Natural Cycles

Within the first section of a Sandy County Almanac, Leopolds direct observations and experiences within the landscapes of his Wisconsin farm are focused on specific natural cycles and native species that have and have not been preserved throughout the historical technological progress of mankind. The midwest seasons, the migration and mating patterns of the diverse avian community, weather patterns and development on a delicate prairie ecosystem are all intricately woven into his calendar year of study and analysis. The “nature” is not untouched but viewed in an important historical context(before/after man) and is recognized as resilient but also fragile when compared to encroaching development.

Some examples..

He mourns the Silphium prairie flower, citing its decline to highway construction but also the educated public, still ignorant of the interconnected ecological web.

“Mechanized man, oblivious of floras, is proud of his progress in cleaning up the landscape on which, willy nilly, he must live out his days. It might be wise to prohibit at once all teaching of real botany and real history, lest some future suffer qualms about the floristic price of his good life.” (pg 50)

“We grieve only for what we know. The erasure of Silphium from western Dane Country in so cause for grief if one knows it only as a name in a botany book.” (pg 52)

Through his candid notes, Leopold makes a subtle distinction in the way his careful attention to his surroundings make his experience in nature different then his peers. During hunting season, Leopold follows the red, sunlit blackberry leaves to find locate the partridge, “Every woodcock and every partridge has his private solarium under these briars. Most hunters not knowing this, wear themselves put in the scrub, and, returning home birdless, leave the rest of us in peace.” (pg 67)

Whether this is attributed to Leopold’s background in ecology or his thoughtful manner I am unsure, but what I extract from this comparison is that one cannot be a successful sportsman,scientist or conservationist without making keen, quiet observations about the immediate environment you are surrounded by.