Portovieijo/Ecuador – To balance against the urban challenges of noise and air pollution, I bolt as often as possible to the nearby Refugio de la Tomatera. The images above were taken in the past week as the climate weans out of the rainy season.
The next images show a few of the visitors to the museum exhibit, which has been extended to the end of this year.
The visitors continue to humble me with their feedback, and it is a joy to witness their reactions not only to the augmented reality, but also to my writings. Giovanni’s photographs present a stronger message about our environment via the augmented reality, and the two exhibits compliment the other.
This past Tuesday the art class worked on drawings in the garden area of a local cafe. Look how well they were studying nature:
One always learns more about nature when working from life, especially if one is in wrap-around outdoors. Global Big Day provided many opportunities to combine birding with society. The early birds (humans as well as feathered ones) were at la Tomatera and provided some fun discussions before I returned to the city for the birding in Parque las Vegas.
The star bird in the refuge that morning was the Streaked Saltator which gobbled its breakfast of bright red flowers. The stars at the park were the day-old Striated Herons. If one makes the effort to show up, nature usually provides abundant rewards.
Events and birding treks have provided special moments this week, as if each day has surprises waiting to be discovered. This colorful sign greeted visitors to Parque las Vegas this past Friday, June 3:
These beautiful young activists are working quietly under the guidance of Rotary International. Their collective attitudes convey happiness and joy, just to be able to share details about their projects – and to interact with the public.
We all agree that Earth Day or World Environment are not just dates on a calendar; every day is a day to cherish our environment and be kind to our planet.
Saturday found me back at Refugio de la Tomatera; Giovanni and I planned to hand out birding checklists while spending the afternoon birding. I had stopped to gawk at a raptor soaring with the vultures when a bright young lad careened into the scene:
This young man skidded to a stop and asked if I were the same person he’d met at the ‘Iguana Park’ last Sunday. (Yes! He watched while I was drawing trees.) He seemed proud to have recognized me, and with checklists in hand he and his friends resumed their full-throttle bike race back to town!
Hope.
Do something kind for the earth today if it’s just stepping out the door and appreciating what you might often overlook each day.
Giovanni and I will be giving birding walks at another youth event in the city. The same group that I visited on Earth Day:
Teamwork!
I hope that you take time to appreciate your local environment, or support those who are working hard to make this a healthier planet.
Pencil studies in progress for ‘The Flora and Fauna of La Tomatera.’
Ah… Only one earth, and she gives great comfort to those who appreciate her.
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
What wonderful, heartwarming photos and words, Lisa. I am especially in awe of your pencil drawings. Fantastic.
Thank you, Anne! What a great comment to start this day, one that honors our planet. Have you seen Jane Goodall’s message? She is an amazing person, and has such a gentle-yet-powerful voice.
. You also have a gentle yet powerful voice…
Yes – she is an amazing encouragement to all us Elders to keep being useful for as long as we can! And – thank you for your kind words. Truly appreciated and valued…
Dear Lisa,
we also like your pencil drawings VERY much. They are great 👍
All the best and thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you very much! Your feedback is extra special.
This past week I realized that I’ve not shown much of the series. Soon I will try to capture what the visitors experience when they view the show.
Thanks again!
I loved your stream of photos at the beginning. Beauty, beauty, beauty.
Hi Emilie – buenOs dias! Thank you! I hope that the day smiles on you – and thank you for showing your love for nature in many diverse ways.
Your Art as always Lisa is stunning..
Wow, so many beautiful slide shows to go through showing not only beautiful nature, but also so many smiles and people enjoying studying nature themselves…
So good to see the youth of tomorrow taking active interest and it brings hope for our future and our environment that they are learning first hand in nature, and that their passion is also respecting mother nature…
The Museum looks a hub of activity and you must be extremely proud Lisa of the part you played in its presentation..
Sending you many hugs and warm well wishes as you continue to explore those pockets of nature not many of us will ever get to witness, except through your eyes and your camera lens..
MUCH LOVE Lisa.. ❤
Sue, you do a great job of doting on your own area of the planet, and our planet surely appreciates those who take time to ‘honor’ her… You would love walking those trails and spending quiet time with what appears to be true ancient trees – but down here they grow fast, so I doubt if they rival the true ancient trees of the world … they are, however, magnificent and project a feeling of their role of guardians.. Yes, Ecuador’s museum system does a great service to those who work in the arts, and the director here as well as the director of events have been so good to me over the years.
Sending love back to you!
I would love it I know, and those giant trees. 😍
We have some ancient Oaks in woods not far away, The Standing Ones have witnessed many changes over their many years rooted to the spot while their forests have got smaller and smaller.
You do such a lot to promote nature and the need for such forests.. Thank YOU. 💕
Much love Lisa.. ❤ 😍 💖
My iPad doesn’t have Java but I loved the stream of photos that opened your post. I completely get your desire to get away and wish I could do it more often. That way lies sanity. I’m reading “The Way Home: tales from a life without technology”, by Mark Boyle, who goes to live really off the grid in Ireland. Although I could never do what he did, it’s interesting to read his thoughts and how difficult it is to truly live without technology. I think a balance is the answer but so many of us are so distanced from the rhythms of the natural world these days and technology has sort of a life of its own. I’ve wandered far afield (a field?) but your post set off a train of thought. I appreciate all you do with your drawing ps, paintings, love of the people and earth around you. Have a marvel-filled week, my friend.
‘The Way Home’ sounds like a wonderful book. Yes, a balance is important.
