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Ethan Hollamby
Mrs. Cramer
Comp I pd. 3
15 September, 2017
Nature: Beauty in All Seasons

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved spending my free time relaxing in the

peace and solitude of the wilderness and studying the miracles of nature to which unfortunately,

most people are ignorant. Throughout each season of the year, the fauna and flora collaborate to

put on a show of beauty and harmony in a ceaseless dance of life and death. All the seasons -

spring, summer, autumn, and winter - have their respective merits. However, it depends on the

viewer to uncover these mysteries and see them for what they truly are.

Spring in nature is a wondrous time of rebirth and hope. After a long winter, plants begin

to unfurl their leaves once again, offering food to the animals that depend on them for survival.

Stunning assemblages of indigenous wildflowers can be observed in full bloom during this

period, timing the opening of their flowers to coincide with the emergence of the lowly queen

bumble bee, who is dependent on the nectar they provide. As the trumpet-like flowers of

Virginia bluebells lift their nodding faces into the strengthening spring sunlight, the queen bees

draw their sustenance from their copious nectar. To watch this among the other happenings of

the season could very well provide hours of entertainment to the watchful observer.

Summer, green with maturing growth and bounding with life on all fronts, is certainly

one of the busiest seasons. With coneflowers and Canada lilies putting forth their blooms in the

meadows, the fields are alive with the droning of sphinx moths and hummingbirds diligently

going about their business. As the first fruits ripen, so do the appetites of animals eager to reap
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the bounty that they have waited so long to capture. Succulent raspberries and blueberries begin

to blush in succession, flaunting only a few ripe berries at a time. Suddenly, the race is on to get

to the best of the lot before they are cached away by any animal that can first access these highly

sought-after treats.

In autumn, as the winding-down of the growing season commences, the wild flora puts

on a spectacular show of color in preparation for their impending winter rest. As the days grow

shorter, neglected fields across the nation are striped with the rustic yellow of goldenrod and

spangled with the royal purple of its partner-in-crime, the New England aster. Around the same

time, that classic fall symbol of New England, the sugar maple, is set ablaze with dazzling scarlet

and dazzling orange color. All of this, mingled with the yellows and maroons of oaks and ashes,

set against a clear blue sky are testimony to the awe-inspiring grandeur and unchallenged beauty

of nature. A picnic set against such scenery is one of the delights of the season, as the solitary

observer enjoys such autumn delicacies as homemade pumpkin pie and warm apple cider, all the

while watching ripe stalks of Indian grass sway in the breeze.

Finally, often overlooked, but just as intriguing as the other seasons, is winter. With

landscapes dusted with fine powder and glazed with silky smooth ice, winter is certainly

stunning in its own special way. Watching the snow fall softly upon the fields is relaxing in its

own right, and inspecting the infinite patterns of frost produced on tree trunks and on vernal

pools is a pastime never to bore of.

Overall, nature is not just a source of beauty and a refuge from the troubles of everyday

life. It is a source of renewal and inspiration for the weary mind. I know that whenever I venture

out into field or forest, it isn't long before my troubles, whatever they may be, are far behind me

and I swiftly find the motivation to conquer whatever it is that's bothering me.