While most of us may not have scientific proof that the climate is changing, many of us have noticed, and may even have commented on, things that should have triggered a warning sign. Mild winters, harsher and more frequent storms and dryer, hotter summers are a few climate changes that I’ve noticed in recent years.

Robert Hunter, in his well researched, extensively documented book 2030: Confronting Thermageddon in Our Lifetime, provides us with compelling evidence of what many of us have been dreading – that global warming is occurring, that it is caused by our species and, if not immediately dealt with, it will result in devastating consequences for the planet and all of the species that live here. Hunter warns that our dependence on fossil fuels and the other things that cause global warming must be significantly and immediately reduced. And, even if we can pull this off we still won’t be out of the woods.

“And here is the real soul-breaker: even if carbon-dioxide levels were to flatten and start to go down by 2025, the concentrations in the atmosphere will continue to grow through the twenty-first century and only begin to flatten – in theory – afterwards. They might also continue to surge for centuries. Humanity, it appears, is not just being challenged to take responsibility for conditions a few generations from now, we are being required to take responsibility for all of the future. It is clear now that the kind of planet this is going to be depends on what course of action we take, or don’t take, immediately. Every year that emission levels keep rising worsens conditions appreciably, and makes the eventual costs of a stabilization program or recovery program greater, assuming such a thing is even possible.” (pages 137-38)

While Hunter’s vital message is sobering and upsetting, it should be viewed as a wake-up call for all of us. There is hope, provided we start respecting the Earth and act accordingly. We know our present lifestyles are destroying the planet. It’s time we did something about it. As Hunter points out,

“We have to ask: what kind of a people would drive single-occupancy SUVs when they knew the suffering it was going to cause others down the road? For all intents and purposes, we might as well be running our own grandchildren down, and our neighbours’ as well. Those tons of emissions trailing behind us may disappear from view eventually, but they reach into the future. Our heirs and descendants become roadkill as surely as if we’d crushed them under our Goodyears.” (pages 245-46)

2030: Confronting Thermageddon in Our Lifetime is, for obvious reasons, a “must read”. When it comes to protecting the Earth, ignorance isn’t bliss – but it will be deadly.

Wolves are synonymous with Algonquin Park. They are also one of the most persecuted animals in the world – including those in an around this park. In Wolf Country: Eleven Years Tracking the Algonquin Wolves, John and Mary Theberge share their experiences and findings regarding the wolves of Algonquin Park.

John Theberge not only provides considerable information about the wolf, but he also describes the numerous threats, most caused by humans, facing these incredible animals. While hunting, trapping and logging are the greatest threats, coyotes also pose a threat to the wolves of Algonquin Park.

“Threatening to Algonquin Park wolves is the same gene swamping with coyotes that has occurred outside the park. (All park wolves carry coyote genes now, although not enough or not the right ones to change their physical or ecological nature.) Coyote genes can invade Algonquin Park wolves in three ways: when park wolves meet coyote-like animals outside the park on parts of their territories, or when park wolves follow migratory deer in winter, or when coyote-like animals invade the park. The presence of coyote-like animals both near and within Algonquin Park appears to be the result of wolf killing.” (pages 277, 278)

During this extensive study of wolves in and around Algonquin Park Theberge has discovered some fascinating and important information. According to Theberge the wolves of Algonquin Park are either red wolves, thought to have been extirpated in the wild, or “...a unique species of wolf (additional to the other two species in the world: gray wolf and red wolf) with its remaining range restricted to southern Ontario and southern Quebec; or a distinctive subspecies of the gray wolf called lycaon that has the same restricted range.” (page 277)

What ever species of wolf these animals are they deserve our respect and protection. According to Theberge, “Ontario has the most exploitive wolf-management policies of any jurisdiction in Canada. Wolves are managed more like vermin than a species with some value.” (page 276) Since humans kill the majority of wolves who wander outside the park it is recommended that a “ten-kilometre-wide protection zone be established around Algonquin Park.” This zone would offer the wolves who spend much of their lives inside Algonquin Park considerably more protection from those of our species who hate these beautiful, intelligent animals and who are ignorant of the vital roles that they play in the fragile ecosystems in which they live.

Another necessary step that Theberge believes needs to be taken to protect wolves involves establishing “...extensive linkages to other parks or wildlands, to provide for metapopulation flow, buffer the vagaries of nature that can lead to local population decline, and reduce both genetic isolation and coyote influence. Such a provision would require broad no-kill zones linking Algonquin with Killarney Park on Georgian Bay to the west, Temagami to the north, La Verendrye and Laurentide parks in Quebec to the east, and the Madawaska Highlands to the south.” (page 266)

Wolf Country: Eleven Years Tracking the Algonquin Wolves is a good book about a persecuted animal who needs, and deserves, our respect. After reading Wolf Country take the time to write your political representatives requesting that the recommendations made in the book to protect the wolf are implemented. If implemented, these recommendations would not only be beneficial for wolves, other animals and the environment but for our species as well.

