Nature in the City
/I am constantly surprised by the hidden pockets of nature within the great big city of Houston. Yes, Houston has a ton of great parks, playgrounds, and even splash pads. These are easy to find in the city and they draw big crowds on cool weekends. What I didn’t realize for the first few years of living here is that there are many protected areas of natural, wooded ground that is home to a host of animal and plant species - and they are INSIDE the city limits.
Less than 2 miles from my home is my favorite hidden gem: the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. Walking paths are covered by fallen leaves. Squirrels criss cross on the branches above our heads. Cicadas perform their mating songs from the trees. The flowing Rummel Creek is just steps below. Birds tweet and trill from where they are perched. It is quite surreal to close the car doors, walk through a gate, and immediately stop hearing the sounds of the city. It is a sanctuary for animals and plants, but also a place for humans to escape to nature.
As much as we go to the Nature Sanctuary for the open space, towering trees, and real wildlife, I also encourage my boys to stop and listen while we are there. I want them to take a deep breath and smell. I want them to stand still and watch the natural world around us. This heightens the awareness of their senses and their place in the world. We are literally, physically, so much smaller than what has been here before us and what will be here long after us. This realization is humbling, probably more so for me than for them, but I hope the foundation of respect for nature is being introduced on these visits.
Each visit to the Nature Sanctuary begins with my oldest son taking a picture of the Nature Map. He then guides us through the sanctuary, keeping track of our progress by noting where on the map we are, which bridge we just crossed, and which side of Rummel Creek we are on. My sons challenge each other to find the largest fallen branch that they can carry. They often gather leaves of various sizes and colors, filling their pockets to the brim. We call out each time we find a stump in the ground and make a prediction as to what happened to the tree. Does the stump have jagged edges? Does it have a fungus or parasite? Is it a smooth top, possibly indicating it was cut down by humans? We also look for fish in the pond, identifying the connection between their lengths to the depths of the water. We look through the canopy of the trees for the sun and clouds, watching which way they are moving and predicting if it might rain.
These visits are a joy for so many reasons, and I am grateful for a piece of nature in what feels like my backyard.
Written by Brandi Stanton, mama of two rascals, ages 3 and 5.
