A Year with Nature is an almanac like none you've ever seen: combining
science and aesthetics, it is a daily affirmation of the extraordinary
richness of biodiversity and our enduring beguilement by its beauty.
With a text by herpetologist and natural history writer Marty Crump and
a cornucopia of original illustrations by Bronwyn McIvor, this quirky
quotidian reverie gazes across the globe, media, and time as it
celebrates date-appropriate natural topics ranging from the founding of
the National Park Service to annual strawberry, garlic, shrimp,
hummingbird, and black bear festivals.
With Crump, we mark the publication of classics like Carson's Silent
Spring and White's Charlotte's Web, and even the musical premiere of
Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. We note the discovery of the structure of DNA
and the mountain gorilla, the rise of citizen science projects, and the
work of people who've shaped how we view and protect nature--from
Aristotle to E. O. Wilson. Some days feature US celebrations, like
National Poinsettia Day and National Cat Day; others highlight
country-specific celebrations, like Australia's Wombat Day and
Thailand's Monkey Buffet Festival, during which thousands of macaques
feast on an ornately arranged spread of fruits and vegetables. Crump
also highlights celebrations that span borders, from World Wildlife
Conservation Day to International Mountain Day and global festivities
for snakes, sea turtles, and chocolate. Interweaving fascinating facts
on everything from jellyfish bodies to monthly birth flowers with
folkloric entries featuring the Loch Ness Monster, unicorns, and ancient
Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology, the almanac is as exhaustive as it
is enchanting.
A Year with Nature celebrates the wonder and beauty of our natural
world as we have expressed it in visual arts, music, literature,
science, natural history, and everyday experience. But more than this,
the almanac's vignettes encourage us to contemplate how we can help
ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the landscapes and
rich biodiversity we so deeply cherish.
