Nature on the Doorstep is a calming and beautifully written book, revealing the simple pleasures of paying attention to the natural world in one’s own backyard, over the course of a year. In weekly letters, the author shares the joys and curiosities of an ordinary patch of green in upstate New York, cultivated through the art of ‘strategic neglect’ – leaving things be instead of ‘trying to always help’.
Respect space of wildlife (don’t use flash photography nor use magnifying glasses, which can harm creatures in sunlight). Don’t play birdsong, as this can confuse and attract predators.
For art, use vegan watercolour brushes and paints and recycled art paper. For drawing, use recycled pencils.
From the first flowers of spring to cardinals singing in the winter, the author shows the magic of welcoming unexpected plant and animal life into one’s life. A paean to the richness we find when we stop to look and let be, the book celebrates the role that humble backyards have to play in both conservation efforts, and an expanded appreciation of the living world.
About the Author
Angela E Douglas is a British entomologist who is Professor of Insect Physiology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York State.
