Our home, the 3rd planet from the sun – Earth. Though it is not the largest planet in our solar system, it is the only one known to have life-sustaining water. The rotation on its axis gives us day and night while the tilt on its axis yields our seasons.
Clouds are collections of tiny drops of water, ice crystals, or other small particles. As water particles clump, like just before rain, less light is reflected and the cloud appears darker. When the clumps get too heavy to remain in the clouds, it rains.
The interactions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun hold the secrets to our days, nights, seasons, tides, and more. Calendars and human plans were enabled by predictable changes in location of sun and moon rise/set as well visibility of specific stars.
Stars, planets, and their movements are used as navigational tools, inspiration, and powerful drivers of folklore throughout history. Calendars and human plans were enabled by predictable changes in location of sun and moon rise/set as well visibility of specific stars.
What we know as the Big Dipper and Little Dipper are asterisms – a collection of stars. Each are part of larger constellations – Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. A key part of human history, Ursae or Bears in the Sky are found in writings as old as 275 BCE.
Shaman and the spirit of nature connect this world to next. A deep understanding of plants and reverence for the natural world are cornerstones of the shaman’s practice and connection to their community.
In temperate climates deciduous trees drop their leaves before the onset of winter. A plant’s ability to recover valuable nutrients from the leaves before letting go causes the cascade of changing colors that is characteristic of the Fall season.
No bird friendly garden is complete without a bird bath.
Traditional Mexican dance with a variety of color choices for the woman dance partners dress.
A Mexican dance couple paired with mariachi players.
This pair of locomotives represents the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the US. The two engines united at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869. Today live steam replicas of the Jupiter and No. 119 are on display at the historical site.
In the 1970s, American concern about pollution, waste, and environmental resources yielded the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle movement. The first national Earth Day, held in April 1970, was celebrated by millions at festivals and community events.
In parts of Mexico, the Day of the Dead is a major holiday with deep cultural roots. Families go to great lengths to celebrate and commune with past relatives during this colorful and spiritual festival.
