Life is But a Dream

Row, row, row your boat . . .

 . . . gently down the stream. . .

 

 

. . .merrily, merrily. . .

. . .merrily, merrily. . .

   . . .life is but a dream!

Idyllic?  

Perhaps. . .

. . .but eventually we will need to wake up to the fact that whenever it rains or snows, precious resources, are irreparably lost down the city's sewers, which can lead to other problems, like CSOs (combined sewer overflows).

 You can read more about those here.

A Tale of Three Tree Pits

I pass these three tree pits (and their trees!) every day on my way to work. 

 

 I like to think of them (and others around the city) as snippits of non-contiguous forest, literally carved out of concrete.

 

Many are plain and unassuming. . .

 








. . .or have accumulated bits of the detritus typically found in an urban setting. . .

. . .but then, there are those that have been made into unexpectedly, delightful, tiny green spaces by neighborhood residents:

I hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy these snippits of nature too!







Check back here for future entries in my "Urban Treepit Series".

GuestPeek: Where a Tree Once Stood

In permaculture, the "edge" is a dynamic, unique place, often filled with great beauty.


However, where Earth meets Water, it can also be terrifying in it's power to reshape or reclaim.

These images (thanks Paula!) reflect the erosion occurring on the beach at Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina. 

For the past three years, my uncle Doug, has been documenting the long, but inexorable slide of the land back into the sea.




You can check out some of his footage here:

• Where a Tree Once Stood - this tree finally succumbed to the forces of Nature on the evening of September 1, 2010 in the wake of Hurricane Earl.

• Hunting Island State Park Beach Erosion Erosion Project (8/08 - 4/11) and Hunting Island State Park, Cabin Road: The Final Chapter - there were once 13 cabins for recreational use on Hunting Island.  However, with the sea's encroachment between 2008 and 2011 they have all had to be demolished, especially after access via Cabin Road, was washed out.

Taking Back the Streets. . .

 

. . .slowly, but surely.