Earth Day 2020

Zodiac boat ride in Southern Chile

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir

In 2007, I made my second trip to Chile to hike the W-Route in Torres del Paine National Park. The first trip was in 1980, long before this became a destination. I was browsing through my photo archive looking for something to share on Earth Day, and this image caught my attention.

Earth Day 2019

Desert Candle, Caulanthus inflatus. The Temblor Range. Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Albert Einstein

Earth Day and Ashes

On Saturday, April 22, Earth Day, we gathered as family in Santa Cruz to celebrate the life of my father, Philip W. Johnson who passed away on November 15, 2016. Scattering his ashes seemed to be the appropriate way to celebrate his life.  We formed a circle, and with a brief prayer, we passed the canister of ashes around with each person saying a few words before scattering ashes.  The canister made two rounds.  The first round was a bit somber, with the second round there was a bit more levity. Dad wouldn’t want us morning his passing too long. His remains are now fertilizer for wildflowers in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Following the ceremony we returned to Shiphouse, the big house we had rented for the weekend, had a festive BBQ, and went for a walk on the beach.

Happy Earth Day

 

Texas wildflowers
Texas wildflowers

Cheers to all fellow nature lovers! Here’s photo I captured a couple of weeks ago while visiting Austin. Let’s all make an effort to sustain this planet that provides us with such awesome wonder.!