Alpacas, poppies, wisteria

Spotted in and around my father's back garden today:

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Chicago's oldest bookstore closes after more than 100 years

My local O'Gara & Wilson bookstore (used books and antiquarian) is closing after more than 100 years:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/ogara-and-wilson-books-mo_n_3492333.html

Summer Solstice - Midsummer

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice - June 21st, 2013 - and I came across a foxglove http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitalis and a starling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Starling on my afternoon walk.

And lots of Queen Anne's Lace or Cow Parsley: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthriscus_sylvestris

Photos: Marge Ishmael

More info. on the Summer Solstice @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice

Sustainability-Spirituality-Despair-Optimism

Photo: Corbis

Excellent article in today's Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/sustainability-spirituality-despair-optimism

"We have created an extremely complex globalised society, but what we truly seek in life is as simple as can be. Western society's perverse embrace of individuation, specialism, accumulation and speed has not only fractured our minds into a thousand pieces but has led to the multiple challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, inequality and ecosystem collapse.

But nature is always striving to bring things back into balance, so it is not surprising to see a growing desire in society to return to a feeling of wholeness, having the time and space to know who we truly are and to find purpose and meaning in what we do."

Mourning Cloak and Tulip Tree in Jackson Park

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Photo: Jane Masterson

We came across a Mourning Cloak butterfly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphalis_antiopa and a tulip tree http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron during a walk in Jackson Park this morning.  Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune ran a story about the fears of Jackson Park birders now that many trees are being cut down by the Chicago Park District near to the Wooded Isle. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-jackson-park-birders-20130613,0,2707749.story

Pope admits to Vatican corruption

I'm not surprised to hear about a "stream of corruption" in the Vatican....but I am surprised that Pope Francis actually admitted to it. I guess you can't solve a problem unless you first admit you have one!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22869399

Wet and dry ducklings in Jackson Park

Jane took these two photos of ADORABLE ducklings on our afternoon walk in Jackson Park today:

Photos: Jane Masterson

Lake Michigan Full Moon Walks

Photo: Chicago Tribune

Here's an article about Hyde Park/Lake Michigan Full Moon nature walks with Jane Masterson:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-05/features/ct-x-0605-outdoors-moonrise-20130605_1_moon-promontory-point-lakefront

Rewilding Made Simple: an animated guide

Could the destruction of the natural world be reversed? George Monbiot narrates an animation on the enchanting subject of rewilding.