We get many owls here in New Jersey, but not Snowy ones... and three types of carnivorious plants: pitcher, sundews, and bladderworts. I know a spot in the Pinelands where I can see all three. I'd like to sit out there and see what birds I find, with luck, an Eastern Screech owl might pass by.
Angela encountered a snowy owl on the woodpile two days ado/ Monhegan Island ME. A hawk was sitting on the stoop railing eck- ecking at a the owl. Quite a scene.
Although I do indeed honor insects, well, uh, um, yeah ... cluster flies ... well ... you know ... I do my best to honor them as well. But I'll admit that it's tough! 🤣
I am so glad you appreciate jumping spiders. Ron and I had one that often hunted in the corner of the window by his seat at the dining table. We loved its company.
Nature outdoors is what I prefer enjoying. I don't have to tend to them and try not to bother the living things there.
If the ravens call when they fly past me, I sometime 'gronk' back. Then they usually respond by circling to check me out as I walk my woodland trail.
Maybe the plants in the trail note my passing too. The response I note is the gap in goldthread and partridgeberry leaves. We do make a difference, even when we pass by quietly. A silent communion and survival.
Thank you for your essay. You always get me thinking about being present with wild things.
A sundew lived in my van for quite a long while. He was not my longest lived of van plants, but he was hearty. It was a winter that finally did him in. I was very fond of him. And I still miss him from time to time. Thank you for making me think of him.
(I don’t always gender plants, but this one was him to me right away.)
“And yet I can unite them here in prose and ideas.”
Initially I had my doubts, but I have been reading long enough to know, I should have said , of course you can. I love Pitcher plants, I admit to a rescue or two myself.
I love the idea of
“…nurture and reciprocity…” Now that I think about it, there is a certain feeling when I nurture my outdoor flowers from seed and watch the Bees and Hummingbirds flit from one flower to another. Sometimes I find myself talking to them as I water; ‘oh, you like that color, I planted them for you’ and to the Bees who I find just waking up from slumbering in a flower, or hovering happily around my Lavender plants , ‘please don’t bite me, I grew these for you’. A wonderful post , Bryan. I hope to spot those gorgeous yellow gold eyes in the near future.
Snowball on the distant fence post, or Snowy Owl, ‘Binos’ out and ready. Good luck to you too. And most definitely, Chloe Hope D&B.
I've long held that all things are connected, Bryan, whether through natural threads or through our imagination. And now you've woven a tale with both. Beautiful, thanks.
Any Snowy visitors in midcoast Maine? Certainly no snow.
I dare say that you feed all your readers like baby birds with your reverent kinship with the natural world, Bryan. Your sundew blows my mind (and is proof of alien life) and I more than enjoyed the visual of your tenderly feeding your lil friend. Thank you ❤️
Mid winter a snowy owl will come to Plum Island MA. What looks like a white jug of milk far out on the salt Marsh fills us with awe. Our efforts out in the cold are reciprocated with a feeling of a bit of order has been restored to the universe. Thank you owl.
We get many owls here in New Jersey, but not Snowy ones... and three types of carnivorious plants: pitcher, sundews, and bladderworts. I know a spot in the Pinelands where I can see all three. I'd like to sit out there and see what birds I find, with luck, an Eastern Screech owl might pass by.
Thanks, Thomas. This may be your winter. A Snowy has already turned up at Cape Henlopen. And, oh yeah — the Pinelands are great for the carnivores!
Look I want to spend less time on my phone but I couldn’t stop reading this 🙌
I'm with you on the phone! 😀 And I'm grateful.
Such a wonderful read - 🙏 thank you💐
Thanks so much for taking the time to read it! 🙏
Angela encountered a snowy owl on the woodpile two days ado/ Monhegan Island ME. A hawk was sitting on the stoop railing eck- ecking at a the owl. Quite a scene.
Of course she did! 😀 Wow -- quite a scene indeed. Wish I was there to see it -- and all of you! ❤️
"How the hell is he gonna do it?" wonders Marvin. "How is he gonna make Snowy Owls and Sundews make sense together?"
Then Bryan reaches out a butterfly netter's muscled arm, "Here, hold my beer." he says, grinning.
Literally LOL! And sending you (and Marvin) boundless gratitude. I'm humbled.
Beautiful post Bryan. We had a our first snowy owl sighting in my area in recent days. I wish people would learn to give them a wider berth.
I wish the same, Pamela. Thanks. Stay tuned for a link on observation ethics!
I will keep my eye out for that and share it to my FB where I know a lot of photographers.
Let's go with this one. What do you think?
https://www.projectsnowstorm.org/snowy-owl-etiquette/
Yes, that works. I just shared it to my FB.
Very cool! I never considered having carnivorous plants in the house, and how to keep them fed (unless one is being invaded by cluster flies!).
Although I do indeed honor insects, well, uh, um, yeah ... cluster flies ... well ... you know ... I do my best to honor them as well. But I'll admit that it's tough! 🤣
Hmm, I can email you??? This I will figure out in case there’s a snowy owl in my vicinity! What a bonus.
It's part of my gratitude for paying subscribers, and I'm always looking for ways to be even more grateful!
I am so glad you appreciate jumping spiders. Ron and I had one that often hunted in the corner of the window by his seat at the dining table. We loved its company.
Nature outdoors is what I prefer enjoying. I don't have to tend to them and try not to bother the living things there.
If the ravens call when they fly past me, I sometime 'gronk' back. Then they usually respond by circling to check me out as I walk my woodland trail.
Maybe the plants in the trail note my passing too. The response I note is the gap in goldthread and partridgeberry leaves. We do make a difference, even when we pass by quietly. A silent communion and survival.
Thank you for your essay. You always get me thinking about being present with wild things.
Great stuff Brian. I think I need to add a carnivorous plant to the jungle in my office!
A sundew lived in my van for quite a long while. He was not my longest lived of van plants, but he was hearty. It was a winter that finally did him in. I was very fond of him. And I still miss him from time to time. Thank you for making me think of him.
(I don’t always gender plants, but this one was him to me right away.)
And that owl! Wow.
“And yet I can unite them here in prose and ideas.”
Initially I had my doubts, but I have been reading long enough to know, I should have said , of course you can. I love Pitcher plants, I admit to a rescue or two myself.
I love the idea of
“…nurture and reciprocity…” Now that I think about it, there is a certain feeling when I nurture my outdoor flowers from seed and watch the Bees and Hummingbirds flit from one flower to another. Sometimes I find myself talking to them as I water; ‘oh, you like that color, I planted them for you’ and to the Bees who I find just waking up from slumbering in a flower, or hovering happily around my Lavender plants , ‘please don’t bite me, I grew these for you’. A wonderful post , Bryan. I hope to spot those gorgeous yellow gold eyes in the near future.
Snowball on the distant fence post, or Snowy Owl, ‘Binos’ out and ready. Good luck to you too. And most definitely, Chloe Hope D&B.
I've long held that all things are connected, Bryan, whether through natural threads or through our imagination. And now you've woven a tale with both. Beautiful, thanks.
Any Snowy visitors in midcoast Maine? Certainly no snow.
May we see others,
observe through others’ viewpoints.
Wide lens perspective.
I dare say that you feed all your readers like baby birds with your reverent kinship with the natural world, Bryan. Your sundew blows my mind (and is proof of alien life) and I more than enjoyed the visual of your tenderly feeding your lil friend. Thank you ❤️
Mid winter a snowy owl will come to Plum Island MA. What looks like a white jug of milk far out on the salt Marsh fills us with awe. Our efforts out in the cold are reciprocated with a feeling of a bit of order has been restored to the universe. Thank you owl.