The intrinsic beauty of nature has long been a source of inspiration and creative reward for me. Some of my fondest memories from childhood include working in the garden with my grandmother Nell, pulling weeds and planting vegetables, herbs and huge beds of summer flowers. She taught me so much about the garden, and what it means to be connected to the earth. These early experiences also influenced my love of cooking, as dinner almost always involved something fresh from the garden like collard greens, okra and corn. During the fall, Nell spent long hours canning and preserving the garden’s last harvest, making delicious elderberry jelly and Southern specialties like pickled watermelon rind.
My father Jim was also an avid outdoorsman and hunter who taught me about the extraordinary beauty of our country, from our own back yard to the forests of New England and beyond. The woods and marshes in back of our house were like an undiscovered land, home to wondrous exotics such as giant ostrich ferns, green jack-in-the-pulpits and masses of pink lady’s slipper orchids. We went camping throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as Frenchman’s Bay and the magnificent Maine coastline, up along the Gaspé peninsula, through charming French villages in Québec.
He taught me about the forests and woodlands of New England, from the names of trees and wildflowers to different types of birds and the importance of having a healthy respect for nature. One day we were out hiking and came upon a patch of teaberries… I was certain they were deadly poisonous, as any bright red berry lurking in the middle of the forest ought to be, but he knew they were edible (and delicious!). Meanwhile, an innocent looking white mushroom turned out to be an acutely poisonous variety nicknamed the “destroying angel.” Healthy respect!
I started taking pictures because I wanted to capture these experiences and explore the spiritual and emotional connection we have to the world around us. Today, the native orchids in back of our old house are endangered due to over-development, and I am reminded of the fleeting, ever-changing beauty of nature. The loss of such a magnificent flower would be a tragedy. I donate a percentage of sales from my work to charities including the World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy and Unicef. I hope you enjoy the images featured here, and I welcome your feedback and comments.
