growing up in the present, I found these concepts entirely applicable to the improvement of nature and the environment, especially in regards to issues such as climate change. We need to learn from past actions and patterns of human history to better understand what is harming our planet so that we can move forward with suitable alternative actions that reduce the amount of harm done. For example, we do not burn as much coal or other fossil fuels as we have learnt from scientific research that the large amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, that fossil fuels produce when burned and released into the air causes global warming.

If we had not looked to the past and performed studies on the changes in the atmosphere chronologically to see how history “corresponds” with our own lives, we would have not seen a pattern in the worsening of the atmosphere since the burning of fossil fuels was introduced (Beck et al., 2018). Historical interpretation connects archival records, such as the change in the state of the atmosphere, with lived experiences, present-day issues we are having relating to our climate (Beck et al., 2018). We need to use historical interpretation to preserve details of how the landscape looked before pressures change nature to be unrecognizable due to issues such as climate change (Beck et al., 2018). Moreover, this inspires people to become agents of change to try and prevent us from being “doomed to repeat” past mistakes; in terms of climate change, this could mean using renewable energy sources (Beck et al., 2018).

Can you think of any other examples where history has a meaningful impact on how we relate to the environment, nature, wilderness, or the health of our planet?

There is a need to share history with others so we can learn from it. All that said, there is a certain challenge to interpreting history due to issues with accuracy and authenticity (Beck et al., 2018). Take interpreting Indigenous peoples, for example, their history has been mainly history from a one-sided perspective of white people that colonized their land and won. They told the story of what happened from an inaccurate and inauthentic perspective and without Indigenous voices to share their perspectives. Thankfully, to reconcile with the past, Indigenous individuals are presently reconnecting with the land they came from and telling their story from their perspective, telling their truth from a perspective of objective authenticity (Beck et al., 2018).

If you are to take away a message from this post, remember to always look to the past, to decide how to proceed in the future!

Talk to you soon fellow nature nerds!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Virginia Tech. (2022). History Repeating. College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

[cljenvs3000w22]

First Time Independent Traveller

Hi all! 

Welcome back to my nature blog. Today, I have a little anecdote/story to tell about how I came to be EVEN MORE in love with nature over the course of the pandemic than I was before!

I thought I would talk about how this year was a big year for me! Before this year I had never been on a plane, or been on a vacation without my parents. However, in 2021 I completed both these things, even despite the pandemic. The pandemic has been going on a long time now, and it has been quite mentally and physically draining on everyone. I have learned a lot about myself throughout this time. I’ve had the chance to be alone, to decompress, to feel lonely, and to long for human connection - as have many of us I presume. At the beginning of the pandemic, almost 2 years ago now, I felt lonely, bored, and generally physically exhausted from not being outside or doing the activities that I would normally do (like go to the gym, or go to a gathering with friends). However, throughout the years (yes, years!) I have grown to enjoy being on my own, and I feel that nature helped me immensely on this journey. This post is somewhat of a love letter, if you will, to nature. 

The summer after it first broke out - I started to enjoy being outside in general - sitting outside, reading, listening to music, going on a walk, lying out in the sun, etc. This was my time to decompress to enjoy time with myself, and it allowed me to grow in a very short amount of time. This growth, that I could not be more grateful for, did wonders for my confidence. I was able to express myself with people and make connections I was never able to make. This actually led me to find someone who shares the passion for being outside and travelling to new places just as much as I do (now that I have come to appreciate it so much more).

Last summer, we went on a trip, just the two of us, completely in the middle of nowhere. We rented a cottage with no wifi, no air-conditioning; just us, the lake and nature all around us. It was truly a moment in my life I felt completely confident in my abilities to live in the “real world”. I know it must sound silly, but it’s true! And those few days I was able to appreciate nature which only made me want to travel and see more of the world in this same way. 

Here are a few photos of the trip:) 

Thank you so much for reading!

