December 2025 Moment in Nature

We all love flowers in the growing season, but there is beauty to be found in the dormant season. As I was walking through my woods, I spied this flower-like structure. It is the spent seed pod for tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), an important native tree of both new and old forests.

It seemed like a wooden flower, and its tan color fit in well with the other shades of brown around it. Everything in this picture is in a state of decay, and their fading parts will nourish the forest for another year or more. This area has very rich soil and earthworms are abundant. The previous owner told me that he always blew the leaves into these woods; 30 years of decay has brought richness.

Enjoy and appreciate the dormant season. It has a role to play as well. And look for your #momentinnature.

Make Your Gifts Count

 

The environment is under more stress than ever – both from natural causes and human-inflicted wounds. The choices that each of us make – millions of us! – can make a difference and we can apply that to choosing gifts. I’ve written about holiday gifts before and you can read those posts here for more ideas. But funding for many environmental causes is at risk or diminished. A choice to support them can make an impact.

Clematis at Black's Bluff Preserve (The Nature Conservancy property)

This year I’d like to suggest that putting our money where our mouth is would be a great way to make our gifts count. Of course these recommendations should be considered in light of the recipient, but you’d be surprised how many people are tired of gifts that only satisfy the moment. This is especially true for older folks who often say “Give me something I can consume or use up.”

Gift ideas include donations in honor of someone. “Hey Nana, I donated to The Nature Conservancy in your honor and in celebration of all the hiking we loved to do. They’ll help preserve more wild spaces for future hikers.” Or “I got my love of nature from you and I want to help you support environmental issues so I donated to the Southern Environmental Law Center in your honor.”

Give them a membership in a like-minded organization. “Dad, I know you love native plants so I’ve gifted you a membership in the Georgia Native Plant Society. They are championing native plants and their habitats right here in Georgia plus this way we can attend some rescues together.” “The Georgia Botanical Society is an active organization that supports learning about native plants and has a great annual journal; I got you a membership for 2026 so you can get to know them.”

Give them a plant or gift certificate to a native plant nursery and then plan a time when you can plant it with them. For some people, just the offer of help in the garden is a very meaningful gift. “Let’s go in March and get something for that shady spot you’ve had trouble with. I’ve got some ideas.”

Or inspire a budding naturalist with a subscription to PBS “So you can watch all the nature shows you want!” Or donate to GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) to support media without bias (NPR).

We don’t have to stress ourselves to find just the right tchotchkes. Give the gift of nature and hope by sharing your love of the natural world. No tariffs, no plastic, and all the money goes towards good things. By the way, many of these suggestions can be executed even at the last minute by using their websites. Print the confirmation and slip it into a card or send via email.