It nurtures life and death; undergirds cities, forests and oceans; and feeds all terrestrial life on Earth. It is a substance few people understand and most take for granted. Yet, it is arguably one of Earth’s most critical natural resources—and humans, quite literally, owe to it their very existence.

From the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the air we breathe, humanity depends upon the dirt beneath our feet.

Gardeners understand this intuitively; to them, the saying “cherish the soil” is gospel. But for the better part of society, dirt barely gets a sideways glance. To most, it’s just part of the background, something so obvious it’s ignored.

Even among the environmentally minded, soil sags well below the radar of important causes. But the relationship between soil quality and other aspects of environmental health is intricately entwined.

What’s more, it’s a... Read On

It is a tool for nonverbal communication. Color in photography has symbolism and meaning that go beyond what you see, and your viewer's perception of the colors seen can be significantly enhanced as you learn to use color well. (Cardinal Flower by Ron and Sharon McConathy)

Artists of all media use color to express emotion and mood in their works. Some colors create a very physical reaction (e.g., red has been shown to raise blood pressure). Other colors have a cultural reaction (e.g., in the United States white is synonymous with weddings, but in some Eastern cultures white is associated with mourning and funerals).

Colors follow trends as well. Avocado, a shade of green, brings to mind the 1960s and 1970s... at least in the minds of those of us who were adults during... Read On

The family has created a 3-acre wildlife haven in their outdoor space that attracts everything from butterflies and hummingbirds to Woodchucks and Coyotes.

(Yes, Woodchucks sometimes climb trees! Photo by Ned Hettinger)

"There's always something buzzing around out here," said Tom Penzkowski, a master gardener who has landscaped the yard with his wife Diane over the past 13 years. "We've tried to landscape to be friendly to animals."

Each year the couple has expanded their gardens. In all, they have 400 to 500 perennials in beds in the front and back yards of their house. They also plant up to 20 flats of annuals each summer.

A large round garden in the front of their home sits in the middle of a circular driveway. Under a large pine tree in the center, the garden has evergreen bushes and an abundance of gorgeous perennials. There is another large garden plot in the front lawn, along with garden beds surrounding the front of the home.

The backyard is incredible, with... Read On

For more nature photographs, see
the Gallery on WindStar's web site and Nature's Best Photographs Album in the American Wildlife Blog.

Usually he's the "Bluebird of Happiness" but here he appears ruffled and disgusted with the onset of colder weather in this reproduction of the photograph by Michael L. Smith. This is one of the most famous nature photographs ever created and originally was seen in a National Geographic Society birding book.

Here it has been reproduced on 12-oz. porcelain mugs that are microwave and dishwasher safe. Makes a terrific gift!

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