Cora 

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Cora,

I can definitely agree that it can be daunting trying to travel on your own. My first experience travelling on my own was when I was travelling to go see my grandparents at the age of 10 at an airport alone, however, an airport employee was there to guide me through everything, flight attendants paid special attention to me, and my grandparents were there to pick me up on the other end. On the other hand, what you did, is very impressive. Personally, I find that I have travelled on my own on many long bus rides and flights, but I have never taken a solo vacation. The pandemic is a weird and uncertain time for us all that I certainly agree is mentally and physically draining. Despite all of the negatives that the pandemic has brought upon us, such as loneliness and boredom, it's a great idea to get out and explore nature to find connections where we can and also to learn that it's okay to be on your own sometimes.

Honestly, I think it’s a great start for people to just enjoy being outside in general in whatever way they prefer. I personally most enjoy being outside when taking my dog on walks and hikes or when sitting in a lawn chair in my backyard in the sun and listening to the birds. I never thought of it in terms of confidence, but, after reading this post, I can completely understand how it can have this impact. Moreover, I think it is amazing that your passion has led you to find someone to adventure with. I have considered going on a camping trip with my boyfriend as both he and I love being lakeside and hiking. Hearing your experience has inspired me to possibly start planning that trip and making concrete plans.

I’m looking forward to reading your future posts!

[dhenvs3000w22]

The Beach - Blog 5

Everyone has a place that they feel most at home, whether it be just at their house, a cottage, outside, a sports field, or even an individual. For me, it’s the beach, specifically with my family. With COVID-19 it has forbidden my access to travel, especially to a destination residing on a beach. It has forbidden many things for all. Although now things are slowly opening back up and restrictions are beginning to get lifted, my family and I have been hesitant for a while to travel for many reasons. Now I don’t wanna make this whole post about COVID-19 because I’m sure many individuals have had enough of it, just like myself, but it has restricted me from being in a place that resolves all negatives in my life. 

I love the beach because…

The scenic bright blue waves crashing in the background noise. The ocean breeze’s earthy and salty odours. The soothing sounds of the ocean and the gulls. The vitamin D absorbing in my skin, the feeling of sand on my feet, the warm wind that brushes a tan, it makes me feel at peace, calmness. The relaxation, the scenery, the warmth, the water, and the sun the beach has to offer, quite frankly I believe can make anyone’s frown turn upside down, or their mood skyrocket with dopamine. 

Every trip I have gone on and every country I have traveled to, my family always goes to the beach. For them too, and their own love for the ocean and the beach, has grown my love for it. When I am at the beach without them, it offers the exact same feeling as if they aren’t there with me. 

I miss it incredibly. I am thankful enough that this summer I will finally be able to travel again without any hesitations, and go on a trip down south with my family which we have planned for in August. 

This aspect of nature has impacted my love for it, and my life entirely. The beach has offered many outlets in my life, and has made me more appreciative for the Earth, mother nature and it’s offering. As beaches surround us in many different parts of the world, I still cannot bear the thought of not being consistently brought up around it, because since I was a little girl, it has offered a positive impact on my future life and self, something I would have never imagined. It is a place that I can go to, and nothing else matters than offering myself mental and physical self-care. 

Here’s a small look into some of the photos I have or my family has captured from the many beaches I have experienced in my lifetime:

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Hi Dalia,

I felt your discussion post this week was very relatable as I too have great memories with my family at the beach. Since senior kindergarten, my family has travelled to a different country at least once a year frequently travelling to Caribbean islands and Central America. Over the course of my life, my family has broadened my horizons by introducing me to about sixteen different countries and it would have been more if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

But back to the topic at hand, I think you described the beach beautifully. The beach introduces a serenity not present in my daily life as, when I’m on the beach, I am not worried about the tedious tasks I have to deal with back at home or at school. I am focused on all of the wondrous marvels of nature from the waves of the sea itself to the warmth of the soft sand and the diverse wildlife that inhabits all of these different locations. I definitely experience the dopamine rush you talked about. Visiting nature and wildlife reserves has taught me so much about the biosphere and the uniqueness of the natural world. It is grounding to see the diversity of nature across borders of countries, oceans, and continents.

