ANN’S WINDOW TO NATURE

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” (1880s)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Winter is a time for rest. Trees rest. Critters rest. We rest. As the days grow shorter and nights grow colder, we layer up with wool, fleece and down. We eat comfort foods cooked in the crock pot and we drink hot tea and hot chocolate. We move a bit slower, and we spend more time at home.

Our backyard habitat becomes a winter sanctuary of sorts. We see little tunnels and tracks in the snow from the night before. We see snowflakes falling and ice forming. And we see our birds. We know our offering of seed and water will help them survive our Minnesota winters especially as the snow depths rise. We know we will help them go into spring stronger.

Those of us who feed birds, we welcome them to our home, and we are grateful for their visit. Especially, the Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee and Blue Jay.

By Eagan Store Manager ANN MCCARTHY