Inspiration Part II

Arne Naess is the Norwegian philosopher originally responsible for the set of ideas known as "deep ecology". He taught at the University of Oslo, was involved in environmental activism, and many years of scholarly work, including founding the journal Inquiry. He is now in his nineties. Read an inspiring essay about Naess, his alpine garden, and his life and work at http://www.terrain.org/columns/18/bullhill.htm This essay is by modern-day polymath, philosopher/musician/editor/translator David Rothenberg, author of Why Birds Sing, and editor of the Terra Nova series of books. From the essay: "Care for the nature in your midst and you will endeavor to live in a way that does not damage your own place in the scheme of things. Deep ecology is not the search for the pure, empty wildness far from your home. It's knowing how to tend the grounds of your home place, to trust the land that holds you up, to learn all the beings that share your place, and honestly find the right way to live."

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Another recent inspiration for me is from southeastern Wisconsin's Cedarburg Bog. This 2500-acre wetland complex is " is one of the largest and most diverse wetlands in southern Wisconsin". I've been doing bird surveys for the UW-Milwaukee Field Station in the form of "point counts" here since early June; the photo above is of the array of plants (see small pitcher-plants [Sarracenia purpurea] and round-leaved sundew [Drosera rotundifolia] along with other species) found in a mound of sphagnum moss in the bog. See more about the bog at: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/fieldstation/natareas.html