Nature's healing balm in Daydreaming on the Porch

“I have always been in love with the natural world… My life has been driven by the need to be surrounded and immersed in the beauty of Nature… It has been the central focus of my existence – has always provided me solace, healing, inspiration. In the silent forest I find my faith…“

Dan Fogelberg

It’s been a stressful year, part of it traumatic, to say the least, and having decisions about retirement, or the possibility of it, looming ahead, doesn’t help. Depression, fatigue. And there’s the relentless pace of activity from working full time and being a caregiver. The pace never seems to let up.

The only times when life seems to truly return to a semblance of sanity and peace is when I visit the gardens, nature preserves and parks in our area. Three in particular I visit regularly, and each has a long, wooded access road off a busy highway or road that leads into the heart of the park or garden.

What a blessed relief when I enter these quiet worlds apart. The rushing cars are gone instantly. Peace prevails I know immediately that I have an hour or more of tranquility ahead of me – blood pressure lower, calm begins to be restored and the beauty that surrounds me restores my spirit every time. The words of Dan Fogelberg above deeply resonate with me. I would be hard pressed to say it better.

Here are pictures from a recent visit to one of my favorite Nature preserves:

Last updated March 12, 2016