I think nature encourages people to connect over shared experiences, such as these trips to the beach with my family. It creates unforgettable memories that we have shared in countless retellings and will continue to reminisce upon for years to come. Though it is missed, I do believe I will get to experience a trip like this sometime soon with my family, but I am glad to hear, and albeit jealous, that you will get to experience a beach vacation this summer.

Enjoy!

I’m looking forward to reading your future posts!

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Riding Mountain National Park

Unit 5 Blog Post

During the pandemic, I have longed for the days when I could travel to wherever in the world my heart desired, but, as much as I have wanted to travel, there is one place I want to visit the most: Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba. Though I had been able to camp at Ontario provincial parks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer was the first time in a few years that I was able to visit this national park where I have made so many memories.

Due to my nostalgia, the intangible is linked to the tangible at this place. All of my senses and the scenery of nature evoke a positive reaction within me. I feel at peace when I am there, surrounded by nature. I wake to melodic bird songs and the fresh air filling my lungs. I step outside and breathe in deep the scent of pine needles as I walk over to the cook shack where my grandfather has already set up the fire. It is aglow and ravenously eating away at the freshly chopped wood. I then walk around through the campground in the misty morning to the lakefront where I watch the sunrise over the lush, green horizon, reflecting its colours onto the glassy lake. When we previously have talked about the “Gift of Beauty” that nature provides, this place is what comes to mind.

More than just letting nature speak for itself, I appreciate all of the interpretive aspects of the park run by the Government of Canada organization Parks Canada. Located inside of the park, in the town of Wasagaming, is an interpretive centre filled to the brim with information on the local wildlife and plant life that is present in the park. From informative posters to lifesize models, a documentary screening room and many activities, there are plenty of ways that one can learn about the park through appealing to different types of learners. There are even park rangers stationed in this centre there to be a helping hand to anyone who needs it or has questions to ask and run different events at the interpretive centre, primarily focused on children. If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, I would have ideally worked there for spring and summer in between university semesters. I think it is truly admirable to begin instilling a love for nature in children that hopefully lasts a lifetime, it is a goal of mine to have that kind of impact on others.

Furthermore, the park is filled with ecotourist activities, from guided nature hikes to a self-guided exploration of the trails, wandering on the Omminik marsh walk to discover more about the ecosystem, visiting Lake Audy to watch the magnificent bison graze, bike rentals to explore the forests in an eco-friendly manner, and more occurring in the summer. I haven’t gotten to experience this in the winter, but there are horse-drawn sleigh rides throughout the forest as well. I believe that this park excels in trying to get visitors to disconnect from their technology and connect with the beauty of nature.

Do you have a place of beauty and nature that you are currently missing? If so, tell me about it, I would love to hear the stories you have to tell.

Talk to you soon fellow nature nerds!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[gienvs3000w22]

Art and Nature-Blog 4

Art has a big part to play in nature interpretation, when I was a kid my parents would often take me to museums and art exhibits that were attached to nature preservations, such as the McMicheal Art Gallery. A lot of the art was based on the local nature environment. My Mum is also a big art collector, she enjoys collecting paintings from Canadian artists resembling the Rockies or different Muskoka bays our family has had many memories on. I know of many artists that are also heavily involved in various activities done in nature. My tour guide for my AST1 is also an artist, she often paints designs based on the mountains she’s skied and has done many art pieces for various companies such as BUFF Canada, POW and J skis. Also, Chris Benchetler, a professional skier and artist, creates and designs skis for Atomic. His art is a little more abstract in the way he interprets nature, but it is nonetheless amazing.

Photos curtesy of Jessa Gilbert-a beautiful piece of art of a summer summit in the Bugaboos.

The 2021 Atomic Bent Chetler 120 skis-a piece of art that ties Old Man Winter, Mother Nature and animals.

I believe art has a big role to play in nature interpretation, I believe as nature interpreters we should incorporate it more into programs. For example, after a nature walk participants could paint/draw how nature made them feel or just whatever comes to their mind after the activity. I think a creative output is necessary for a complete experience of what they just witnessed, as it allows for a way to express their thoughts and feelings about the program in a passive way. I have noticed that nature interpreters do this for children however, it disappears in the program for teens and adults. I think it’s important that we bring art into the program for all ages to enjoy so that we may install the Gift of Beauty in everyone.

