Daily Prompt: The Natural World
Describe your first memorable experience exploring and spending time in nature.
Were you in awe? Or were you not impressed?
Would you rather spend time in the forest or the city?
My little brother, Steve, and I grew up with nature and we didn’t even know it. We lived in a tropical paradise where the backyard was ever-green punctuated by the vivid colors of hibiscus, orange blossoms and gardenias. And multi-hued birds were not just summer visitors either. We were always barefoot and playing, even in the rain, with almost every-day visits to the beach.
But our favorite place in the world was the jungle. At least we called it that because to small children, a lot of vegetation looks dark and mysterious.
Our Jungle was actually a small area (probably no larger than my living room) of narrow paths among trees and shrubs. It was designed as a fascinating place for children to explore and it was in the middle of a big green downtown park.
And it was also the favorite hangout for thousands and thousands of pigeons!
“Mom, let’s go feed the pigeons!” we would cry. And our mother would usually comply. We prepared by packing peanuts and bread crumbs (for the birds – not for us) and during the 20 minute drive downtown we could hardly wait to get there.
Dor Still Loving Pigeons
Around Age 10-12
feral pigeon or rock dove (Columbia livia), University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
So, even though I lived with nature in a kind of Eden, the downtown jungle was where I first became acutely aware of the natural world. I wonder if my little brother feels the same way.
We fed the gulls at the beach too of course, reveling in their antics, and watching the sand crabs. We learned of the sea and its creatures, the weather and the tides.
I didn’t really recognize all that as nature, but took such things for granted – except for our special jungle.
So, it is the jungle I recall of my childhood days, when I first recognized the beauty and the joys of nature.
Where do I prefer to spend time now?
At home.
Because on the edge of my home is a forest (well, almost a jungle). We are regularly visited by deer, fox, turkeys, rabbits, ground hogs, bears, and every manner of avian life in all seasons, and yes – doves!
They call them doves here, but I secretly know they are just pigeons.
I love them best for they recall my earliest days with Mom smiling nearby and my little brother and I happily playing in the wilds of a downtown jungle!
Note: Both doves and pigeons are classified in the order Columbiformes and the family Columbidae.
They are very similar and some species may be called doves or pigeons interchangeably.
Virginia Views 