# data[].attributes.body
The fields of lupines growing in a group are a metaphor for us to share and learn with each other in community!

# data[].attributes.body
Mary Oliver says it all ! Her words could be a mantra for the future, especially to us nature journalers ? It will be mine I think. Thanks so much for all the inspiration. It's great we can return again and again to all the contents of this amazing week and the pages everyones created. Becky, North Scotland UK

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Hearing and seeing birds, smell the wet herbs, feel the wind on your face and feel your wet feets.

# data[].attributes.body
As a bird lover I like to participate in helping to gather data about birds. In Holland we have Sovon and the Broedvogelmonitoring Project (BMP). In Britain (in English) it's called the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Friends of my count butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians etc. I'm curious if any of you participate in the 'citizen science'.

# data[].attributes.body
I love sharing my passion for and knowledge of nature with those around me. By teaching people about nature, I hope to improve the way we interact with it; to know nature is to love it, and to love it is to protect it. In doing so, I hope to contribute to the well-being of nature today and in the future.

# data[].attributes.body
Sorry to say I am a day late with this entry from NZ - life just got in the way!

Day 7 Today’s theme is Creating a vision for the Future and I see it’s World Day of Oceans today (NZ date 8.6.2025). Revisiting in my mind fabulous times snorkelling around Solomon Islands and Rarotonga . At least half the area around the Cook Islands was declared a marine sanctuary by the government 2017, and locals work hard to work sustainably- some volunteers growing and tending young corals. Seeing Attenborough’s film Oceans regarding bottom trawling was mind blowing. And sad to say NZ is the last country in Pacific to stop this practice!! Such wanton destruction it’s hard to believe until you see it!!! So hear's my shout out to protect our reefs and oceans with a few suggestions of how I could help personally!!

# data[].attributes.body
Our future, we need like no time before to take care of our environment, our earth, its the only one we've got.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
"Metamorfosis" - my first page of a Nature's diary.Thanks to Esteban Lobo 

# data[].attributes.body
Hopeful is not something I feel, but I allowed it today without realising because as much as this list is of anticipatory ‘hope against’ the negative impact of AI, it is actually a hopeful list to continue some of what this week evoked for me.

Ps. Love all the posts in Spanish coming through today!!

# data[].attributes.body
Quisiera compartir que el ejercicio de diario de naturaleza de hoy me hizo recordar parte de mi infancia, y también reflexionar en cómo las pequeñas experiencias como trepar un árbol está relacionada con quien soy hoy. Gracias por motivarnos a conectar con nosotros mismos y con el entorno. Me quedo con la tarea de incluir una experiencia como esta en una de las actividades que lidero en Galápagos. les comparto el enlace https://www.galapagosscience.org/comunidad/

# data[].attributes.body
Coral viejo que encontre en la playa el año pasado. Me encanto conectar mis observaciones con mis memorias del verano.

# data[].attributes.body
Mi hermana estudia biología y tiene un sinfín de muestras en mi librero, así que siempre estoy rodeada de este tipo de información.

# data[].attributes.body
Mi terraza Colibrí Azul, jardín polinizador de plantas nativas de México. Ejercicio para el Taller Diario de Naturaleza, junio 2025. Sol Acosta.

# data[].attributes.body
Mis apuntes del Taller con Esteban, practicando los fundamentos del diario de naturaleza. Gracias 🙂

# data[].attributes.body
My response to Bethan's prompt asking us the tell our story of falling in love with nature.

# data[].attributes.body
My poem response to Emilie Lygren's wonderful workshop.

# data[].attributes.body
The Wren is my spirit bird and I am always thrilled when I catch one fussing around in the undergrowth or in full-throated song from a low branch. My wren's names here are a mixture of British local names (taken from one of my favourite bird books - Francessca Greenoaks' All the Birds of the air: the names, lore and literature of British Birds) and names which I have created to reflect the character of the little wrens I meet.

# data[].attributes.body
Today it has been raining and very cold, so the perfect day to create a phenology wheel,

(well, half of one),for this prompt.