The Gift of Beauty refers to the ability to instill interpretation in people and the desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings-to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation. I interpret the gift of beauty to be found when we are in nature, for example, when I visited Curaçao I was taken aback by the beauty of the Caribbean, I felt so lucky to be able to see the reef and the amazing animals that lived in the ocean. However, I was disappointed to find a lot of garbage on the beaches and in the ocean, it saddened me to see this destroy the beautiful natural environment, so I made sure to clean up every beach we visited. It might not have made much of an impact but I hope to do more of these types of clean-ups in the future.

Do you think we should put more art activities in nature interpretation programs for adults and teens?

Dr. Amanada Hooykaas. ENVS* 3000 Nature Interpretation Course Notes (2022). February 2, 2022. 

The Nature Blog,

Giuli

[tkpenvs3000w22]

I really enjoyed reading your post this week!

I related to having art play a large part in nature interpretation in life. My father and I would visit the National Art Gallery of Canada every rainy Sunday and we would frequent the Canadian and Indigenous art collections which involve a lot of pieces focused on nature. It must have been very amazing growing up with an avid art collector focused on the beauty of nature. Moreover, the creativity of Chris Bent Chetler’s ski designs is fantastic. I think that people often assume that nature needs to be represented in a very realistic way, but I think that abstract designs can often introduce more emotions and meaning into the art as they aren’t restricted by realism.

I agree that nature interpretation could benefit from the addition of art in their programs. I think it would be an excellent idea to provide nature interpretation programs targeted specifically at adults and teens. I really like your ideas for what participants could do after the activity involving the visual arts, but I have another idea as well. For those interested in writing and music, writing poetry or song lyrics using what they saw in nature to inspire them could be a great idea to increase their connectivity to nature and possibly make it a more fulfilling overall experience. I like how you described that it is a passive way to express how nature made them feel as I have found interpreters often focus on active ways, such as activities during the experience, to get participants to connect with nature. It's important to focus on this subgroup of teens and adults as their creativity is often stifled after childhood ends and there is no need to do so. The Gift of Beauty should continue to be instilled even in adulthood.

Great post this week, I can’t wait to see what else you have to share!

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

[mkawenvs3000w22]

Art and Nature; A Likely Pairing

Art is such a unique way of interpreting nature; it goes beyond speech and uses a range of techniques, such as paintings, photographs, and music to convey information that words alone cannot (Beck et al., 2018). I believe that we all regularly interpret nature through art, even if we don’t necessarily realize it. We may not all paint or write stories, but we certainly all have had, at some point, our own unique experiences with nature and art. Have you ever sat by a window and taken a few minutes to simply do nothing but admire the scenery - even if it’s just your back garden? Have you ever seen an influx of sunset pictures on social media after a particularly gorgeous day? Were you compelled yourself to take a photo - maybe post it and share what you saw? Isn't it fascinating, and in fact, rather heartwarming, that humans have a desire to not only capture and save the things we find beautiful so we can enjoy them again later but also to share what we saw with others? On my hikes, I'm sure I've snapped over a thousand photos of the scenery, even if it’s a simple local forest trail. I have also shared my pictures on my own social media and even on this very blog. Whether it’s a spectacular vista or a local park, whether we’re professional artists or amateur photographers, or whether it’s a painting we spent weeks on or merely a photo taken on a phone - we have filled the world with magnificent works of art, our own "Gifts of Beauty", showing scenes of nature because of our very human desire to share what we see. Sharing our art or photographs can, in many ways, be viewed as an act of nature interpretation. By sharing specific scenes of nature that gave us inspiration and we regarded as beautiful, we’re capable of arousing that same inspiration and emotions in our audience.

