Hello again. I know, where have I been? If you follow on the FB you will know I have been around, just not so inclined to be a consistent blogger. Oh well, all I can say is that it has been very busy since April.
What has happened in that time frame? Well, let's see April was busy, May was wet, really wet, there were elections and run-offs, and now it is nearing the end of summer.

                                                                  White Rock lake flood 2006
Can we complain about the heat yet? Go ahead. Just remember what we were all thinking about a few months ago when winter decided to finally show up in January. And then a late cool spring and the frog choking rains! Some think it broke the drought. Hmm, let's figure this out. We live in a drought state so I figure that we should all realize that we are always going to be in drought most of the time and some of the time we won't be. Seems that would be the logical way to look at things here in Texas.


And surprise! We are back in a drought according to the meteorologists. Were we ever out of it? Only for a month or two. Drought state. So what can you do to adapt? All the standard recommendations, which by the way, we should all be following to the letter all the time, not just when someone says to. The pioneers knew how to survive here, but we have become used to turning on the tap and watching the water flow. Spoiled, we are.                                                                                  

Conservation measures:
Water the yard, if you must, once a week or less. Water deeply, no run off.
Plant indigenous native plants or those that are drought tolerant.
Use a soaker hose along the foundation of your house.
Take short showers.
Full load when washing laundry and dishes.
Wash car at a car wash, or wait for it to rain like I do.
Turn off water when brushing teeth.

You know the drill. We live with drought, that will never change,only when we are temporarily blessed with rain. Give and take. Rain and drought.

We are so far removed from that connection to the land that we have lost the ability to see and forgotten the knowledge of how we should care for the place we live. Time to learn all over again.

              Norbuck Prairie                                                                                                          B.Rader
 

The Art of Nature

    Sunrise                                                                                                                                                                                    Photo by Becky

This last week was a whirlwind of exciting events including the visit to Big Springs with Dr. Andrew Sansom.  A friend wrote about it on his blog and I really couldn't add more, other than my own perspective watching this occur and being a part of it.  See his blog here. http://dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com/2014/12/texas-water-conservation-in-focus-at.html

A few from the group of supporters for the preservation of Big Spring met with Dr. Sansom before his program at TRAC for the Annual NTMN Awards Meeting.  The attention, suggestions, advice, and so much more could not have been more appreciated by our group.  This man graciously gave his time and expertise to us so that we can continue to do the best for the preservation of the Spring and the area around it.  There is much more study and hydrological research to be done to make sure that this site is protected and continues as a living symbol of the early settlement history of Dallas.

So how does art fit into this?  It was all around us while we were there.  The changing colors of the foliage, sunlight reflecting off the water, leaves floating on the surface of the spring fed pond, the trickle of the water as it flowed from the upper pond to the lower before it flowed to Bryan's Slough then on to White Rock Creek and the Trinity, eventually making its way into the Gulf of Mexico.  The sound was mesmerizing.  Add to that the voices all around us of the birds, it was nearing twilight and they were having the final say-so before the last of the daylight left them in the enveloping darkness.  There was a slight chill to the air and the sounds it carried brought a sense of peacefulness, as if in the serenade before nightfall we were being thanked for what we are trying to do.  My interpretation....

                                          Eastern Bluebirds on Cedar Fence                                      Photo by Becky

Artists have interpreted nature since man began drawing on cave walls the animals they saw and hunted.  We try to replicate the sounds of nature with musical instruments, which brings to mind the music from "Peter and the Wolf".  Poetry and songs are written that include nature, 'I think that I shall never see...' and 'from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam'...... and some buildings are constructed so as to bring nature within, compliments of the great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

In spite of the industrialization, the constant covering of the land with concrete and metal we still seek to find our solace and reason for being through our connection with nature.  The natural world transfixes us when we take the time to watch the darkness of the night sky surrender slowly across the horizon to the breaking dawn.

I cannot imagine being without this connection to the natural world around us.  When you look for the art of nature you will be surprised at the places you will find it and how often you will see it.  It is all around us.

Two examples from the Hall of State fabulous collection of art work.  These were designed by the John Livers Lighting Company and represent the native flora of our state, a stylized Yucca bloom stalk as a finial on one of the exquisite floor lamps and Prickly Pear cactus and grasses on the famous Longhorn Sconces at the Great Hall entrance.  Beautiful!