If anyone is interested in how to make one, have a look at Marion's World on YouTube.

# data[].attributes.body
Day 7 - My Vision: By paying attention to the little things on the edge of the road - like this piece of dead wood - the great connections of life can be understood and hope for further development can be drawn from them every Day

# data[].attributes.headline
Gold-winged warbler, an endangered species

# data[].attributes.subject
Gold-winged warbler, an endangered species

# data[].attributes.body
From Cambridge, MA, USA!

# data[].attributes.body
From Cambridge, MA!

# data[].attributes.body
I had so much fun sitting in the garden with my herbs, using my senses to feel, see, taste & smell!

# data[].attributes.body
I noticed the daisies all facing west into the sunset and wondered why? Turns out the flower heads follow the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset! Listening to nature's wisdom!

# data[].attributes.body
I am so privileged to have Bellbirds in our garden, and I have planted native trees to keep them here. Their song is perfectly described by Joseph Banks.

# data[].attributes.headline
Inventing and Playing with Words — Day 3 — “Prettie in Pinkerish Lady Slippers

# data[].attributes.subject
Inventing and Playing with Words — Day 3 — “Prettie in Pinkerish Lady Slippers

# data[].attributes.headline
A nature comic about a comical encounter 

# data[].attributes.subject
A nature comic about a comical encounter 

# data[].attributes.headline
Reflections on a tomato leaf from my garden

# data[].attributes.subject
Reflections on a tomato leaf from my garden

# data[].attributes.body
Experimented a bit more with method today as I tried to jot down the sensations of each blueberry, until all blueberries were consumed. In the end I liked the paint first then pencil over method most.

# data[].attributes.body
Meeting with a Songbird under a tree:

Breath of air between us, we feel each other silently, share a piece of world

# data[].attributes.body
I loved today's theme as it gave me the opportunity to use the plants in my veggie garden which I havent journalled up til now. These two plants were growing together- the Miner's lettuce growing under the sheltering arms of the parsley -the smooth shovel shaped leaves of the Miner's lettuce contrasting well with the darker crinkly tougher leaves of the parsley.

I tested flavour and smell and textures. The parsley taste evoked memories of childhood egg and parsley sandwiches and mashed potatoes and parsley. Up until recently I hadnt known of Miner's lettuce- however its a welcome lettuce substitute for winter. Sandra Morris NZ

# data[].attributes.body
This NJ-ing is so catchy! I can feel it changing how I relate to my environment. The ‘background’ to my life becomes interesting, itself comes to life if I look, listen, and draw. this is from the gardens at work which I usually just walk on past on a daily basis.

# data[].attributes.body
I always have nature items on my desk that I've gathered -- there's something about collecting them and thinking about their stories that is irresistible! I was inspired by an amazing poem by Nina Bagley and customized it to my nature collection.

# data[].attributes.body
I started the morning reading poems from Mary Oliver and Poems That Touch the Heart which inspired 2 Haiku poems contrasting the busy 2 weeks of a growing Chickadee family in our birdhouse, and the sudden quietness after they fledged! I miss them!

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Young Magpies waiting for their parents...

# data[].attributes.body
When magpies have chicks, they make a lot more noise. This helps them stay in contact with each other, but above all, it serves as a warning of danger.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
I don't think I have ever added a poem to my nature journaling before! I managed a small Haiku. 

# data[].attributes.body
A lot of these prompts are stretching me! Normally I just draw things...although I do get words stuck in my head.

# data[].attributes.headline
The History of the "Ghost town" beneath Lake Nockamixon State Park

# data[].attributes.subject
The History of the "Ghost town" beneath Lake Nockamixon State Park

# data[].attributes.body
Lake Nockamixon is 8 minutes from my house. I am there on a weekly basis hiking the trails with my dog and using parts of the lake as my "sit spot" for mindfulness nature journaling practices. I also taught kayaking, SUP, and archery at the lake and brought my kids when they were little to explore and geocache. When I led kayak tours of the lake, I always taught about it's history and the town underneath them. It was called, "nocha-miska-ing" which means "at the place of soft soil" in Lenni Lenape language. The Lenni Lenape along with the Shawnee after them were forced out by settlers in 1730-40's. The county flooded the lake to make a dam in 1968 and the only remains of the town is a bridge... 60 feet below the surface.

