IN THE SPRING, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU SHOULD SMELL LIKE DIRT

Posted on 2006-Mar-24 at 04:08

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.—Margaret Atwood

As many of you know, I homeschool three elementary-age daughters, two with heart transplants. We love Spring. In our part of California—almost exactly in-between San Francisco and Los Angeles—some awesome natural events occur this time of year--

The elephant seals give births to young on beaches near Big Sur, CA

http://www.pelicannetwork.net/sansimeon.html

The monarch butterfly, natureÂ’s miraculous migratory insect (flying more miles than any other insect), seeks a safe haven in the eucalyptus grove at Pismo Beach State Park.

http://www.monarchbutterfly.org/

The Western Snowy Plover, an extremely endangered shorebird, nests in the sand dunes at one of the last remaining natural sand dunes systems on the Pacific coast, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes.

http://www.guaddunes.com/wildlife.html

Cedar waxwings migrate through our area each year. Hundreds of them flock in our backyard to feast on our pyracanthaÂ’s berries.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/CEDWAX/

AnnaÂ’s hummingbirds start coming to our hummingbird feeder.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/ANNHUM/

This bird is fascinating to see in the trees, preening and caring for it’s young—Great Blue Heron http://www.slostateparks.com/nature/birds/great_blue_heron.asp#

“Snowbirds” from the northernmost outposts (Canada and other northerly places) start driving their massive RV’s back to their home territory.

http://www.snowbirds.org/canadaclubs/index.html

We’re looking forward to taking some field trips to do some beach-schooling this spring. I’d like the girls to keep a Nature notebook—draw and describe the flora and fauna they see on our adventure treks. We will take many nature photos, too.

We hope to travel to San Francisco in early June to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. We’re excited to meet a heart transplant survivor from England and his fiancée and walk across the bridge together.