I have not used a phone in 20 years and really dislike them a lot – to the distress of many of my friends and loved ones. I explained this past week to one who was incredulous (he was young) that we make a plan and try to stick to what we promise to do. “yes, I will see you at 7 pm and the bakery by the church. no problem is you’re running late, I will wait – but if you’re not there in half an hour I will walk to the pond at the park – and then go home.’ I smiled and said, ‘Instead of texting while at a traffic light that I am half an hour away.. and then at the fire station to say that I have to make a stop and will be there in fifteen.. or next say that …..’ and that it allows me to own my day instead of the day owning me. I also have trouble understanding what is said over a phone, esp if there is another conflicting sound. As you say, there’s a balance, and it would be nice at times. Without email, then a phone would be necessary.
Again you have captured your environment in a striking way, Miss Z. And while my environment is far less exotic than yours, I love it.
One of my favorite things about all your posts are the smiles on the people, like the young activists and the boy on the bike.
Have a great World Environmental Day. But then, every day is a special environmental day for you. Thanks for sharing.
That young boy on the bike was precious – filled with curiosity with a very sharp mind. I can still hear how he braked and skidded to a stop on that dirt road!
Yes, every day is environmental day for many, which reminds me a little of those who are Christians just on Sunday for church, then the rest of the week they forget how to best represent Christ… the same with concern for our planet – it should be daily/siempre!
I’m still thinking about your recent stories — ah, the mark of a good storyteller – that the story lingers!
What a great thought about protecting the environment Miss Z. It should be everyday, not like the people who are Christians just on Sunday.
I am glad my stories linger with you. I know your posts linger with me.I love the world around you, the trees, the birds, the people.
Lovely images. I especially love that amazing tree and the startling electric blue butterfly.
On Sunday those trees were bathed in strong sunlight against beautiful blue skies. The light/shadow effect was stunning. I admired one particular tree and sat there studying how the shadows wrapped/draped across the limbs, and suddenly I realized a raptor perched there — oh! A beautiful Laughing Falcon.
Those blue butterflies have been around for about a month; they are about as wide as a quarter, and yes, just stunning when in the sunlight.
Laughing Falcon! I’ve never seen/heard one of those. I think the world needs more laughing falcons.
Love Saltators, baby anything, your drawings, how proactive you are, and love you!
Thanks, Lee – the Streaked Saltators are so interesting with those ice-blue eyes! Thank you for always offering words of support and encouragement.
There certainly is only one Earth Lisa and what a beautiful Earth she is too!
Thank you for doing and sharing all you do, Eddie
Thank you for all that you do, as well. You dote on the earth as well as the many people – and are always offering a kind word. Most likely you do that silently to the various trees and plants you encounter every single day. Thank you for being such a kind and thoughtful person.
Bless your dear heart Lisa
“One one earth, and she gives great comfort to those who appreciate her.” Those words captures the essence of this day, Lisa. Your pencil drawings are exquisite!!
Thank you, and you are another one who walks this earth with a delicate step. Thanks also for the kind words about the drawings!
Dear Lisa: Thank you for this beautiful post (as always). The Earth is a little weary, this World Environment Day. She needs our support.
Thank you, as well! I’m reading your ‘mixed emotions’ post right now – where the drop-down comments show your comment! Yes, the earth is indeed a little weary; I’m looking at the rain totals in southern Florida right now – from the storm that skipped across Mexico and close to you as well. Me thinks she was giving everyone a heads up to be prepared for the upcoming season. Goodness, our planet is so fragile, and yes she needs our support. You do that every day, thank you!
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of course thank you – for all that you do!
This was inspiring, as always, with your wonderful perspective, young faces that give me hope, and your art, that always honors your surroundings. Thank you, Lisa!
Thank you Cindy! You honor the earth as well, and are always tending to your GPS spot, lovingly planting and maintaining and helping others as well.
Speaking of one earth, Trader Joe’s is selling a little fruit we’d not heard of till a neighbor introduced us to it. Trader Joe’s bills it as golden fruit, and in small print says it’s also called cape gooseberry. I inferred that the reference is to the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of South Africa. That proved correct, but it turns out that the fruit is native to Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_peruviana
Have you had it in Ecuador?
Yes yes yes! I’ve bought it in the markets, but first saw it growing quite ‘wild’ in a friend’s blackberry (mora) farm near Cosanga on the eastern slope of the Andes. I was cooking for a group of birders (from Texas!) and this fruit paired very well with the blackberries in a nice sauce sort of what one would make for a cobbler or to put over a ‘tea cake’ (not Ecuadorian at all!)
Your photos from the refuge are a real treat, Lisa. The butterfly, the birds, the Ceibo tree, is that right? I’d love to see those!
I’m happy to hear the exhibition continues, as does the feedback. You deserve to be richly rewarded.
“As if each day has surprises waiting to be discovered” – Yes! And each day Does! 🙂
And I believe this earth gives great comfort even to those who don’t realize it….
I think that we are both wired the same way; we could find one beautiful place along a trail and sit there all day just absorbing all there is… what peace, what a gift, and yes, always surprises to be discovered. Yesterday it was a Striped Owl.
And that was a month ago so in between, there have been more discoveries, in spite of world news. Take care and keep your spirits up!
What an amazing tree! Totally apt for World Environment Day. I love that sketches too!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring experiences and being such an inspiration yourself, Lisa.
Happy World Environment Day. Thank you for the beautiful images, Art, smiles and inspiration. Awareness, Action, Commitment, Unity, we need them urgently to save and preserve of what’s left of our Planet. Thank you for the amazing work that you do. The glow and joy on people’s faces, just priceless.
Nice post 🤠
Zeebra Designs, I’ve received no emails for quite a while. Are you doing OK?