13 Comments
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Jeanne Malmgren's avatar

As always, Janisse ... wise, compassionate, and clear. Thank you!

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Wise women unite.

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Suzy Grindrod's avatar

I am currently reading a book called Palestinian Walks by Raja Shehadeh. Talk about fragmentation -- the fragmentation in the occupied territories, just in the last 20 years, is so sad!

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Suzy, thank you for this recommendation. I'm checking it out.

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beth duff's avatar

One way to help fragmented habitat that I’ve been trying to implement on our property is to reduce lawn and increase native plants to our eco region. There’s a number of sources that help selection like Audubon, Native Plant Societies, your states Wildlife Federation and many more. Famed Professor of Entymology, Doug Tallamy, suggest in his books that if every land owner did this one thing it could make a huge difference to one’s local ecosystem.

He refers to it as a homegrown national park. I love national parks and have spent time in nearly all of the ones in the US. To be in nature truly is healing for your spirit, soul and body. That’s why I have totally embraced the idea of creating this experience to enjoy right outside our own window. “If you plant them, they will come,” says Tallamy. And he was right!

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Yes. Here's to Homegrown National Park! Let's do it.

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Jeanne Malmgren's avatar

same here, Beth. 100% agree!

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Greg Bruhn's avatar

I share Janisse's concern about the former president's comments which are nothing more than recycled 1950s McCarthy rhetoric. The former president was on my radar in 2016, when he said the following: "I like Putin's style of leadership, but not Russia's form of government." In light of what has occurred in Ukraine since February of last year. The American people need to be reminded that we have a presidential candidate who has considered a ruthless dictator to be an appropriate role model. Then again, I have to raise the question, "Is Trump the symptom or the cause of the deep divide in our country. Could he possibly, be both?"

I didn't start out to be so political in my comments. I needed to get something off my chest. I'd rather mention the fact that I visited a beautiful longleaf forest under blue skies, yesterday. I saw one "Pine Barren Gentian" in bloom, which had the most intense cobalt blue color. The longleaf forest is just over an hour south of Raleigh, where the Sandhills begin. Fortunately, Harnett County purchased the property, as the area is facing development pressure on all sides.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Greg, did you happen to get a photo of Pine Barren Gentian? Would you send it to me? (Not to ignore politics...) :)

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Estelle Ford-Williamson's avatar

Beautifully written, clearly making the connection between protecting earth and ourselves!

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Thank you, Estelle. Here's to our dear Mother Earth.

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Janelle Whalen's avatar

I like to ask myself occasionally, "What would you like the earth to look like 100 years from now."

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Yes!

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