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When ever I think of nature the first thing that comes to my mind are flowers. Here is a video of flowers blooming. I thought I would post it in hope that flowers might actually start blooming soon.

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Stunning timelapse featuring blooming flowers

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The roar is heard
long before
The flowing mystery
Is found

It is the place
That supports all life
Providing it precious
Water to all around

But be careful,
So it does not
Sweep you away
And take you far from here

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The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is located in the Nantahala National Forest. It’s about two hours from Asheville. It’s one of the only places around here where you can see old groth trees. The trees sizes are like nothing I had ever seen. It is a truly amazing place and I would definitely recommend going.

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Just for fun, I thought I'd include a Disney song that deals with the beauty and uniqueness of nature. "Colors of the Wind" stresses the importance of spending time in nature in order to be in tune with it completely.

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Whether it comes in a breeze,
Or in a mighty rush,
It restores a senseless ease;
Urges the mind to hush.

It whisks away all problems,
Even for a mere instant;
Sweeps fresh scents of autumns
Into minds that are resistant.

It flows past skin, swirls through hair;
Encompasses the subject, leaves it still.
It is the power, majesty of the air.
Everywhere, feel its trademark chill.

-Ellen Reeder

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Born in 1886 in New Brunswick, NJ, Joyce Kilmer was a well-known American writer in the early 1900s. Along with poetry, he was involved in many writing jobs including journalism and literary criticism. His most famous work, his poem "Trees," was published in 1914 along with some other works. A lot of his work is unknown, but a few pieces are still prevalent in today's culture.

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I took this photo back in the fall at the top of Craggy.

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This is a picture I got two summers ago while I was at the Grand Tetons. It was sunset, and this is probably my favorite nature picture I've taken. I didn't have my camera with me, so I had to rush back to the cabin where we were staying so I could get this picture! It was even more beautiful before I took this, but I love the picture I managed to get.
I'd love to see everyone else's favorite nature pictures, if anyone would like to share.

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This is a picture of a tree that reminds me of the one in Joyce Kilmer's poem.

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Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell are both very famous American poets of the 20th century. They met at a dinner party in New York when they were both in their thirties (1947). There they began their lifelong friendship, which was mostly maintained by writing letters to each other about their poetry. Bishop dedicated her poem "Armadillo" to Lowell, and he later created "Skunk Hour" inspired by the poem.
The book Words in Air contains their complete correspondence.

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The stars are out tonight I see
I’m glad that they’ve arrived
“Its been a while” they say to me
And again our realms collide.

We catch up, talk of minor things
Like what we’ve done and where we’ve gone:
They took a stroll round Saturn’s rings
I roamed around my lawn.

They soon begin to say goodbye
(The stars aren’t known for chatter)
They’re too important to stay for long
They have other major matters.

But when they can, they talk to me
They know that I will listen
To all of their discoveries.
I won’t just watch them glisten

They have a voice, those “pretty” stars.
They’re wise; they’ve been here long
If the world would listen it would see
Their voice can make us strong

-Catherine Roberts

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Directions (since we are rusty on a regular wall)

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Directions (since we are rusty on a regular wall)

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1. Read all three
2. Comment in the comments section of your favorite poem, stating what you like about it.
3. Post something related to any of them--recitation, bio on poet, picture, analysis, figurative language, interesting tidbit, whatnot.

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click to read

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The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

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The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

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When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

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I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.