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INSPIRED

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Couldn’t help but write about something that occurred last week while I was teaching my class.  Image

I was working with my Kindergarten gang in the garden and field.  When we finished, the moms, dads and siblings hung around as they sometimes do.  Today it was extra special because Emma, who is in my older Natural Patterns class, chose to create this amazing structure from the recently cut wildflower fields.    

She was busy as a bee creating what looked like a teepee shaped shelter complete with an entrance.  

All of this came from within her!   How amazing to take the initiative and focus on creating a piece of natural art!  She was so proud and  protective of it.  I was in awe.

It reminded me of the work of Patrick Dougherty, an artist who creates amazing sculptures by bending sticks.  Sounds simple, but when you look at his work you can’t help but want to climb inside and take it all in.  I did have opportunity to see one of his pieces in California years ago along with my daughter.  There is something so primitive and earthly about them.  

Check it out!

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When it is was finally time to go she reluctantly walked away knowing that it would never look the same but she hoped that the next time she returned it would still be there. 

Being outside gives us all the opportunity to look at what is around us.  For some it inspires art, poetry or just peace.  Whatever it is take some time to BE out there and perhaps you’ll walk away with more than you came with.  I know that Emma did!

Thank you Emma for making my day! 

 

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Check out :  http://www.stickwork.net/featured/  for more about Patrick Dougherty   

Peace

 

OH NUTS!!!! (and seeds)

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Today was a glorious day for taking a look at some of our trees at Avalon.  Most notably the Black Walnut and the Hickory Tree!

Both produce these interesting multilayered nuts. But most of all they are exciting to SMASH open.  That’s exactly what we did.  Each of my enthusiatic outdoor-kids were ready to take a turn breaking open these nuts.  How do those squirrels do it????

We tasted the black walnut which Shannon said had a strawberry flavor in it!!  They were yummy.   These odd looking nuts are hidden undercover on the trees inside these lime colored looking fruits.  When they are ready, they drop to the ground and proceed to rot and turn black.  Before you can get to the nutty insides you have to peel away a messy dirty layer…..  yuck…  then there is the treasure!

But first how do we get to the inside.  Well luckily Miss Sue did some research beforehand and she brought the wrench for holding the nut (also to protect her hands from getting smashed) and a hammer.   Before long they were cracked open!   Everyone was eager to try it.

We were less successful with the hickory nuts, of which are all over the place but dried out inside… what a disappointment. But lot’s of fun to collect!

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We continued our walk along the wildflower fields which are slowly turning brown… with seeds all ready to fall to the ground for next year’s blooms.  The milkweed plants are in their glory with all of their pods popping open to reveal the amazing layers of seeds attached to little “wish” machines which will help the seeds float away to their new homes!

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Amazing milkweed, amazing smile!

Happy Trails

Sue