The Deleted Scenes - Nature Walking
Last Sunday, my wife and I attended a local naturalist’s small meetup at a Fairfax County park along the Potomac River. We’ve done his walks before—before the pandemic, we foraged pawpaws (made ice cream) and persimmons (made sour faces) in Maryland. It had been awhile. Back in the early 1970s, the park where we met nearly became a subdivision. It was spared that fate—for the good, probably—but how much similar natural space is destroyed because of anti-housing sentiment? There’s a line we’ll say, to the effect of, every urban tree lost in a place like Arlington saves 100 trees in a place like Gainesville. And this isn’t even a piece about urbanism! We spent pretty much the whole day at the park, and it was a really lovely, relaxing experience. A lot of folks do the “weekend warrior” routine—slog through an inhuman work week, then wake up at an ungodly hour to hike/bike/fish all weekend—but we walked slowly, stopped to identify and discuss plants, and chatted with each other. It was a small group, which included an exceptionally behaved four-year-old child who made it through an approximately two-mile hike before his family headed home. My wife and I stuck around with the hike leader and another participant, and slow-hiked for another two and a half hours. And we learned a lot about plants. It’s fascinating how the generality of a lack of familiarity—“yeah, those are all…plants”—begins to give way to a sharpness of perception. The minute differences between this or that yellow flower, or this or that vine, start to become apparent. Sameness is in the eye of the beholder... Subscribe to The Deleted Scenes to read the rest.Become a paying subscriber of The Deleted Scenes to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
|
Key phrases
Older messages
New and Old #103
Friday, March 31, 2023
Friday roundup and commentary
Not Crowded Enough, Nobody Goes There
Thursday, March 30, 2023
And some like it that way
Raising the Roof
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
What Do You Think You're Looking At? #103
Rural Multifamily
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Fossils in the wrong strata
Buffet Chronicles: More Interesting In Theory
Monday, March 27, 2023
Half a review
You Might Also Like
Serendipity And Proximity
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Thoughts on the psychological costs of distance ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
He better call Becky with the good hair
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
But first: meet your personal chef — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today April 23, 2024 Subscribe Read in browser Header Image Together with cook unity But first: meet your personal chef Update
"Breve Pausa" by Martín Espada
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
In the photograph, the poet leans over Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day April 23, 2024 Breve Pausa Martín Espada —for Juan Antonio Corretjer and Consuelo Lee Tapia In the photograph, the
This Spring Skirt Is My Hero Piece & I'll Be Wearing It Nonstop
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Easy breezy.
MIDDI Rewind: How to Shop for ... a Night Cream
Monday, April 22, 2024
Choose the best night cream for your skin type in five simple steps. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
9 Home Essentials You Didn't Know You Needed
Monday, April 22, 2024
Your Discord Data Is Being Sold. From traffic cones to rechargeable lighters and endoscopes, there's a lot of unexpected stuff you absolutely should have on hand in your house. Not displaying
The Character Actress Taking Center Stage in ‘Cabaret’
Monday, April 22, 2024
What's new today on the Cut — covering style, self, culture, and power, plus interviews, profiles, columns, and commentary from our editors. Brand Logo MONDAY, APRIL 22 encounter Gayle Rankin Takes
1 Kettlebell. 30 Minutes. Total Body Strength
Monday, April 22, 2024
Mens Health Shop logo Get shredded all over in just 30 days! View in Browser No Gym Required: Kettlebells One Kettlebell, Serious Results One Kettlebell, Serious Results Want to build major muscle?
12 "Cherry Girl" French Tip Mani Ideas To Try This Summer
Monday, April 22, 2024
Plus, EmRata's new swimwear campaign, your tarot reading for money this week, & more.
An Earth Day response from Al Sharpton
Monday, April 22, 2024
Plus, an Earth Day poem from Mustafa Ali. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