# data[].attributes.body
This year I bought a mason bee observatory and I could discover the story of the red mason bee! In spring, females find holes in walls or wood to build their nests. She lines each 'cell' with mud and pollen and lays a single egg in each until the cavity is full.  Inside, the larvae grow all summer, then hibernate as a grown bee through winter. By next spring, they emerge as adults—ready to start the cycle again!

# data[].attributes.body
Who's knocking on the tree? I'm listening, listening, listering. That's how mystery sounds.

# data[].attributes.body
Day 5- Listening to Nature-its been very wet and windy here in Whanganui, NZ so I wandered out around my garden today trying to see what I could say about Winter here and how its speaking to me. I noticed the yellow and orange- red- scarlet colours calling out to me- how cheering on such a bleak day. I have tried to capture the feel of those cheerful colours across the page and the colour of blowing leaves and of course the plants in those colours. I noticed that the small wax eyes (silver eyes) are starting to form small flocks to visit as they do every winter. They are robbers of nectar though and pierce the base of the kowhai flowers to steal the nectar. The tuis are frequently on the kangaroo paw and red hot pokers, and I am waiting for the first Korimako (Bellbird) to return to the kowhai. Sandra Morris. NZ

# data[].attributes.body
I love eye to eye creature encounters underwater ...maybe because it's so quiet , no words to distract... the session with Emilie Lygren inspired me to write a poem

# data[].attributes.headline
How do I describe dappled sunlight and rustling leaves?

# data[].attributes.subject
How do I describe dappled sunlight and rustling leaves?

# data[].attributes.body
I did a walking meditation in silence on June 1st. It helped me notice the dappling sunlight through the Big Leaf Maple tree. The sound of the leaves rustling was like music. I noticed lichens on the ends of a few branches. It was magical, and hard to capture in words and images.

# data[].attributes.body
My daughter had a hummingbird build a nest close to their dryer vent in Los Angeles. It's in a Jasmine vine and pretty well hidden. I saw a program about hummingbirds and found out that they will use dryer vent lint, spider webs, and human hair in their nests. They decorate the outside with paint chips from the exterior of the house. The two hummingbird babies I saw have now fledged. The mother laid another egg. It's incredible to see this up close and to see the cycle of nature repeated several times.

# data[].attributes.body
Still learning…

# data[].attributes.body
Gaelic is a beautiful indigenous language and despite much persecution it is still very much alive today in Scotland especially on the islands. I love some of the names they have for plants and I've chosen some here and enjoyed drawing them. Thankyou for the session and all the prompts and ideas showing us the many different ways we might or can use words in our Nature journals. Becky,Scotland,UK

# data[].attributes.body
As a child, I remember collecting the pods of the Cracker plant. The joyful experience of putting the pods in a bowl of water and waiting for a few minutes to see them explode the seeds is unforgettable! I've waited for nearly a decade to get my hands on this beautiful plant. Thanks to my aunt, Shailaja for gifting this plant!

# data[].attributes.body
Such a great live workshop today with Lee Putnam of Factsandfineliners.

My biggest take away was ‘to make interesting lines’. That way, the line, rather than just serving a mechanical function to suggest shape, is part of the story of (life) form itself.

# data[].attributes.body
This is the place I walk most days, the highest volcano on the isthmus. Like many colonial situationships it was prosaically named Mount Eden by William Hobson in a tribute (massive suck up) to the legendarily unimpressive George Eden, Lord Auckland (even historian William Dalrymple agreed he was a complete plonker)

It is increasingly better known as Maungawhau, mountain of the whau tree (a beautiful fresh green tree, a relative of the hibiscus with light wood used for fishing net floats and spiky brown seed pods). The Maunga Authority have installed a brilliant iron walkway so that we can walk on the Maunga without walking ON the Maunga. It is used by hundreds of people every day to reach and circuit the summit.

