At the end of the month I like to pause and review my nature connection and consider my experiences in the light of gratitude. I’ve compiled my top 12 nature experiences from 2022 here as a gratitude list, and as a way of reminding myself that 2023 is a new year with so much potential for new nature discoveries.

JANUARY — discovering the spot of a recent Barred Owl “breakfast” and the signature of the predator left as if it truly was a murder scene.

FEBRUARY — watching Sandhill Cranes fly over and then seeing a few actually alight! They don’t often land in this area. (Cranes can be seen in top right of photo.)

MARCH — Seeing beavers and the beavers dams at a local park. My weekly walking friend was with me, and since this time we have continued our interest in beavers, learning more as we go along and keeping our eyes out!

APRIL — Seeing five pelicans at Eagle Creek! I got to see them first with my oldest son and then again with my weekly walking friend. Apparently there are one or two days when hundreds can be glimpsed! I must haunt this place every day in April in 2023!

MAY — Happening on a Red-wing Blackbird nest exactly at the moment when I needed to see one. What joy to find eggs! Don’t worry! I did not disturb the nest!

JUNE — NATURE HIGHLIGHT OF 2022: The joy and wonder of walking along a canal near dusk and stumbling on a busy beaver who allowed me to watch him for a long time and eventually was joined by his mate. I felt I’d stepped into Narnia. It was a magical moment I didn’t want to end.

JULY — escape to Michigan for a week and enjoying the beautiful coastline. Another added bonus was discovering the Pink Ladyslipper plant, a plant I’ve been wanting to see for so long. Sadly, it was already past blooming, but finding the plant seemed enough.

AUGUST — A Tawny Admiral came to visit me on the window by my desk, just during the time we were studying butterflies inside The Nature Creative.

SEPTEMBER — Being at the Newfields Pollinator Garden when I first heard news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth.

OCTOBER — camping with my youngest at an idyllic location west of us. It was kind of like jumping into a dream world for two days. A gift!

NOVEMBER — My mom and I took a spur of the moment evening hike and saw pelicans again! What a glorious sunset.

DECEMBER — the day I drove to work and an eagle flew right in front of my van as I crossed Eagle Creek and then on the way home as I came down my favorite back road a Great Horned Owl was waiting for me up in the tree as I drove underneath. (I was driving, so I don’t have a photo, but this painting is of that back road where the owl was.)

I hope you have some special memories of nature adventures in 2022! Just think, a brand new year ahead of us to fill with nature connection.