Gratitude

 Today I reflected on the world around me and how grateful I am that I live in it.  I attended an Ontario Nature event at the Sydenham River Nature Reserve.  The outing that I attended focused on the aquatic invertebrates in the river, mainly Mussels.  It really is amazing that these creatures live in our world (or actually we live in their world) and do their job as nature does. 

 Today it wasn't so much the nature that I experienced, but the stories that everyone has about giving thanks.  Whenever I  see an exceptionally wonderful bird or flower, or anything that sparks joy, I give thanks.  I just go inward and feel from my heart out into the world, and give thanks.  I was reminded that our 1st Nations Peoples have always done this, in a very intentional way, by offering tobacco, in their left hand, to the land, to the people, whomever they want to honour in this way.  I was also reminded, that if you forget to give thanks, then you may not receive the kind of experience that you may have had in the past.  

The past winter was pretty harsh, a good winter after many years of too warm conditions.  I feel that most of us are thankful that this Spring has arrived, and for that I give thanks.

I hope you enjoy some of the photographs of some Spring Ephemerals that I have seen over the past few weeks.  These plants only bloom for a short time, I am grateful that I have experienced them in that time.

Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica
Large White Trillium  Trillium grandiflorum
Red Trillium Trillium erectum
Yellow Trout Lily Erythronium americanum
Cut leaved Toothwort Cardamine concatenata
May apple Podophyllum peltatum
Canadian Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
Starry False Solomons Seal Maianthemum stellatum
Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris
Largeflower Bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
Commonn Blue Violet Viola sororia
Downy Yellow Violet Viola pubescens
Cream Violet Viola striata
Jack in the Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum

So next time you are out in nature, don't forget to look down, and be grateful for the beauty under your feet.

























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