Nature's Place

The latest from the garden …

Click the Pictures for a better view. … Young Kookaburra, he’s matured in the few months since he first showed up in the garden.

Young Butcherbird, his mum brought him around one day and he returns regularly for a bite to eat.

Big beetle in the night. Out of the fallen trees used to fence my little garden, that are rotting now.

Storm lillies – lovely name. They come out after the rain – we’ve had a lot lately. Nice to see them in unexpected places.

A Tern of some kind. Down by the Victoria Point pier, where the Welcome Swallows live.

One of the ducks that pass by the back door regularly. They come and they go.

Bluebottle fly, by the Blue Banded Bee’s nest site.

A more mature Kookaburra. Standing still for a portrait shot.

Orange Tail Resin Bee. Finishing off her nest site, sealing in the young of the next generation – protection from predators and parasites.

At any time I can walk out into the garden and often one or more of the many visitors are there waiting for a chat, or a bite to eat.

It’s ok to feed the wildlife, so we are told, after being told not to for so long. I never listened anyway. Just like when they invented margarine, no thanks.

Thing is, not to feed them too much or the wrong stuff. My friends in the garden keep coming back looking fitter and healthier than before. We do it for our mutual benefit. They enjoy the food.

I enjoy their presence, the absence of any complications of mind – no more thinking or emotion than the situation calls for – that can be observed as instinctive intelligence. Yes, nature is intelligent.

Just not like we like to think we are, intelligent. We are obviously animals, with an animal body that functions instinctively. But we have also added a thinking emotional layer that obscures our natural intelligence.

It is this natural intelligence, combined with our capacity to be objectively aware of and realise it – without the need to personalise or analyse or emotionalise – that gave rise to the prescription of a ‘week in the country’ would do you good.

Look around, looks like the world could do with a week in the country.

© Mark Berkery … Click on those pictures for a closer look …
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