Thinking Green

Thinking Green is hosted by Michelle, at Random Woods - the Road Less Traveled. She's looking for good news these days. If you've heard some really good news concerning our world and ways we can help to keep it green, why not share them with us. Make us all feel a little better despite things like the infamous oil spill.

The good news I've heard recently is that the State of California has a bill which has
already passed their State Assembly by 41-27 on June 3rd. The governor is all set to sign it. All that remains is for the State Senate to pass the bill, and it looks as if they will. This bill will eliminate all single use plastic bags. This is super good news. It isn't just old plastic bags ending up in our landfills. They have become a very serious problem when whales and many other forms of wild life swallow them and die as a result. As you can imagine, California is particularly concerned with this, being a coastal state.

Individual cities have passed such laws in the past, but this is the first statewide bill. Wouldn't it be great if we could see every state pass such a law?


Photo from MBA Sea Notes blog.

Thinking Green

Michelle is thinking green again. Please go to Rambling Woods - The Road Less Traveled and see what she has to say this week. And please join us with a post or photo on this beautiful, green world of ours.

I am so longing for my garden flowers to start blooming this year. It's barely begun. Summer time in our part of the world is like heaven to me, with its flowers, butterflies and birds. But it hasn't really got a good start yet here.My youngest daughter lives in California, where flowers bloom all year 'round. For today's post I just want to dream about such a place. Here are some photos she has taken of her own garden - some from last year, some from this. Enjoy!































































She grows beautiful vegetables too!

For Green Thursday

This is the time of year when I am torn between being optimistic and frustrated. I've planted seeds in my garden - most of them too early because I am always anxious to get started. They are frequently washed away by storms or seedlings are frozen by unexpected weather. Then I have to either start over or give up. Then, by May, I am either replanting, or watching seedlings and feeling that frustration because they aren't blooming yet.





But mostly I'm optimistic. I do see many things starting to grow, and of course I do know they are showing promise.





And there are times when I completely forget I've thrown in some seed, and put in others - like this leaf lettuce growing in this container, along with heaven-knows-what-else. (but the lettuce tastes just fine.)






But I have to admit, I sometimes get too impatient and just have to add a few plants already in bloom. I haven't done that yet this year, except for the hanging basket. I know that this pretty little white flower will soon be dwarfed under the cosmos towering over it.



I guess you would have to say that my gardening these days is rather hap-hazard. I can't do much any more, so I just toss some seeds and say a prayer for good weather and healthy perennials. And my children are kind enough to help out with some digging. But I must have a garden of some kind. I can't imagine not looking forward to flowers and perhaps some vegetables in summer time. It would be a sad world without them, and the butterflies and other insects and birds that they attract.

Thinking Green Thursday

Thinking Green Thursday is hosted by Michelle, at Rambling Woods. Please join us with your ideas and photos.

Once again, I'm turning to news from Monterey Bay Aquarium's blog, Sea Notes. Not very good news this time. As their headline says, "Once again commerce trumps conservation". The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has rejected a ban on global trade in bluefin tuna. Countries led by Japan claim that they just can't afford to give up this trade. As a probable result, the tuna may well be driven to extinction. It was pointed out, however, that at least the debate and discussion preceding this action has made the public more aware of the situation, so there may be hope for the future.

The second disappointment concerns the polar bear. The United States had requested prohibition of export of bear skins and parts. This too was defeated. Canada is the only country that allows this, and they protested that their economy would be hurt by banning it, and claimed that hunting of these bears was not endangering the species. Actually they are more endangered by global warming than by hunting.

MBA will continue their research of course, as well as their lead in the fight toward conservation.

Photos from the Sea Notes site.

Thinking Green Thursday

Time once again for Thinking Green Thursday, hosted by Michelle.


In posts published on February 18 and 19, the Monterey Bay Aquarium blog, Sea Notes, told us about a tiny new addition to their exhibits. Her name is Kit, and she is an orphaned sea otter.

It is a rare event for the aquarium to place such a young animal on display. There were extenuating circumstances that allowed this to happen. If you follow the link, you will see a delightful, short video of her arrival, and read about the reasons behind this.

Sea Notes is a great blog, with many and varied topics concerning the oceans and bays and the creatures that live within them. Try it. You'll like it.

Thinking Green Thursday

Michelle hosts Thinking Green for us each week. She lives on the east coast of the United States, in New York. I think she is someone I would really like to know better. Michelle stepped up when it became impossible for Gina, the founder of this meme (and another really super lady) to continue hosting. Michelle had some doubts about doing it, but wanted to try. She still has some misgivings because there are not a huge number of people who participate each week. But it is such an important part of our lives today. Selfishly, I hope that she will continue the project because I so love reading her posts at Rambling Woods Green. I also love all of her other posts at Rambling Woods - The Road Less Traveled. They are beautifully written. Michelle's talent for research into her subjects and her beautiful photography surpasses most I have seen. The natural world is dear to her heart.

It is true that very few participate on a regular basis, and this is discouraging. It is a challenging meme, and I find it difficult myself. But it can bring us some remarkable ideas and interesting facts. One name we almost always see is Autumn Belle, who writes from Malaysia. I do look forward to her posts. It seems that her home is in a very environmentally aware area. (I only wish that I could say the same.) She is full of marvelous suggestions for going green. We also hear from people like Crafty Green Poet, and Green Earth and Me and My Camera and others from time to time.

Everyone who joins us, either occasionally or faithfully every week, obviously loves and is concerned for Planet Earth. Some simply post a single photo of their beautiful world. These photos tell their own stories so eloquently.

I often feel that my own efforts are very inadequate, but I want to keep trying. The only way that we will save our world is to keep trying, and to support and encourage one another in our efforts. Please join us from time to time.