What kind of world...
... are we creating?
Plant-animal relationships. Culture and our relationship with nature. Conceptions of beauty. How change happens. For our biosphere, I write, educate, and garden with these things in mind. Along the way, there have been unexpected delights: For one, finding out that butterflies differ in eye color.
Brimstone butterfly, found across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Caterpillar host plants: buckthorns (Rhamnus species) and alder buckthorn (Frangula dodonei).
Silver-washed fritillary, found in Algeria, Europe, Japan, and temperate Asia. Caterpillar host plants: violets (Viola species). This butterfly is "puddling" --
drinking salt- and mineral-laden moisture from the soil to pass in his sperm to the female. Caterpillars need these salts and minerals to develop into butterflies;
the nutrients in the caterpillar host plants are not enough.
drinking salt- and mineral-laden moisture from the soil to pass in his sperm to the female. Caterpillars need these salts and minerals to develop into butterflies;
the nutrients in the caterpillar host plants are not enough.
Red admiral butterfly, widespread in temperate regions, found in Asia, Central and North America, Europe, North Africa, and on Hawaiian and Caribbean islands.
Caterpillar host plants: primarily stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and other species in the nettle family (Urticaceae).
Caterpillar host plants: primarily stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and other species in the nettle family (Urticaceae).
I usually live in Southern California, but for the past few years I've been living in France. It's marvelous to be in a society with universal health care, ample and means-tested options for childcare, five times more affordable housing, and socio-economic disparities half that of the United States. There is so much less suffering here.
In the end, as with everything, it's about what we value.
In the end, as with everything, it's about what we value.
Ménec Neolithic alignments, Carnac, France
What will we leave behind?