Timothy Olson

FOR THE EARTH – Edward Abbey’s thoughts on the Desert: nature’s Relevance and value

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Hi there and welcome fellow citizen of the earth! In this “For the Earth” post we turn to Edward Abbey for his insights chronicled in DESERT SOLITAIRE.  Abbey, known for several books centered on the deserts of the Southwest, served as a park ranger for three seasons in  ARCHES NATIONAL MONUMENTS PARK.  Although I’ve been a visitor to the desert, my experiences are limited to a plane, car, a tram, and short hikes. On my own, I’d soon be lost in the desert. I cherish books that expand my experience through vivid descriptions  and thorough understanding. 

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“A TALE OF TREES” – MODIFYING SHADY GROVE GARDEN’S OVERSTORY

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Hello there! Thanks for dropping by and joining us in returning to beginning times in our home in Ponderosa.  Our living room windows fronted an overstory of pines and firs that dominated the property.  We soon named the property and yet to be imagined garden, SHADY GROVE.  With one lonely vine maple adding variety, our first key landscape decision was to thin the evergreens and add deciduous trees that would provide spring bloom, contrasting colors and textures to the dark green canopy.

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RESPONDING TO NATURE – SUSAN REYNOLDS, PAINTER, ENVISIONS NATURE THROUGH HER ABSTRACT IMAGES

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Welcome to the 6th year of the NESTER blog. Susan Reynolds, a close friend and gifted artist, published the first post in June 2020 with abstract paintings featuring the natural world. In 2025, respect for nature, its significance to our daily lives and our art, continues  to be a central part of our mission. Do join us in celebrating the significance of the earth and its inspiration to artists contributing to the NESTER.

 Take a deep breath, curl up in your favorite spot, and respond to Susan’s paintings. 

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FOR THE EARTH – LISTENING TO KEN OLSON ON NATURE, EVOLUTION, HUMANS AND BEAUTY

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A special welcome to all of you! Several of you know and remember Ken Olson very well. Since stories do travel, many of you may have heard about Ken along- the-way. Very possibly for some of you, this will be an introduction to Ken Olson. Like all of us, there were many facets to his life. For this post, Ken was a man-of the- cloth, a seafarer and a naturalist. What matters is what he has to say here . . .

Ken loved to talk about all kinds of stuff and tell stories. I’m asking you to imagine having a conversation with him and listen to what he might contribute to the chat. You could be anywhere but most likely outdoors with him on a dock, at the helm of a boat, or the back end of a skiff.  Later on, you will most likely find yourself mulling over how you respond to Nature . . . Tim

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TWO SCENIC NORTH CASCADES HIGHWAY OUTINGS – LAKES, MOUNTAINS, TREES, AND TRAILS

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This “NESTER” post welcomes you to travel with Lee and Roger Lageschulte and Toni and Paul Olson on their separate road trips traversing the spectacular North Cascades highway! Explore with Lee and Roger as they stop at scenic viewpoints, and hike with Toni, Paul  and their retrievers as they find unusual sights along the roadside trails. 

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“MONARCH” A POEM BY CATHY ROSS ABOUT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY

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Welcome and thank you for joining Lorelie and me in savoring and appreciating another poem from Cathy Ross. 

Quoting from the back cover of WHAT THE TULIPS SAID: Cathy’s poems are ” . . . playful and poignant, with themes of loss and renewal . . . and reveal the unexpected layers within an ordinary life.”

Author Donald Kemp wrote of Cathy’s poetry. “Cathy Ross’s poems achieve balance between reflections on the natural world, personal loss, love, mortality, and family life, all artfully stitched together and crafted.  . . . I sat a long while after finishing her book, reluctant to break its spell.”

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“FROG SONGS” – A Poem by Cathy Ross About pacific Tree Frogs

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Cathy’s poems are always a welcome addition to the NESTER, and FROG SONGS continues the NESTER’S  emphasis on the significance and the beauty of the earth.  In several of Cathy’s poems, the poet begins with a description of nature and then turns to a personal response to what she observes. The observation and contemplation of nature connects and adds meaning to the poet’s life!

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FOR THE EARTH – “THE COUNTRY OF TREES” – A POEM – A PAINTING – A PHOTOGRAPH

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Welcome fellow citizen of the earth! In this post I would like you to consider that in addition to humans, other inhabitants of the earth are also citizens.  For instance, TREES.  Immerse yourself for a while in Dave Wagar’s painting, Mary Oliver’s poem, and Joyce Wagar’s photographs. Contemplate that trees also live in a community where other plants and animals live in harmony with each other.     – Tim 

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