A Clementine Year from Mother Nature: A Love Cadence for America
Updated: Oct 4
words to know
arbitration—the process of determining or deciding through an exchange of diverging views or critical reasons
cadence—a rhythmic flow or pattern that emphasizes structure, timing, and order
Mother Nature—the personification of the entirety of world phenomena as a creative and nurturing figure
related commonplace topics
harmony
mysteries of faith
significance
transitions
Mother Nature, an enchantment, is always putting on a show. All creatures, great and small, work together with the mysteries of faith. Forever.
Throughout the year, her love cadence stirs belief in a benevolent world—
January with Our Neighbors
Monarch butterflies return from wintering in Mexico. Meanwhile, the gray whales take the Pacific coastline from Alaska to Mexico. The Canadian Geese are already settled in Florida.
February During the Northeast Halt
From the Catskill Mountains to Shenandoah National Park, massive waterfalls freeze into place like giant ice curtains.
March on the Highways
State to state. In cities or the countryside. A tandem effort exists to preserve essential highway systems along with the state’s native flowers and plants. Notably, Lady Bird Johnson’s visionary program recognizes this critical relationship in Texas.
April on a Nebraska Layover
On the way to the Arctic, several hundred thousand sandhill cranes have a travel intermission in Platte River Valley, Nebraska. This is one of the world’s largest migratory bird gatherings.
May on a Midwest Weekend
In appreciation of Dutch heritage, tulip festivals bloom across the Midwest states, like Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
June along the California Coast
In the daytime, California lavender—originally from the Mediterranean—makes postcard scenes in and around Sonoma, Santa Ynez Valley, Ojai, and Temecula. In the nighttime, beach plankton blooms trigger bioluminescence, a biochemical blue light show from San Diego to Orange County.
July with the Gulf Cloud Parade
From Texas to Florida, pomp and circumstance march back in rows of cumulus cloud formations.
August in the Desert Mountain Sky
On summer nights, the Milky Way captivates from Utah’s Zion National Park, while the Perseid Meteor Shower enthralls from Nevada’s Dark Sky Park.
September in the River Life
Just as human pupils return to school, beavers are busy health engineers in river ecosystems—gathering supplies to build, mend, reinforce, or move essential dams.
October with the Color Rollout
Nationwide, the trees swing into a new color mood. Woodstock, Vermont, boasts with vibrant red and orange maples, russet and burgundy oaks, and golden and amber birch foliage. Near Denver, Colorado, the sun bathes the stunning aspen trees in the Rocky Mountains, awaiting the first snowfall.
November in a Fog Veil
The country has many remarkable foggy water vistas, such as San Francisco Bay, Cape Cod, and the Ohio River. Almost year-round fog envelopes many mountain-valley regions, like the Appalachian Mountains.
December across the Northern Skyway
The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, puts on a dynamic nighttime showcase in the key states of Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine. Charged particles from the sun collide with our atmosphere, causing spirals, rays, flickers, and curtains of green, pink, red, blue, and purple light.
Final Thoughts
Relying on my senses, I notice how each season brings new beauty and phenomenal change. Some of these blooms, foliage turns, and life movement bursts have short windows. On the other hand, sunsets tell daily stories of distinction about the country, from the rugged cliffs of Maine to the secluded beaches of Hawaii. My greatest character arbitration often happens when I take a major transition, like moving from school to a summer break. I feel thankful for my personal space, ready to serve all that a year brings.