The crater: Te Ipu a Mataaho / the food bowl of Mataaho, the god of earthquakes and volcanoes lived here by legend. When his wife left him Mahuika sent him clothes and fire. Nice!

The crater is 50 metres deep and is a wahi tapu (sacred site). Around the summit kumara (sweet potato) storage pits can still be seen along with the furrows and ledges from early defensive fortifications against invaders.

# data[].attributes.body
Day 4: A Crow in the tree - and a Story about it (translated for you in english - maybe not perfect. Tell it in your words, of you want….

# data[].attributes.headline
Indigenous and European stories of the Huia

# data[].attributes.subject
Indigenous and European stories of the Huia

# data[].attributes.body
I am fascinated by the beautiful unique Huia of NZ. Not only was it sacred to Maori but it was the only known bird in the world where male and female bills were so radically different. It's story is tragic and sad, once its feathers prized by Maori chiefs were soon reduced to fashion accessories around the world. Specimans were collected in huge numbers for drawing room curiosities or for collections in both public and private collections,- a tapu and callout for conservation for this bird came too late. The last bird seen was officially recorded 1907. Sandra Morris NZ

# data[].attributes.body
More wonderful and meaningful quotes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Being able to walk around my garden and always find something to draw and paint, is very much a privilege.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Action words gave the writing some life!

# data[].attributes.body
I named the 3 zones of my regular nearby nature walk. Each zone has distinct plants, sounds & geography! I underlined some favorite words that stood out to me in my observations within each zone. A lot of the words were action words which gave the writing some life!

# data[].attributes.headline
Time spent is how I have Conversations with Nature 

# data[].attributes.subject
Time spent is how I have Conversations with Nature 

# data[].attributes.body
I determined that my way of experiencing conversations with nature is through time spent slowing down, using my 5 senses which ignites my curiosity! There is so much to notice in stillness!

# data[].attributes.body
The Rhodies were buzzing with bees and I spent time observing how they tucked right into the center of the flower to get nectar, while their feet and legs brushed the stamens, picking up pollen. Lots of curiosity about this repetitive process fascinated me -- an indescribable miraculous instinct by the bees!

# data[].attributes.body
I just wrote down the thoughts I had while drawing this, it’s now a poem.

Rosemary beetle,

Sitting on a lavender stem

The RHS want a word,

They say you’re invasive

You’ve even eluded your name.

I cannot capture your colours

Iridescent, metallic sheen

Infinitely more complex than my senses,

Nothing in my palette comes close.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! I'm Corina from Canada and one of the people that helps come up with the themes each year. I was especially curious to see what people would do with the poetry ideas!

I loved the idea of going through old nature journals and pulling out phrases to piece together into a poem. This beach is one of my nature sit spots, so I had many previous drawings and writings to pull from.

I was happy to have an "excuse" to spend time there this morning. Then I came home and enjoyed looking through my nature journals to find this poem.

# data[].attributes.body
A poem about ermine moths? It‘s possible, because they are dancers in the air!

# data[].attributes.body
Grumpy to Grateful

Grumpy.

I’m hot. I should have started earlier.

I’m thirsty. I should have brought more water.

I’m annoyed. I thought we’d hear more birds.

Wait.

Listen.

Look.

A tiny owl watches from a pinyon pine.

It blinks.

I’m awestruck.

It’s eyes are mesmerizing.

It’s spots are spectacular.

It’s beauty is indescribable.

Grateful.

# data[].attributes.headline
Emilie inspired me to try some poetry without drawing.

# data[].attributes.subject
Emilie inspired me to try some poetry without drawing.

# data[].attributes.body
The Holly-Human Connection

Holly leaves emerge

Wet, tiny, soft, scented, curving

Holly leaves mature

Dry, sharp, hard, twisting

Two phases of life

Each extreme in the blink of the eye

What happened to the time in between?

# data[].attributes.body
I collaged with some lines from a long-loved nature poem- Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins. His words often echo in my head when I observe beautiful dappled things out in nature.

