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I went to a most unusual garden last week. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is not about botanical nature but more the nature of the spirit. It was created by mosaic mural artist Isaiah Zagar, in a couple of vacant lots on South Street adjacent to his studio. Amid the sporadic raindrops, despite the temperature shifts from cold to warm to cool to hot, even with the uncertainty about the future climate, this time of year is golden. It is filled with promise and hope. And goldfinches to remind us to appreciate nature. more »

Julia Sneden reviews: Author Armstrong notes that "The new wave of change isn't about giving the 'little woman'" a fair shake or even about pushing reluctant regimes to adhere to hard-won international laws relating to women. "Together men and women are the two wings of a bird – both wings have to be not wounded, not broken, in order to push the bird forward." Cannon's new book of poetry, My Mind is Made of Crumbs, while dealing with pain and loss, others express the deep connection of their long and happy marriage. more »

Roberta McReynolds writes: The breeze lifting the hair off my face didn’t originate from any meteorological conditions. It occurred when my wheelchair broke free of my white-knuckled grip at the top of a long ramp, consequently launching me across the parking lot. It felt like I was about to execute an imitation of one of those metal balls in a pinball machine, poised to ricochet off all obstacles in my path, but without the bells and lights. more »

I wonder if the definition of our seasons will be changing in the future and what is our part in that change? It’s not something to sluff off because it isn’t only the ducks and geese and polar bears that are affected, it’s us, too. Grackles remind me not to make judgments based solely on appearance, whether about birds or situations or people, because you never know when the unexpected can help you to see things differently and sometimes with joy. more »