Vincent Van Gogh said, "If you truly love nature, you see beauty in all things". I have reflected on this statement many times and often picture him, palette and brush in hand, standing in front of his easel and canvas, frantically laying down bold strokes of color in an attempt to capture just the right light and shadow patterns. As an artist, I am challenged to "capture nature", as students of nature, we are challenged "to set it free". Van Gogh was bold and aggressive in his style, and created with passion his visions of natural beauty, one masterpiece at a time. Each of us in our own way possesses the resolve and creativity to do the same. A bluebird house, filled with babies, a garden, without pesticides, filled with butterflies, a habitat, with water and shelter, filled with wildlife...these are truly the masterworks of our time.
If I Could Take You with Me
If I could take you with me on a daydream… you would see
the wonder and the magic that sets our spirit free
We’d waltz among the daisies, take our leave upon the breeze
to woodlands now enchanted, by the changing of the leaves
On morning sunshine journey to a place of sparkling streams
join a golden eagle soaring, past a cloud that’s filled with dreams
With a seahorse for our stallion, we’d ride moonbeams to the stars
scatter stardust from our pockets, through a kingdom, truly ours
and snuggle, in a nest of baby bluebirds as they sleep
take comfort in their beating hearts, as love, their cradle keeps
A speck of time is all we have… we’re not allowed to stay,
just treasure life in moments sweet, that take our breathe away.
If I could take you with me on a daydream…you would see
-S. Allen McKenney 2008
If I could take you with me on a daydream… you would see
the wonder and the magic that sets our spirit free
We’d waltz among the daisies, take our leave upon the breeze
to woodlands now enchanted, by the changing of the leaves
On morning sunshine journey to a place of sparkling streams
join a golden eagle soaring, past a cloud that’s filled with dreams
With a seahorse for our stallion, we’d ride moonbeams to the stars
scatter stardust from our pockets, through a kingdom, truly ours
and snuggle, in a nest of baby bluebirds as they sleep
take comfort in their beating hearts, as love, their cradle keeps
A speck of time is all we have… we’re not allowed to stay,
just treasure life in moments sweet, that take our breathe away.
If I could take you with me on a daydream…you would see
-S. Allen McKenney 2008
A speck of time is really all we have as we are challenged by nature itself to nurture, protect, preserve and restore in any way that we are able. It is we who are captured...every time we see our reflection in the eyes of a wild one. If you dare to look deeply... you will be forever changed.
I hope that in some small way, you will feel challenged to create your own masterwork, no matter how large or small, inspired to pass the challenge along and delighted by every new experience you enjoy as you take your personal walk with nature. Regards, Sandy
Want to know more about creating a Wildlife Habitat? http://www.nwf.com/
Interested in garden for wildlife? http://www.bhgnaturesgarden.com/
