 | | | San Pablo Creek Photo Sora O'Doherty | | | | | | In April we celebrated Earth Day and remembered all of the Earth's gifts of water, air, land and flora and fauna. The rains continue to replenish the creeks and ponds for the riparian flora and fauna which includes native trees, shrubs and understory plants like the Horsetail, Yerba Buena and Native Blackberry.
The creeks provide water for the native fish to travel along and lay eggs for the next generation of fish. The trees and grasses are also given the water they need to grow and send their roots deeper into the Earth. The rains also fill our ponds for the Red Legged Frog and Western Pond Turtles, Salamanders and Newts. They can begin to come out of hibernation to mate and lay eggs. The adult aquatic insects can lay their eggs for the future Dragon Flies, Damselflies, May Flies and so much more.
We discovered a rare species in the Orinda Nature Area pond called a Phantom Midge Fly larva that becomes a Midge Fly.
In May we celebrated Mother's Day, remembering and celebrating all our mothers have given us, the greatest being love. We also celebrated our grandmothers and great-grandmothers that have shared their wisdom and love. In May we also reflected on the gifts from the Mother of life, Mother Earth. And this month we honor our fathers who provide security and strength to be who we are destined to be.
We have a saying: Father Time. We can reflect on the time we have been given to heal the Earth and celebrate our freedom on the Fourth of July. The theme of this year's Fourth of July celebration in Orinda is "Earth Kindness" and the Orinda Association is honoring the Friends of the Orinda Nature Area as the Grand Marshal this year.
Let's hope everyone who lives on Earth will also be free and have all they need to survive and thrive. |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA