I’ve been puzzling over the love of nature and how it arises. In fact I’ve recently asked both of my teens about their memories of nature in a quest to better understand how they came to respect it and care about it. The answer really isn’t that startling – they seem to love nature because I gave them experiences and because I showed my own appreciation and respect of life, wild places and wild things. Not that they really put this into words. I got more of an “I don’t know kind of answer”, as if there were no specific vivid memory and it had always been part of them. Perhaps it has.
I find it a little strange when I ask my kids about their memories of something from their childhood which is really vivid to me, but which they seem to simply just not remember at all. I remember taking my daughter out as a toddler to hide amongst tall grasses, to watch the bees and butterflies and to plant seeds. I remember my son gently touching young trees in my garden in Scotland as if he thought that’s what trees were for. And who can argue with him? I remember both kids playing together in the dirt and marveling over ants as they watched them for ages. But do they remember? I actually began to wonder if the love of nature in my offspring was perhaps a figment of my imagination. That was until I asked my daughter how she’d feel if we had to chop one of the trees in our garden down, or spray our garden indiscriminately for insect control…
Somehow or other my kids love nature – there’s no question. I wonder though, do you know how your love of nature arose? Has it always been with you? What about your kids – what do they say?
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My mother and I have actually discussed this. One of her friends is of the opinion that appreciation of nature is much like any other gift a person might have. Perhaps it is a gift that some of us are born with and other must learn?
We definitely experience nature in different ways. While some of us are humbled by our nature experiences, others fight it tooth and nail. At the end of the day, their gardens look nice too, but to me it is an unnatural and rather orderly appearance compared to my yard's peaceful coexistence with the wild. I'm guessing they think my yard looks rather shaggy and in need of a trim. Ha! I have a hippie yard!
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Peace and Laughter,
Cristina
Cristina, you raise a good point. Perhaps it relates to learning style and personality. Some people like an orderly life, orderly home, orderly garden, and maybe even an orderly natural environment. That's an oxymoron, isn't it! Like you, I like a natural appearance. It's the depth and breadth of the natural environment which attracts me, while a plain green lawn leaves me totally dissatisfied.
Nature allows for mystery and a little messiness. I like that.
My love of nature came from playing in the small patch of woods at the end of my neighborhood. As a child, I spent almost every day in those woods, often in the creek. Sometimes I was there with friends or some of my brothers, but more often I was alone. I loved the peace and quiet there. The sounds of nature. Building forts and climbing trees. Content with the landscape and my imagination. I learned as much about life and myself as I did about nature in those woods.
Cheers- Bethe @balmeras
I think it's happens on accident when you get out and enjoy nature as much as possible. Simple answer I know, but there it is!
I’m a nature lover too. I always dream of having my own little garden in the backyard. But I live in the city and I’ve got no space.
Keep thinking about gardening and you will find a way!