The only way we are going to save the earth for future generation is by “rewilding” or creating “new” old growth forests of about 50% of the globe by planting more trees. Yesterday I did one tiny part of that by planting an Almond Tree here at Maquenque, where they hope to reintroduce the endangered Green Macaws that eat mostly almonds! And soon they will add nesting boxes to replace the big old trees with nesting holes, one of several reasons they are endangered. It will be a few years before my little baby Almond Tree will feed Macaws, but we have to plan for the future! And that is symbolized by Vicky’s (lodge manager’s) children standing with me in the second photo.
Plus Maquenque does have a few grown Almond Trees here already, “los almendros.” But very few macaws on the ground now, mostly flying overhead as in the third photo below. Plus, since they are located north-central, close to the continental divide, they can have both Green Macaws (Caribbean Slope which they are on) and some Scarlet Macaws (from the Pacific Slope). The Scarlets evidently fly over the Continental Divide which is not high mountains here in the lowlands. Scarlet Macaws are not as endangered as the green but are near-endangered because of habitat loss.
“The care of the earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all, our most pleasing responsibility.”
― Wendell Berry
¡Pura Vida!
Well done, Charlie!
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he/she will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore
Thanks Shannon! And I love that quote! 🙂
What a great photo of you!!
Thanks! The folks at Maquenque Ecolodge did that with a cellphone camera!
It’s always a good feeling to plant another tree! That’s a great picture Charlie!
Yes! It’s a great feeling! Thanks Bonnie! I’m thinking about using that photo for my avatar since the other one has me 8 years younger and pre-cancer. 🙂
Charlie, can you please bottle up that fountain of youth you’ve obviously found over there & send it to your adoring cousins in the states?!!!
You look like you are aging backwards.
Love ya
Kathy l
Wow Kathy! That must be the nicest compliment I’ve received in a long time if not forever! 🙂
THANK YOU! 🙂
I credit “being close to nature often” a my “Fountain of Youth” if you must have such a fountain, and there is still a lot of nature left in the states in spite of the many efforts to destroy it. 🙂
I must add that dealing with a major cancer has definitely aged or slowed me down. I get tired quicker now and have less energy, but still love life, especially when outdoors! I think that places like your Dad’s cabin in Crystal Springs was a type of “Fountain of Youth” for many, as was the laughter and humor of Bubba! 🙂 So I could say that Costa Rica is my “Fountain of Youth!”
My cancer was literally “in my face” in the left Carotid Gland & left Facial Nerve. Though surgery was followed up with radiation, I still get a face and neck ultrasound every 6 months and today’s showed a small spot on my Thyroid Gland, but too small for a biopsy, so we will watch it and attack if needed. You just do what you have to do!
¡Pura Vida!