Connecting to nature through poetry and prose
We have entered the micro-season of “Hibernating Creatures Close Their Doors”. This is the second micro-season of the mini-season of Autumn Equinox. As a way to celebrate this season, we will look at the strategies animals use to survive the winter and then read some haiku by Shiki, Basho, and Issa.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Swallows Leave”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of White Dew. As a way to celebrate this season, we will investigate the swallow and its migration patterns. Then we will read haiku by Buson and Issa. This season, we also invite you to write your own migration-inspired haiku and share it with the community.
We have entered the micro-season of “White Dew on Grass”. As a way to celebrate this season, we will explore how dew is formed and look into dew harvesting. Then, we will read some seasonal haiku by Issa, Basho, Saigyo, and Buson.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Rice Ripens”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Limit of Heat. As a way to celebrate this season, we will look at the taxonomy of the rice plant and how it is grown. Then we will read a variety of seasonal rice-themed haiku by Issa and Basho.
The micro-season of “The Cotton Lint Opens” runs from Aug 23 - Aug 27. As a way to honor this season, we will explore the taxonomy of the cotton plant and its processing process. Then we will read haiku by Basho, Gewi, Gorgone, and Wright.
We have entered the micro-season of “Thick Fog Blankets the Sky”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of First Autumn. As a way to celebrate this season, we will investigate what causes fog and how to classify the different types of fog. Then we will read poetry from Masaoka Shiki, Kobayashi Issa, Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Carl Sandburg.
We have entered the micro-season of “Heavy Rain Showers”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Major Heat. As a way to celebrate this season, we will explore the water cycle and read some rain-themed haiku by Basho, Issa, and Buson.
We have entered the micro-season of “The First Lotus Blossoms ”. This is the second micro-season of the mini-season of Minor Heat. As a way to celebrate this season, we are going to learn about the lotus flower and its connection to Buddhism. Then we will read several haiku by Basho, Issa, Shiki, and Buson.
We are in the micro-season of "The Plum Turns Yellow". As a way to celebrate this season, we will investigate the ume tree, explore some culinary uses for ume, and read ume-inspired haiku by Kobayashi Issa, Yosa Buson, and others.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Safflower Blossoms”. This is the second micro-season of the mini-season of Grain Full. To honor this season we are looking at the history and uses of the safflower and then reading poetry from the Man'yōshū, Kokinwakashū, and some haiku by Basho.
We have entered the micro-season of “The First Frog Calls”, which is the first micro-season of the mini-season of First Summer. In this season we investigate why frogs call and who are the first frogs to call. We also look at Basho’s famous Frog Pond haiku and the haiku responses from Issa and Buson.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Tree Peony Flowers”. To honor this season we are investigating the “King of Flowers”, and reading poetry by Qian Qi, Emperor Yang, Buson, Issa, and Basho.
Naturalist Weekly 