Solace

In these difficult times, I’m grateful for the special places in the world I’ve been privileged to visit over the years.

I’ve been reminded of some of them in  Photos, looking for an image here and there.

It’s the natural places that I remember and hold close:  Patagonia, Northern Vietnam, Laos, the Central Andean Highlands of Ecuador, Germany’s Schwarzwald, and the Canadian Rockies.  

I don’t actually have digital images of many of these places, as I do for other travels in the digital age.
The images that come up now are those of our Northern Appalachian surroundings in Quebec, the amazing walks that I have in our nearby national park, our transforming landscape, etc.

This is as I’m enveloped with our native-plant centric naturalistic garden in the Southern Appalachian, with vegetables to harvest in my raised beds.

 A late winter view from  our cottage in Quebec (up towards the farm and fields)

I’m fortunate, indeed.

In these times, I think about those that aren’t so fortunate, who lack open green space and who have limited food and limited resources.

And my heart aches for those that experience fear and concern everyday — for their lives and those of others.

My heart breaks.

A walk in downtown Asheville this evening saw ripening serviceberries (planted as street trees) along with gathering protesters in Pack Square.

I hope for a peaceful protest.

There is solace in green space in these times, whether shared space or our own.

I’m looking forward to walking along Bent Creek tomorrow — the sound of the creek is solace, indeed.