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Wendy E Townsend's avatar

Oh, wow. Thank you SO much for this post.

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Shawna Gamache's avatar

I loved this one! The brutality! The happenstance and wonder! When I googled "dr charles bommer belgium" to find out more, your post was the top hit. I can't believe no one has written a book on him yet?!! Maybe you will.

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Anna Sproul-Latimer's avatar

If I recall correctly, there are a lot more source materials in French and Flemish — I used a lot of Google Translate when writing the original piece, lol. The guys at Tervuren have also written a lovely book on the park (and translated it into like 4 languages, I think by themselves).

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Shawna Gamache's avatar

You bought the book at the park, I imagine? I’m definitely rabbit holing through their beautiful website as we speak.

I don’t know if you know, but the PNW’s giant Western red cedars are starting to die off due to too many draught years in a row without chance of recovery in between. It’s not at all rare to see 300-400 year old red cedars out here, some with visible chunks of bark removed by the Coast Salish nations.

I can still stand among them all day long here in Seattle, but I’m not sure my grandchildren will. It’s heartbreaking to think they might have to go to Belgium to see them, but also, they might get to go to Belgium to see them!! Sigh. It’s too much to bear sometimes, but what else do we even have?

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Anna Sproul-Latimer's avatar

Sigh. I suspect you would love my client Marguerite Holloway’s book TAKE TO THE TREES if you’re thinking about all this as much as I am — and yeah, I got the book from Patrick & co. when I was last over there…

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Shawna Gamache's avatar

Yes! This looks so good! Thank you for the recommendation.

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Appleseeds by Niki Mathias's avatar

The symbolism of this is breathtaking. Thank you for this: "Apocalypse was always the chestnuts’ time to shine... their moment is the rebound..."

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Sarah Kokernot's avatar

Gorgeous. Thank you 🙏🏼

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Linda Monk's avatar

Lovely. The emergence of good in the midst of our darkest wishes.

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Lisa Brown Roberts's avatar

Nourishment for the soul. Thank you.

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Christine Evans's avatar

I loved this. Thank you, Anna. ❤️

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Anamyn's avatar

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you. 💕

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John McDermott's avatar

That was beautiful.

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Kristin Fellows's avatar

Absolutely fascinating, thank you 🙏🏻

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