Wednesday, April 22, 2015

happy 45th anniversary Earth Day

 (free poster found here at the Earth Day Network)

"Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into comic books and plastic cigarette cases; if we drive the few remaining members of the wild species into zoos or to extinction; if we pollute the last clear air and dirty the last clean streams and push our paved roads through the last of the silence, so that never again will Americans be free in their own country from the noise, the exhausts, the stinks of human and automotive waste . . . ” ~ Wallace Stegner, excerpt from his famous "Wilderness Letter", December 1960

"Is it not likely that when the country was new and men were often alone in the fields and the forest they got a sense of bigness outside themselves that has now in some way been lost.... Mystery whispered in the grass, played in the branches of trees overhead, was caught up and blown across the American line in clouds of dust at evening on the prairies.... I am old enough to remember tales that strengthen my belief in a deep semi-religious influence that was formerly at work among our people. The flavor of it hangs over the best work of Mark Twain.... I can remember old fellows in my home town speaking feelingly of an evening spent on the big empty plains. It had taken the shrillness out of them. They had learned the trick of quiet...." ~ Sherwood Anderson, in a letter in the 1920's, quote included in Wallace Stegner's "Wilderness Letter", December 1960

Wallace Stegner's "Wilderness Letter" may be found in its entirety here, at The Wilderness Society (scroll down).

The history of Earth Day here. at the Earth Day Network.

What are you doing for Earth Day this year? We're going on a neighborhood garden tour, focusing on drought resistant landscaping and water conservation and native plants.


6 comments:

  1. I'm "celebrating" Earth Day by having to stay inside because it's 40 degrees & raining & gloomy here in NE Ohio. We could even go below freezing & have snow overnight. I'm NOT a happy camper...I'd rather be outside with some sun & 70s...but not here in O-HELL-O. Happy Earth Day to you...enjoy it for me!

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    1. Hi Debbie,
      So sorry it's hellish again there for you! That's why we need an Earth Day huh?! For the naysayers and doubters of Climate Change. I'm sure you know we're in a severe drought here - people are having to reduce water use from 15 to 30 percent, depending on where they live. Oh! I just noticed that my post reads like maybe I'm going on the garden tour today, which I'm not - it's on Saturday. Hoping you can craft or play some today to lift your spirits out of the weather doldrums - I'm plotting my 5th mini sampler in my head. :)

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  2. Happy Earth day!! Your neighborhood garden tour sounds like fun!! Hope you get some pictures!! Our daffodils and tulips are blooming around here and its so nice to see green grass! :) Have a happy day! xo Holly

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    1. Hi Holly! I had so much fun looking at your shower photos and getting to see your mom and sister. :) Looks like you got lots of darling things! (I may begin Auntie shopping today - before its slim pickins on Blair's Registry.)
      Whoops, I made a boo boo, my post makes it sound like I'm going on the tour today but it's not until Saturday. We're in a terrible drought over here - severely envying you your daffodils and tulips, you lucky! I used to plant daffodils at my first house but I seem to have lost the knack. Happy Earth Day to you too! xo

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  3. What a nice way to celebrate earth day Sally. I've got a bad cold and haven't been out of the house. :(

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    1. Hi Patty! Oh no, sorry you're sick too! I've got a rotten tummy bug. WAH! All I'm doing is window shopping online for my niece.
      Take care, feel better!

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