# data[].attributes.body
When the first Monarch returns to my garden ..staying to visit and to deposit its eggs ...it embodies gratitude, joy, and invites me to trust in the future ...

# data[].attributes.body
Working out how to quickly capture the frothy elderflower blossom heads in my journal. The fractal forms could probably be described by mathematics, botanical terms, or accurate botanical illustration... It feels quite indescribable with my current skill set! I like how this prompt made me write more in my journal than I usually do.

# data[].attributes.body
In celebration of a beautiful poem The River In You by Brian Turner, the importance of rivers as part of our ecosystems and sustaining life, my sadness that being able to swim in them is becoming a thing of the past.

# data[].attributes.headline
Cotoneaster and Gratitude Poem, Morning Walk along the Awa

# data[].attributes.subject
Cotoneaster and Gratitude Poem, Morning Walk along the Awa

# data[].attributes.body
After listening to Emile Lygnen's workshop this morning I felt inspired to try some more reflective writing based on my daily long walks just before sunrise along the Awa, our local Whanganui river. Its only a beginner's effort but it has helped so much in starting me off with more reflective writing. The Cotoneaster uses the John Muir prompts and I realise I could have listed much more, but ran out of space and time!! Sandra Morris NZ

# data[].attributes.body
I love some of the fungi names, some just sound so delightful. Austral Dripping Bonnet just trips off my tongue. Others say ‘watch out’ or ‘don’t touch’. Stinkhorn, slime cap. That all came together in an imaginary conversation started by the fungi.

# data[].attributes.body
On the first day, June 1, the sky got darker and darker and darker. Finally a flash of lightning and then BOOM! BOOM! And some more flashes and booms and then steams of rain pouring down and giving life to the trees and plants and wildlife in Golden,CO The prompt was to describe the indescribable- hard to do! But I know that when I look at this page in my 4”x4” journal, I’ll remember my sense of awe and respect for thunder and lightning, and gratitude too!

# data[].attributes.headline
Tree swallow- tree- mendous aerial acrobats! 

# data[].attributes.subject
Tree swallow- tree- mendous aerial acrobats! 

# data[].attributes.body
Timna National Park- my first time walking into the desert and hearing silence. The most indescribable experience!

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
What's in a name? House Sparrows around the world.

# data[].attributes.body
You can find House Sparrow on every continent (except Antarctica). All translations combine 'house' and 'sparrow' in the name of this bird. Except in Scandinavia: there the bird is called 'gray sparrow'.

Huismus - House Sparrow - Haussperling - Hausspatz - Moineau domestique - Gorrión común - Pardal-comum - Passera europea - Vrabec domácí - Domový vrabec - Mus domowy - Домовий горобець - Домовый воробей - Gråsparv - Gråspurv - Varpunen - Varblane - Žvirblis - Zvirbulis - Vrabec / Vrabac - Σπουργίτι του σπιτιού - Evcil serçe - घर गौरैया - ঘর চড়ুই - گھر چڑی -  घर चिउँडो - خانگی گنجشک - 家麻雀 - 家スズメ - Pardal - Huismossie

# data[].attributes.body
Wow! look what I found in my garden, what a treasure and so, so fascinating to explore under the magnifying glass. A wonderful piece of natural engineering.

# data[].attributes.headline
„The plants are breathing a sigh of relief“

# data[].attributes.subject
„The plants are breathing a sigh of relief“

# data[].attributes.body
It’s finally rained here in Northern Germany and a lot of people think that the plants are heaving sighs of relief. I agree! But do they? How do they breathe at all? (I forgot 🫣) And I wonder: Are they happy now that water is abundantly provided?

I tried to capture this relationship between plants and weather.

