I Spent The Afternoon In The Yard, Blowing Dandelions.

I spent the afternoon in the yard, blowing dandelions.

My brother was chopping them all down later in the day, along with all of the grass. The grass was fine, plain and not naturally occurring in its species.

The dandelion meant more to me. They were relentless and animate. They were host to an entire ecosystem; including humans should they care to them.

When I am having days that are unending and all consuming. Days where I feel too much in the center of it’s purpose, I run to the dandelions. I let them prickle at my legs. An entire world of pollinators, uninvolved with my previous routine. I am home here, too.

I couldn’t imagine losing them so quickly, but they are far more powerful than us. “Weeds.” They are far from it. What distinguishes wanted and unwanted? They cannot provide an answer we are looking for. It does not exist there. They will grow back. Their existence will be a pain to some, but a relief to others; to me.

Thank you for returning, I will say. Thank you for not giving up. They will not respond, and they do not need to. I am asking more of myself, now.

More than that, I could not stomach the idea of all of those wishes being torn down. Being taken away. I needed to finish its life cycle for it, now it has become human.

Each flower becomes a new hope. I am safe, I say. I am loved, I say. I am capable, I say. Halfway through the herd, I begin to believe myself. I am wanted here, I say. I am taking part in a larger process, I say. I can fulfill myself, I say.

And the seeds travel, they soar. Covering new parts of yard, sailing over fence lines, tucking themselves within other mature plants.

They do not know they will be forced to mourn later, there is too much time to celebrate.

While visiting Florida this past Holiday, I had the immense privilege of getting to experience so much beautiful wildlife in a multitude of ways. Through zoos, yes! But, more than just that. It was magical getting to see the amount of wildlife in suburbia. I do not love Florida for its sociopolitical environment. I guess “do not love” implies there is any like, where there is not. However, seeing the Sandhill Cranes (who, I only just learned, migrate over San Antonio in early Spring. We just heard them calling overhead a few days past) walk so freely throughout the neighborhood. Seeing them bathe in the sun, as ordinary as our boundless squirrels back home. And the gators! Wow! There was a young gator in a neighborhood pond, and we got to see them a couple of times. While their age reduced their size, the possibility of them is what awe struck me. The life cycle is an incredible thing, and this is known and honored. But to see such an animal, who did not roam freely where I grew up, at such a young point of life… It is spectacular. They will not grow to massive sizes within the week of our visit, but they will remind me of it. I think that is incredible.

But yes the zoos! These pictures were taken at the Brevard zoo, in Melbourne. It was perhaps the coolest zoo I have visited. The habitats were expansive and immersive. As you walked through, you felt as if you were witnessing the wildlife; No longer only observing it.

Back home, our Zoo usually has only one Babirusa on display. Here, there was an entire family spread out across multiple smaller habitats! They are North Sulawesi Babirusa, and we got to watch the mother, Piggy, and her two sons, Billy and Bob, frolicking happily around. Their tails wagging nonstop. Their chins tilted up to the sky, not dragging only to the ground. The father, Meru, was more solitary. He stood in the farthest pen, over his pile of fresh food. The family occasionally came up to stare at him through the habitat door that connects each “room.”

On January 13, 2024 the zoo announced the arrival of twin piglets!

It will take a little till they are out, I’m sure, but the excitement is boundless!

I could talk for hours about this zoo! So I’ll have to nip my tangent here :) I got lots of really nice drawings during this trip that I’m eager to share! Cheers all!! And take care of yourself!

AND STOP EATING PALM OIL!!!

You are actively participating in the destruction of both ecosystems and species!

Tonight’s sketch while watching movie!

falling asleep to the lady and the tramp soundtrack is the best self care

Guard dog