Preservation, June 2025

In March of 2023, I was fortunate to visit Spain with my friends Karen and Jacquie.  While in Barcelona, we visited Gaudí’s gardens, where I took a picture of a Rock Dove, better known as the common pigeon, which was beautiful.  Its distinct colours seemed to reflect the Mosaic Bench it was perched on.  My painting, Gaudí Pigeon, uses this photo for its inspiration. 

  Looking at my original photo and my more recent painting, I am struck by how much we take the natural world around us for granted.  Right now is one of my favourite times of year.  The trees have come out in leaf, early bulbs are blossoming, and the grass is a healthy, vibrant green.  The orchards have already bloomed and are now busy growing fruit for us to eat in a few short weeks (cherries) or months (apples). 

  When I sit out on my deck, I am surrounded by the natural world.  The builder who designed this property did a great job of planting a variety of trees that attract birds all season long.  Bluejays, Cardinals, Robins, Finches, and many more flying wonders.  The low-hanging pine trees at the edge of the property also provide a home for rabbits that we often see nibbling the grass.  We are so lucky to live in a world alive with bird and animal life.  On my phone, I have an app called Merlin Bird ID.  If I hear birds singing, this app will tell me which bird I am hearing.  Sometimes, there can be up to ten different birds serenading in my backyard.  How great is that!

  My point is that we are surrounded by the beauty of nature whenever we step outside, and we often don’t even notice it.  Like so many amazing things in our lives, we take it for granted.  Guarding our natural world is such an important thing to do.  Many species are threatened because of man’s negligence.  Climate change is happening much faster than would naturally occur because of man’s disregard for the environment and the creatures that we share our earth with. 

  Reduce, reuse, recycle has always been my mantra.  If this blog gets you thinking about the beautiful things in our natural world, perhaps it will also make you think about some small thing you can do to help preserve it.  Live more simply, use what you have, reuse or repair rather than purchase new.  Respect the environment and all Earth’s living plants and creatures.  Do your bit for preservation and help me leave a beautiful world for my grandchildren and their children's children.