Have you ever thought about what each season is for? As school children we learned that Autumn is when the leaves fall and food is ripe. It is the season when preparations are made for Winter. Winter is a time of cold and rest. The natural world is sleeping until their Spring wake up call. Spring of course is a time of new beginnings. Nature schedules the birth of birds, animals, plants, insects, and fish for the Spring. But what about Summer? What is it for? As humans we think of Summer as time off for fun, people vacation – school is out in Summer. In nature, however, Summer is a time of growth. Baby creatures grow and develop during the Summer, they learn survival skills during this time of plenty so that they are prepared for the seasons that follow. The work we do at Keta Legacy Foundation follows the seasons and here in Washington state, particularly the Olympic Peninsula, we have incredible seasons that define all we do on the Preserve. We’re in the heart of summer right now, even if it has felt like fall lately.
Summer is our season of growth on the Preserve. As you know, our volunteers and board members plant during the rainy season to ensure the roots of newly established plants and trees have adequate water to stabilize and prepare for the warmer, dryer months. In the face of a changing climate, we are also mindful to plant species that will thrive as we see higher temperatures across the wet side of the state.
As an organization, Summer is our time to enjoy the wonderful weather and to grow our plans and programs. During the Summer we make plans for our Fall for Fish celebration. We tackle projects such as upgrading our Board Policy Manual that help us grow as an organization. Summer is all about growth.
Each season holds great value to nature and, for that matter, people. We hope you’ve taken time this summer to grow and thrive in the outdoors.
– Katha Miller-Winder, President