Where Three Valleys Meet

Let me take you by the hand

To a far and distant land

Where peace and tranquility reign

Where bare winter branches

Form cathedral like arches

And the earth smells of soft winter rain

Where an old olive tree

Beckons quietly to me

Indicating the route I should take

And a bubbling rill

Is beginning to fill

With leaves floating down in her wake

Where silver branched thyme

Beneath redolent pine

Seductively draws me along

As I potter and dawdle

And the warblers warble

Filling the sky with their song

Turning damp logs

And searching for frogs

A scorpion hides from the light

Dreaming her dreams

Or that’s how it seems

As she waits for the falling of night

To where solid rock walls

Cause the water to fall

Amidst lichens of yellow and blue

And a kingfisher darts

As I say from the heart

That the only thing missing

Is you

The Extra Bit

After all the physics, biology and chemistry of the past few weeks I thought I’d give you a bit of a rest with this piece of doggerel. Sometimes, in our close examination of the natural world, we can overlook the sheer beauty of our surroundings. If you’re still looking for a New Years resolution for 2017 (or the original has already fallen by the wayside) then I’d recommend an hour or two each week just being at one with nature. There’s nothing quite like it for recharging the batteries and pushing the everyday niggles of modern life into the background.

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LINKS:

Naturalists (the facebook page that accompanies this blog)

See detailed pictures at http://www.inaturalist.org/login  (search - people-stevedaniels-observations)

The Nature of Crete  (Flipboard Magazine)

Cretan Flora

Flowers of Crete;

BIRDS OF CRETE

Crete Birding

Greek Butterflies and Moths

Aquaworld Aquarium

Visit Greece (National Government Tourist Office)