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Flora and Fauna Wherever
The robin is one bird that has migrated with me to every state we’ve called home. What I’ve learned is how flora and fauna create a special place; a unique corner of the world; home. And what is one person’s blessing is another person’s bane. But either way, it’s part of Place.
Exchange students who lived in our home showed us pictures of their places. Our Australian student was enraptured by our cheeky little gray squirrels, and told us about bush babies. A lady in Costa Rica wanted so much to see a cardinal. She’d seen a picture of one, “It is all red, with a cap, yes?” I sent her a calendar picture which she hung on her living room wall next to her picture of the Pope. I, however, thought their macaw was wonderful, and I was sad to learn farmers shoot them because they destroy their corn crops.
When I was small, neighbors used to admire our huge catalpa tree when it bloomed in summer. My mother hated that tree. Worms dropped off the huge leaves onto her clothesline, and the leaves and seed pods were always messy. There is nowhere prettier than Atlanta in the springtime with a show of dogwoods. But the entire city is blanketed in yellow pollen dust.
In the mountains of Western North Carolina there are beautiful little red flying squirrels. They are amazing little creatures that thrive on a love-hate existence with humans who love them outdoors but not so much in the attic.
I want to see the Texas blue bonnets sometime, while my Texas friend admires the peonies of Michigan. I loved meeting the road runner in Arizona; he really does say beep-beep. But our guest from the West fell in love with the personalities of our screeching blue jays in the East.
I’m forever awed by the variety of special creations of flora and fauna we have everywhere. The variety of birds in Atlanta were the inspiration for my Little Beth Books, beginning with Beth’s Birds.
What makes your place a special blessing to you? Whatever it is, it’s probably the bane of someone else’s existence! But, it exists for your pleasure, to bless you. We should never be too busy to stop and take notice. Flora and fauna life around us is amazing, wherever we are.