Postcards from the forest - the little things

It is subtle at first. Beneath a mat of old growth, or from barren soil, a tinge of green emerges. At first, it is barely visible, and one must look carefully to note the change. But soon, fresh green can be seen almost everywhere.

Brilliant green mosses cling to rocks, and where those rocks meet the water of seasonal streams and creeks, air bubbles cling to the soft clumps. Do we witness the moss collecting oxygen, or creating it?

Ladybugs began emerging in January, well before the promise of a new season made its appearance. Now they shimmer against a complimentary, and moist, background.

When you slow down and take a close look, there is life everywhere, and that is especially true near the water.

And having water...that is in and of itself a blessing. After such a long and severe drought, one does not take the presence of surface streams for granted. They were dry for years. To hear them, faint though their gurgling may be, is to feel a certain peace, a sense of hope.

And there may be more rain, and perhaps even snow, to come. Yes, please. We'll take it.

(These images come to you from the Forest Recovery Project and Redbird, a local non profit foundation with a land base in the Angeles National Forest. We'll keep bringing glimpses of beauty from the forest, and we hope those who enjoy them, and who shop Amazon, will help us during this challenging times by registering with Amazon Smile and choosing to support Redbird when they shop. There is no cost to you; Amazon donates on your behalf when you use Amazon Smile. It's easy! Just click on the link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/77-0374732)

If you'd like to learn more about Redbird, please visit us at www.RedbirdsVision.org