Calendar

The British countryside is known for its sweeping expanses and ever-changing seasons. Intrigued by the micro-seasonal changes, an ecologist, a book coach, a lecturer in human environmental geography, and a historian came together to write a book on their journey through a year, divided into 72 seasons. 

Their book, Nature's Calendar, is like a series of commas along a long road. The comma works like a speed bump to slow down our pace, to help us develop habits of observing the mind-blowing natural world. Be they animals or plants, be they a fan of tiny leaf-tips of daffodils in spring or mistletoe in winter, all can be delightful to look at. 

The day after I read Nature's Calendar, I received a much-loved gift of local mountain-themed calendar. The calendar collates twelve drawings of iconic peaks, each with its unique character and habitat. If Nature's Calendar is made up road signs by commas, this local calendar is a series of twelve periods. A well-placed period points to hiking enthusiasts where the pause should be, and when the next ascent should start.