Sarina's Nature Book Club Blog

On my walk home from class yesterday, I came across a glorious sunset. The cotton candy pink clouds, clichéd yet fitting sky blue, pale yellow sun hues, and contrasting tree silhouettes caught my attention. The weather was pleasant as well; it was a windless 70°F for my 15-minute walk home. While I wasn’t immersed in nature, per se, it was a lovely surprise to leave class and discover an awe-inspiring sunset. I especially liked how the trees juxtaposed with the vibrant sky shades. The overhead expanse reminded me of the romantic art which I became accustomed to for my lead respondent assignment. Specifically, Sunset in California by Albert Bierstadt resembles similar colors and tree outlines. My experience related to romanticism because I was drawn to the bold hues and dramatic lighting, while my imagination, thoughts, and emotions ran wild from inspiration of the unknown, awe of its beauty, and mystery of shadowing branches. I was overwhelmed with the “sublime” often depicted in roma...

Since we had lovely weather this weekend, I went on a sunset walk through the Tandy Hills Natural Area yesterday. It’s surrounded by city buildings and noises, yet my experience was peaceful and refreshing. Because there weren’t many people around, I was able to admire the birds flying overhead, slight breeze, and radiant sunset hues. The sunset was my favorite part by far. I attached a picture I took early on in the setting process, but the sky was filled with pink and orange soon after. Reflecting upon Abbey’s observations of sunsets encompassing “every named and unnamed hue” in Desert Solitaire made we realize that every sunset is different in color, texture, and feeling (Abbey 207). I often take a sunset’s beauty for granted without truly appreciating its uniqueness each day. On another note, the trail was lined with signs about respecting the natural flora and fauna by remaining on the path. This precaution is necessary because many people would wander off and likely interfere wi...

After being cooped up at home all weekend, I went for a walk along the Trinity to experience the great outdoors. I observed mallard and teal ducks frolicking in the river, vibrant red cardinals contrasting against the blinding snow, and wild tansy mustard plants sprouting through the frozen ground. I heard birds chirping and the crunch of snow with each step, but I only passed a few people and cars throughout my walk. Serenity enveloped my experience as I noticed the stillness of nature surrounding me, unaccompanied by bustling city noises or the loud gossiping of fellow walkers. This draws a clear parallel to Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire . In the first chapter, he describes a sense of tranquility associated with solitude in nature. His isolated, minimalistic quarters allow him to meaningfully connect with nature, highlighting the unnecessary consumerism common in society. He finds further peace when the dreary morning air disappears as the sun rises, illuminating the vibrant landsc...

On my stroll through campus, I observed various aspects of nature such as wildlife, trees, flowers, and the sky. I noticed squirrels rushing up trees while birds flew overhead. The stark contrast of live oak trees and crape myrtles amazed me. The live oaks seemed full of life and grandeur since their branches overflowed with hunter green leaves; conversely, the barren crape myrtle branches left me sympathizing with their unstately figures. Despite being within the realm of trees, these species varied substantially. It occurred to me that I take nature’s diversity for granted by not recognizing and contemplating my natural surroundings. A flower bed of vibrant pansies and ornamental kale drew my attention from the towering trees. Additionally, I went to Frog Alley to view the sunset. Since buildings, cars, and other manmade creations were in my field of vision, it was difficult to focus purely on the sunset. However, the range of hues in the sky filled me with admiration.   Regardin...