We learned about the Group of Seven, a group of Canadian painters and nature lovers, while I was in grade nine. I recall feeling a strong connection to the paintings, and it's one of the few things I remember from that art class. When I got into hiking some years later, I rediscovered the Group of Seven after discovering I had hiked in many of the sites they had painted. I ended up purchasing four prints for my home. In fact, one of my favourite provincial parks (Killarney Provincial Park) exists solely due of the Group of Seven's tireless conservation efforts. One of the most important aspects of nature interpretation is that it "sticks" with the audience, and the Group of Seven's scenes of nature certainly "stuck" with me. Colour, framing, and stylistic approaches enable artists like the Group of Seven to instil meaning into their work. As a result, the nature is more likely to be remembered, and it may even have an impact on the audience's relationship with nature, as it did with me.

One of my favourites, and one I have displayed, is by Tom Thomson titled “The Jack Pine”. The subject matter is straightforward: it depicts a tree in front of a body of water. Thomson, however, uses the previously stated artistic approaches to give the image a deeper significance. Although the meaning of art is subjective and cannot completely be "rightly interpreted" nor is the meaning “fixed”, the uniqueness in our interpretations as individuals is what makes nature interpretation through art particularly impactful AND memorable (Beck et al., 2018). To me, The Jack Pine evokes the spirit of Northern Ontario through its lone pine-tree subject. The stylized tree, outlined in a deep red and seemingly glowing in the fading daylight, stands out against a background of broad horizontal strokes. It portrays perfect peace — the sky and lake are serene and painted in large strokes, with a soft colour palette adding to the impression. The falling crimson threads of bare pine branches, the vertical lines of the trees, and the curves of the hills act as a perfect juxtaposition to the ribbons of wide horizontal, almost gentle, background. The foreground of the Jack Pine’s scraggly dark-green and tattered form is most striking against the calm and waning light, its as if the tree were a symbol of Tom Thomson’s impending and suspicious death which came later that same year (Parsons 2003). Thomson effectively employs artistic methods in his paintings to tell us a story as well as meaningfully portray nature. An artist who doubles as a nature interpreter is capable of making a “basic” tree just as striking and memorable as a mountain landscape.

Whether an interpreter is a nature guide or an artist, the goal is the same, to give "The Gift of Beauty"; to help people appreciate the beauty of their surroundings, no matter where they are, and to instil in them the necessity of conserving it (Beck et.al. 2018). Each person's definition of beauty is unique, but anything can become beautiful and valuable when we assign it meaning, be it through art or speech.

Think about your favourite piece of art that involves nature. Is it a painting? A photograph? A story? Please share it and explain why it’s your favourite.

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: for a better world. Sagamore Venture. Pp. 43-45, 85

Parsons, L. (2003, September 16). Tom Thomson: Painter and "Canadian legend". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2003/09/thom-s16.html

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Wonderful post this week!

I found myself relating to how you expressed that most people interpret nature unconsciously. I would say most individuals I communicate with would not consider themselves artists, but as you and I, they take countless photos of the natural world just so later they can relive the beauty of it all and share it with others. I think in sharing photos of a beautiful sunset over a mountain range, we hope to elicit a similarly powerful, emotional response within them. After mulling it over, I still could not come to a conclusion as to why this occurs other than our humanity, our want to socialize by connecting through beauty.

I too enjoy paintings by the Group of Seven having seen them in person and been up-close enough to see the brush strokes! That is amazing that you got to hike many of the sites that they have painted. Did you feel a deeper emotional connection when you had that realization? Did the emotions conveyed by the paintings affect the way in which you felt when at the site in real life? With these same paintings, I found those tangible elements, such as the artistic techniques and visuals portrayed, invoked certain intangible feelings and emotions, this is probably why it is so memorable.

As you described the piece “The Jack Pine” evokes an emotional response in you, I find I most connect to Vincent Van Gogh’s “Almond Blossom” painting, I even have a poster of it. The white flowering trees on the soft turquoise background evoke profound feelings of awakening and hope due to the aesthetic choices made. This painting I think is so famous in part due to the effectiveness of his ability to convey such positive emotions and meaningfully portray nature. That is why I keep it in my room, to remind myself that even on my bad days, there is hope, and the beauty of the blossoms themselves brings me joy.

Great post this week, I can’t wait to see what else you have to share!