Fire Ecology

August 6, 2016Jessica Neafsey

Two weeks ago Friday, I left home as the #Soberanesfire crested and moved through these coastal mountains... Upon returning, it took my breath away to see one whole facade of my home covered in an incredible diversity of #moths and beetles, who all appeared to be resting... Among them I met this handsome guy.. A #ceanothussilkmoth, or #Hyalophoraeuryalus... What a time to emerge - these moths only live two weeks as an adult... This one was born into the chaparral's season of fire. Lacking a mouth or digestive system, these moths gain their wings and feathery antennae to seek out their mate... I would wear these colors and patterns in pursuit of the same, wouldn't you?!! Something sexy coming soon!!! #animacalifornia #everydayecology #ecoliteracy #conservation #connection #fortheloveofawildlife #fireecology

To those of you who are blessed to have a ticket for tonight’s special concert in the @carmelbachfestival , you are in for quite an exquisite experience!! Edwin @edwinhuizinga and William Coulter - the dynamic duo we all fell in love with through Fire and Grace, joined by Johannson with his nyckelharpa, among many other amazing musicians and singers, have quite a journey in store, including a pretty special ending that I promise you will be “Wholehearted” ❤️ #livewellsingmore

Pelican poetry ❤️#brownpelican #sequoiasempervirens

“Beauty shines with a light from beyond itself. Love is the name of that light. At the heart of beauty must be a huge care and affection for creation, for nowhere is beauty an accidental presence. Nor is beauty simply its own end. It is not self-absorbed but points beyond itself to an embrace of belonging that holds everything together.” John O’Donohue #johnodonohue #pacificrosealgae #patternsofcalifornia

Came across some old photos documenting my falling in love with the California coast — circa 2005? Pretty sure this was camping somewhere on the Mendocino coast. How do places get inside us, and stay? #topophilia #lovewhereyoulive #california #peaceofthewild

Seed hunter! 💓 One of the many joys clarkia brings #californiaquail #clarkia #awildlife

Seriously in love with these #mackerel that came my way last week - water and light in such an amazing marriage in this pattern! Excited to explore deeply, and with big gratitude @realgoodfish @alanlovewell @jenng_love #patternsofcalifornia #mackerel

the first language of place, in these lines....... #coastalscrub

Summer came with goats ❤️

Steelhead silks are my new favorite! #patternsofcalifornia

Thanks for the beautiful beetle alert today @travishallfineart ! Glad to meet this scarab - whose common names are both too nerdy and inelegant for me to handle “ten-lined June beetle” or “watermelon beetle”?! These stripes have officially left their mark on my imagination ❤️ #polyphylladecemlineata #stripes #patternsofcalifornia #scarab

Sometimes you have to send your roots straight into the flowing river to find new ground #redalder

Curious to hear thoughts and feelings from native friends and peers on Newsom’s acknowledgement and apology yesterday.... To openly engage tribal leaders and community, and name the harms of colonial violence and genocide that have remained unspoken for far too long in California and the U.S. This feels like a hopeful first step on a longer path of reconciliation. Here’s to many more first steps towards healing and true equality. I believe that acknowledging and addressing this part of our history with a level of self-honesty, compassion and humanity unbeknownst before now, involves and affects each and every one of us - just as the history of slavery in our country does. In the words of Richard Rohr, suffering that isn’t transformed is transmitted. The work is just beginning.

New obsession - I can’t stop! Plantain leaves catch my eye from the side of every two-track and path I run... So appreciative of their robust, trail-blazing personality, so in love with their simple lines... There are 8 different species of Plantago in Monterey County! #lookdown #plantago