“Stop and smell the roses” is an idiom that means to relax; to take time out of one’s busy schedule to enjoy or appreciate the beauty of life.
Stop and listen to the birds is another way of saying it.
On each bird survey, we stop the car at 50 different rural locations and listen carefully for three minutes. That is 150 minutes of listening or “smelling the roses.”
This morning we completed our 13th and final 2022 survey. This one began at Carr which is south of Lake Nippising, 13 X 150 minutes = 1950 minutes. That is 32.5 hours or 1.35 days of listening. Certainly worth many days of rising at 3 am and earlier.
Survey scenes:
Garden Lupine has spread to the roadsides and is very common in this area:
Other botany:
Some birds:
a note about Sandhill Cranes:
I was watching a Sandhill Crane through binoculars when a local farmer approached me. Cranes eat some of their crops. His comment “You should be looking at that through the sights of a shotgun!”
NATURE POETRY
Wake up, golden Head! Wake up, Brownie!
Cat-bird wants you in the garden soon.
You and I, butterflies, bobolinks, and clover,
We’ve a lot to do on the first of June. – Charles G.D. Roberts (1860–1943)
Miles Hearn
What a journey, Miles! Thanks for sharing the early morning photos, bird and botany — all so beautiful. Bravo for smelling the roses/listening to the birds. Travel home safely.
Swan Lake was a special treat — marvelous production!
Thanks for recounting your sightings! I have to rely on my ear more due to all the leaves on the trees so appreciate your teachings.
I enjoy the poetry that you include at the end of your posts. Are you familiar with Archibald Lampman, [Canadian poet, nineteenth century]. He wrote nature poetry as well.