Branching Out
The branching pattern of this tree—of any tree—is beautiful, complex, and anything but accidental. There’s a reason for every twist and turn in every smallest twig. It’s all driven by the search for sunlight.
Read MoreRudyard Kipling: Merlin’s Isle
Rudyard Kipling originated the genre of books where realistic children stumble into magic adventure. Suddenly magic intersects with everyday life—turns out there’s a snowstorm going on in the back of a wardrobe, or an owl brings you a letter inviting you to Hogwarts! He was followed by E. Nesbit, C.S. Lewis’s tales of Narnia and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. But Kipling did it first.
Read MoreWinter Solstice: Coming Soon to a Horizon Near You
What is a solstice? It’s the darkest part of winter. Yet paradoxically, it’s a time to celebrate warmth, and light, and life. A holiday for everyone, all welcome, no religion necessary. It’s just about the planet we all live on, tilting to and fro on its long journey around the sun. It’s when the days start getting longer. And the solstice is also a precise moment in time. This year, the solstice falls on December 21, at 11:19 p.m. Set your alarm. Why mark this moment? It’s the tipping point between light and darkness. Why 11:19 and not 11:18 or 11:20? Well, it’s the precise instant at which...
Read MoreHow To Identify Evergreens
One of the remarkable things about December, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, is that almost everywhere you go, there are evergreens draped all over things. The more urban the setting, the more greenery. Shopping malls suddenly resemble forests.
Read MoreLiving Fences
Plain old bushes. They show their true value in snowy winters. Their thick network of branches hold back the snow like protecting hands. Where the road is lined with a thick swath of trees, bushes, and weeds, the road is safer.
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