# data[].attributes.body
Ich habe mich heute ganz auf Worte konzentriert. Ich liebe volkstümliche Pflanzennamen wie

Vergißmeinnicht

Jelängerjelieber

Jungfrau im Grünen

und habe mir für die Pflanzen um mich herum selbst Pflanzennamen ausgedacht. Nein, ich habe die Pflanzen gefragt, wie sie denn gerne heißen möchten:

Brennnessel, du Schöne, wie möchtest du heißen? Lassmichstehen

Spitzwegerich, du Wegbegleiter, wie möchtest du heißen? Planetenköpfchen

Löwenzahn, du Leuchtender, wie möchtest du heißen? Sonne-der-Wiese

Sauerampfer, du Wohlschmeckender, wie möchtest du heißen? ZündelndeFlamme

Venusnabel, du Lückenfüller, wie möchtest du heißen? Mauerblümchen

Adlerfarn, du Waldbewohner, wie möchtest du heißen? Entrollungskraut

Aber ich muss doch zugeben, dass mir die alten Namen besser gefallen. Es hat aber trotzdem Freude bereitet.

# data[].attributes.body
Day 2: Playing with Words

A mad jumble of some of my favourite words. Newt, axolotl, nebula, limpet, (sea) slug, (sea) squirt, tentacle. And a new one I learned, ‘Elysian’. The nebula is a bit of a blob but I’m happy how the newt turned out.

# data[].attributes.body
Such a lovely session today with so many inspiring moments of awe and wonder.

# data[].attributes.body
Melinda's presentation kindled sparks in my soul to dedicate more time to a nature journaling practice. I wrote a little blog post about the profound moments in nature that were also rekindled and remembered. This was lovely!

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Poem in Dutch by Toon Hermans - Raindrops by Doortje.NL

# data[].attributes.body
Raindrops

I find it bliss when soft rain falls,
it’s been that way for quite a while.
I let it soak me, every drop—
I love that gentle, dampened style.

No clatter loud, no harsh splash sound,
no noise that strikes with sudden sting—
but every tender droplet feels
as if it brings a kind of spring.

Each time it happens, I’m amazed,
I stand in wonder once again:
from skies so dull and heavy-gray
such clarity can come with rain.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Poem in Dutch (by Toon Hermans) Raindrops by Doortje.NL

# data[].attributes.body
Raindrops

I find it bliss when soft rain falls,
it’s been that way for quite a while.
I let it soak me, every drop—
I love that gentle, dampened style.

No clatter loud, no harsh splash sound,
no noise that strikes with sudden sting—
but every tender droplet feels
as if it brings a kind of spring.

Each time it happens, I’m amazed,
I stand in wonder once again:
from skies so dull and heavy-gray
such clarity can come with rain.

# data[].attributes.body
An Akrostichon to „Wild Rose“ (in german) and a Message in it: Endless buzzing guests around the blossom…

# data[].attributes.body
Today's theme led me to look into the translation for Te reo Maori for the name Hihi - Ray of Sunshine - I think this is gorgeous as the male is certainly like a ray of sunshine flashing around with his gorgeous yellow and black and white plumage - both he and the female can often be seen perching with erect tail feathers. I have been lucky to have worked with nest box minding during the breeding season here at our local predator free sanctuary Tarapuruhi Bushy park. The females are not as colourful in plumage but are just as charismatic. Their little zit zit call is very distinctive. Sandra Morris NZ

# data[].attributes.body
I love how birbs give me the side-eye and observe me back when I nature journal. From Cambridge, MA, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Today in the day 1 workshop we explored our conversation with Nastrutiums.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Describing the Indescribable with Melinda Nakagawa!

# data[].attributes.body
From Seaside, CA (USA)

# data[].attributes.body
From the aerodynamics of Sycamore seeds to seed dispersal, nature has the answers.

# data[].attributes.body
Seashells are amazing things and the homes to equally amazing creatures.

# data[].attributes.body
This is from the prompt about childhood. My environment was quite urban as I lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. But, I found a patch of morning glory covering a rusty fence a short bike ride away and used to collect these ‘golden tortoise’ bugs. I sent one in the post all the way to the Gerald Durrell Foundation (my hero at the time) for ID. I got a nice letter back saying Gerald was dead but keep exploring 😂

# data[].attributes.body
Image and Words about the spot where heaven and earth kiss themselves.

Manuela, Germany but currently on the island of Ushant, France