A fellow editor, who also happens to be a good writer and serious environmentalist, is also a talented photographer. From time to time, Paul shares those photos with us. This week, he posted new photos on his blog.  Signs of early spring— the blossoms on a cherry tree.

Like Paul’s cherry blossoms, we wait all  year to see the offerings of spring, some that last only days.  We had a catalpa tree in the backyard at our previous house. The blossoms were white, resembled apple blossoms, but were much bigger, and they only lasted a few days before turning black.  I love spring, when the plants and trees come back to life, when the crocuses, daffodils and tulips make their appearances.  Yet such beauty and balance in nature is so easily destroyed.

Paul is also a volunteer of an educational organization called Stream of Dreams that helps preserve the life in streams. Go here to learn more. I was impressed with his actions earlier this spring when someone washed a car, allowing the soap and chemical-laden water to run off  into a local stream.  The toxins polluted the water, killing many fish.

I knew from Paul’s email to our group that he was frustrated and upset, but true to his cultured approach, he used the resulting media attention to teach, rather than scold. On that website, he offers a list of do’s and don’ts for readers to take to heart and act on.

Paul may live across the country from me, but that doesn’t matter. I appreciate his volunteer efforts to preserve water quality, and the life in it. If each of us acts wisely in our own spaces when it comes to our environment, we’ll be a lot healthier for it, and so will our children and grandchildren.