tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348538274672638282.post8905890732970976942..comments2023-09-29T01:27:05.972-07:00Comments on Know Your Place: neighborhood nature?Gregory Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09607287993605837055noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348538274672638282.post-36985423929435096072010-02-19T11:02:11.225-08:002010-02-19T11:02:11.225-08:00My only arguement concerning your sense of place h...My only arguement concerning your sense of place has less to do with the place (or its proximity to other kinds of places, i.e. suburban areas near "wild" places) than it does with a persons sense itself. So to answer your question in this regard, "Or am I just sentimental?" I say no. You just have a strong sense of place regardless of the strength of the place that you are in. The sense of direction thing is another matter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348896115839903076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348538274672638282.post-42943626272135418122010-02-18T07:45:06.085-08:002010-02-18T07:45:06.085-08:00great story, thanks!
-gzgreat story, thanks!<br />-gzGregory Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09607287993605837055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348538274672638282.post-23793391872049190412010-02-17T19:06:12.568-08:002010-02-17T19:06:12.568-08:00This article Neighborhood Nature reminded me of a ...This article Neighborhood Nature reminded me of a very important effort of mine I am proud of. In Houston, TX, a very concreted over city, there was this little county park I frequented. It had a five acre natural pond in the park. This is a very rare thing to see in Houston. In fact there are not too many natural bodies of water in the city besides the bayous. Anyway, the pond was totally neglected by the powers to be. In fact there was talk of filling it in and making it a baseball diamond. To the north of the pond and also within the boundaries of the park was a small wooded area. <br /><br />I made numerous calls requesting something be done to preserve the pond and the woods. I pestered the county so much that the county commissioner told me not to call him anymore. I made calls to other organizations such as the Audibon Society and the Lions Club of Houston who had a stake in the pond since they owned a piece of it. I suggested a nature trail in the woods with interpretive signs. To make a long story short. Four years later, I get an email from a friend in Houston telling me that the park has been given a complete makeover with the pond deepened and restocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. They put down a crushed granite trail through the woods and put up signs identifing trees and various fauna. <br /><br />My point is...it took one person to plant the seed. Of course the county commissioner who told me to get lost was there for the ribbon cutting and was given many pats on the back for a job well done. That is fine by me. I got what I wanted. The sad thing is that there were not too many others who participated in the beginning. What does it take? For me it was the place I wanted to be at the end of the day. I would do a little fly fishing and meet buddies and share the camaraderie. I guess that was what was guiding me. Now that I think of it, a similar thing happened here in the Sault with the Farmers' Market. A voice has to be heard.<br /><br />I did not mention that the pond was a stopping point for many of the migratory birds that make their way through Texas during the winter months.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12358651287156367163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348538274672638282.post-54282239446725250012010-02-17T13:43:10.486-08:002010-02-17T13:43:10.486-08:00I look for those small woodlots, too. One of about...I look for those small woodlots, too. One of about 80 acres is just a block or two away from the house. I often take the dog in there or ski/snowshoe through it.<br /><br />Commenting on your Everyplace Adventure entry the other day, I mentioned that diving ducks hadn't been using the canal in town this year due to the lack of ice cover in surrounding rivers and lakes. (My theory.) Yesterday on the walk home from work I heard the unmistakable whistling of goldeneye wings and saw a pair lift off the canal. This morning, I spotted a lone hen goldeneye feeding just upstream from main street. Maybe more to come.<br /><br />Today on the walk home for lunch a bald eagle was making lazy circles low over the downtown area, again, and yesterday I saw an eagle perched in a tree across the street from the high school. It used to be a rare day when you'd see an eagle. Now it's a rare day when you don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com