This natural history journal is about the trees, flora and fauna found in the area around Flandrum Hill in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. For the past two decades I’ve made my home in this neck of the woods. While some people might think that the city is the centre of activity, I have always believed that the natural world in my backyard is ‘where it’s at.’
The wonder I have for my natural surroundings enhances the quality of my life and acts as inspiration for my art work. I think people in general, and children especially, would be happier and more at peace if they were to spend more time outdoors in the fresh air, getting to know the living things in their local environment.
With my dad in the 70s
I learned to enjoy nature by spending time outdoors as a child with my parents and grandparents, who always seemed to have a garden tool in their hands. As an immigrant to Canada, my dad never took the beauty of our vast wilderness for granted. His photographs of nature were enlarged and displayed as fine art in our home.
As a young mother, I transplanted countless trees while holding a baby on my hip. I didn’t have to tell my kids to go play outside. I was already out there with them.
Whether you live nearby or on the other side of the planet, I hope that the words and pictures you find in this online journal serve to add to your wonder and appreciation of nature and inspire you to take a closer look at the natural world in your own neighborhood.
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul. ~ John Muir
Happy trails,
Amy-Lynn
Unless otherwise credited, all art and photographs on this site are of my creation. I write about my art work at www.drawingconclusions.wordpress.com
November 13, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog Amy-Lynn! I’ll be sure to stop by yours again. I’m a city dweller but frequently more and more tempted by the love I have for nature to make my home somewhere quieter.
November 23, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog. I live in the Catskill mountains of New York and can’t imagine living in a place where I’m not surrounded by nature. Please feel free to visit my blog anytime…I enjoy getting feedback
December 15, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Thanks for checking out my new blog. I am not sure what I am doing yet, but I am having a good time. Your photos and descriptions of your world up in Nova Scotia are beautiful. Chicago is jealous.
January 4, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I just discovered your blog and I very much enjoy the articles. You have created a beautiful sacred space. I live in Paris and enjoy living in the city but I also love nature. Very soon I will move to a different apartment. While I will not have a garden, I will have some space for plants that I can turn into a little sanctuary. Have a wonderful sunday.
January 22, 2009 at 3:03 pm
oh … Amy-Lynn …
i am delighted … i am filled with joy … thank you for sharing …
this summer we had a pair of foxes in our backyard …
while one was taking a nap … in the sun … on some old logs … the other was looking for possible danger …
greetings from werner
January 22, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Werner, how lucky you are to have seen not just one but two foxes in your backyard! They must have felt pretty safe to be napping. I only saw one in my yard this summer. He looked up at me while I was staring out the kitchen window while making coffee in the early am. They are such lovely creatures.
February 1, 2009 at 1:57 am
First off, thanks for visiting my blog :p
Second, I really appreciate your respect for nature. It’s hard to come across many people such as yourself.
I think that a lot of Canadians on the east, west, and north side are very lucky to be near such wonder.
I remember living in Syracuse, New York and seeing deer and many other amazing creatures when I was a kid. It was awesome!
February 1, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Yes, we Canadians have numerous natural wonders to be thankful for but other countries have their share too.
February 3, 2009 at 6:49 pm
thank you for commenting on my blog, saving me some time in explaining about ’skystones’ – and for leading me to this beautiful site! I will enjoy following your posts. The natural world is so crucially important to our wellbeing, and deserves our greatest respect.
February 4, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Like you blog, very nice
February 5, 2009 at 5:13 am
Throughstones and Amy, thanks for dropping by. Glad you like the site
February 15, 2009 at 10:19 am
Thank you for visiting my blog
I happen to like rowan trees a lot, and have several large and smaller ones in and around my garden, – they tend to pop up everywhere now that there are less sheep around grazing.
They are very decorative both when they blossom and in the autumn with the red berries and colourful leaves.
Eldrid
March 23, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Hello – how lovely! And what a long way from Australia and drought and gum trees. Happy planting,
Kate
March 24, 2009 at 7:04 am
Wow Kate, I didn’t realize you were in Australia. We’re supposed to be in springtime now, but you’d never know it by the huge snowfall we had last night. I hope to be planting soon
April 20, 2009 at 6:40 pm
What a beautiful picture of you and your dad. It makes me smile, just looking at it.
April 23, 2009 at 7:16 am
Thanks Kathy
June 8, 2009 at 10:49 am
I love the way you write and I share your love for nature and drawing. Your blog is becoming one of my favorites.
June 8, 2009 at 11:17 am
seashellsbymillhill thank you so much
The more I draw and write about nature, the more interesting it becomes. Sharing these reflections with others adds a whole other wonderful dimension to the experience.
August 24, 2009 at 9:52 pm
What a wonderful BLOG. I so enjoy reading your descriptions of nature and your images. Quite magical.
Thanks for sharing. Sybil
Peterborough, Ontario
August 25, 2009 at 8:17 am
So nice of you to drop by and leave such kind comments Sybil. I’m glad you like it