Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Open Letter to Pot Smokers and Beer Drinkers in the park

First of all, I'm not looking to make enemies, but right now you people and I are at war. For the last year or so, I've been coming to the park almost every day. What I see there is disturbing to me. You see, the Parks Department doesn't have a lot of money so they can't pick up the trash that I see there every morning. They can't pick up beer bottles, plastic envelopes, cigar wrappers, plastic drink bottles or Dunkin' Donuts bags. I do. Since the trash I find is near the places that you smoke pot or drink, I figure you are the ones responsible.People tell me I should go to the cops, see the local community leaders and get them to patrol the park and put an end to it. But you know what? I don't want to. I was your age once. I drank and smoked too. To be honest, I don't think we should have laws about smoking or drinking. What bothers me isn't your smoking and drinking--it's the litter. So, I'm proposing a Peace Plan. I won't try and stop you from using the Park to do your"business". All you need to do is pick up your trash (all of it-even those little "dime bags") and put it in a plastic bag. Leave the bag in front of the tree trunk where I can pick it up. The same with you beer drinkers. Leave the bottles or cans right there on the trail. If you're not too drunk, put them in the bag you used to bring them into the park instead of throwing them or worse breaking them. This park is an important place. Some day, you may want to use it for other reasons. Don't trash it. Please. I know you wouldn't mess up your home or your friend's home. The park belongs to all of us. Every time you remember not to litter, you are doing something good for all of us. Please help. Save the environment; keep the planet green; don't litter!!!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

The greening of the forest

The woods at Forest Park are primarily oak. They stretch high above the forest floor and shade everything below. But this time of year, they haven't begun to even bloom. This gives the understory much needed sunlight . Almost a month ago, I sat on my perch near the pond in the snow. Today the forest has literally sprung to life. Everywhere below the still sleeping oak trees there is green growth. Some of the smaller trees are beginning to flower and tiny sprouts are covering bare places everywhere.The Parks Department has been running fresh water into the pond and the rains of the past few days have been helping it fill up. Soon, it too will green with water plants covering large parts of its surface, while the dry grasses which surround it will once again sprout with wild iris and other flowers. Help preserve this beauty. Come and visit us. Pass this blog address on to friends who share your love of nature. Ask them to become followers.