Nature can be as close as your own porch; even a window overlooking a single tree in any city. From either of these venues you can become as close to nature as any human who has scaled the highest mountain and is gazing out over the Horizon.

  I have porch sat most of my 62 years., It only takes me minutes anymore to become part of it as close as any modern human can; starting with the air that touches me as I go to my chair; the hearing of the breeze coming through the trees. Then looking into the sky whatever color or condition it is in at that time. Then it is listening especially in the spring, summer and fall for all of the life forms of natures sounds.

   Right now, in the 2nd week of June, it is bird life in my little piece of heaven in Shermansdale, Perry County.  I hear the robins singing, Bluebirds, Grackles, An Oriole, Killdeer, Flicker, The tapping of several kinds of Woodpeckers in close and faraway trees. That is only in the first hour.

   Everyday some new bird is seen or heard. Then we have The Hummingbird which comes to the nectar feeder every few minutes. All you hear is its wings.

   Animals right now consist of several Grey Squirrels that keep checking on this years Acorn, Walnut, and Hickory crops, as  well as possible raiding birds nest for eggs.

   Chipmunks, at least two separate families, going back and forth across a little paved street and coming back with crawl fill treasures which they either take to their digs under my shed or deposit in an old TV cable hole, and of course burying in my tiny flower garden where one of their forgotten walnuts has become a 2 foot high tree. In the evening a few rabbits come down to visit the clover and other grasses. All the creatures have to be watchful because of hawks perching nearby. I see their silhouettes pass over a few times a day.

   Now my flower garden is very small. Yes, I bought some plants, but this year I left many of what they say are weeds grow also. There were may be 5 separate violets plants that bloom.  One large red clover, a piece of poison Ivy I left, one dandelion before I pulled it out. Right now I have two very tall blooming plants. One, I believe it is called Sneezeweed, but I am not sure and really do not care because of the beauty of the tiny cluster of small daisy-like flowers.

   Another is a complete surprise. It is a plant that you would not expect anything more then the tall off green straight up close to stem leaves. Yet everyday I go out from out of those leaves come a beautiful purple flower. It has been blooming a new flower everyday for two weeks.

I have other so called weeds coming up. I always leave at least one of it's species in tact so it will complete it's purpose.

   Complete their Purpose! --Right in front of any porch sitter. If you there long enough you even start figuring out your own purpose in relation to your spot on this Earth.

   You don't need any books or pictures to tell you that purpose. Nature can do it free of charge. It only takes the time to sit in a chair and concentrate with an open mind on your own outside surroundings.

   Yes I have hiked and climbed a few mountain tops right in this area. But what I missed accomplishing these feats could fill the biggest computer with information. Each step I  took passed by countless life forms never seen.

   But from your own Porch sitting in that one position many more of those life forms you will take into your soul. To the point you begin to understand that despite you denial you are also part of that Whole.

So Grab a chair from anywhere and SIT.

By Mike Ruger of Shermansdale, Perry County