A popular symbol of wilderness travel and cottage life is the canoe. Canoes allow you to peacefully travel waterways without polluting the environment. I began canoeing at my parents’ cottage using my brother’s canoe. Eventually I bought my own cedar-strip canoe and recently my wife Lynn came home from shopping with a used aluminum canoe strapped to the car roof.

In his book The Canoe: An Illustrated History, Jim Poling, Sr. provides an interesting look at the canoe – from its creation to its importance in developing North America to its current popularity as a recreational watercraft. Poling, Sr. looks at the various types of canoes used over the years and how they were constructed. Historical anecdotes and more than 80 illustrations and photos add to this informative book.

Arguably the most pleasant, and least harmful, way to experience the wonder of the natural world is from a canoe. This inspirational experience is even more enjoyable with a quality, comfortable paddle. Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own makes it possible for many of us novice woodworkers to create our own personal paddles. Whether you are making a paddle from a single piece of wood or a laminated paddle consisting of several pieces, this comprehensive book will show you the way.

Walden, Henry D. Thoreau’s famous account of living in a cabin on Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts was originally published in 1854. Thoreau’s observations and thoughts pertaining to the natural world have made Walden one of the most respected books on nature. This exquisite annotated edition not only contains Thoreau’s famous text, but also drawings and captions from his Journal. A map of Walden Pond and the surrounding area in 1845 and another map showing the depths of the pond complement the text. Walter Harding’s notes are informative. Even those who have read Walden will find this edition both informative and interesting.

Anyone interested in reptiles and amphibians, especially those animals who live in Ontario, will want a copy of Ross D. MacCulloch’s identification book, The Rom Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Ontario. This book contains 53 species and includes colour photos, range maps and informative text (appearance, habitat and behaviour, reproduction and status.)

If you’re looking for a field guide for birds which contains considerable written information, you won’t be interested in A Field Guide to the Birds: Eastern and Central North America. However, if you want an easy-to-use guide with excellent illustrations and range maps then you’ll be pleased with this book. This large format edition is different from other Peterson Field Guides in that it features larger illustrations and has less text. The range maps feature summer, winter and year-round ranges.

A “How to Identify Birds” section at the beginning of the book offers useful information for those who are not veteran birders. This section encourages the reader to consider such things as behaviour, the bird’s size as well as the shape of the bird’s body, wing, bill and tail. The book is divided into eight, easily accessible, sections: 1. Swimmers 2. Aerialists 3. Long-legged Waders 4. Small Waders 5. Fowl-like Birds 6. Birds of Prey 7. Nonpasserine Land Birds and 8. Passerine (Perching) Birds. Colour illustrations, a range map, size as well as information on “voice”, “habitat” and some “notes” are provided for the species of birds.

This attractive field guide will allow you to properly identify your feathered neighbours. 

Build Me An Ark: A Life With Animals by Brenda Peterson is a passionate book by someone who has spent her entire life around animals. Peterson describes many experiences she has had with animals during the last century. Dolphins, bears, whales, wolves, dogs, cats, seals and a sea lion are the co-stars of this informative and entertaining book.

Peterson’s respect for nature and her dedication to improving things for the other animals with whom we share the planet are both inspirational and reassuring. While much of the information is sobering and upsetting, Peterson leaves the reader with some hope – hope that as a species we can mend our destructive ways and begin living in harmony with nature regarding other animals as kin and not as “resources” to be used.

Peterson’s insightful words result in a greater awareness of the challenges facing the natural world and a strengthened willingness to protect it.

Canoe Lake is a fascinating novel by Roy MacGregor that looks at the final years of Tom Thomson. While the book is fiction, much of he information contained in it is factual. The story takes place at Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park as well as in Huntsville (fictionalized in the story as Vernon).

This book was originally published in 1980 as Shorelines. Canoe Lake contains an “Author’s Note” pertaining to the novel as well as other information regarding Thomson’s death that occurred in July 1917. There are many unanswered questions surrounding Thomson’s death which makes for a good mystery. Did Thomson have an accident or was he murdered? There is also speculation that Thomson and his girl friend, Winnifred Trainer, were going to get married and that she was pregnant. There is even some question as to where Thomson’s body was buried. Does it rest at Canoe Lake or his family’s plot in Leith, Ontario?

In his “Author’s Note” at the end of the book MacGregor informs the reader that his family had ties to Winnifred Trainer (MacGregor’s uncle married Trainer’s sister.) He also mentions that when this book was first published in 1980 it “so upset certain members of my family that it cost our relationship.” (page 289) 

In 1980 when the book was first published there were still people alive who had known Tom Thomson and who were at Canoe Lake during the summer of 1917. MacGregor tells of a meeting he had with an elderly man in Huntsville. The man asked to speak to MacGregor.

“I also cannot forget an encounter I had at the Anglican church in Huntsville one Christmas Eve many years later, when one of the town’s oldest and most-respected citizens, Frank Hutcheson, asked if he might have a word in private.

“He only had one thing to say to me.

“’That book you wrote,’ said the old man, then in his nineties.

“’Yes, sir?’

“’Well, that’s pretty much the way it was.’” (page 289)

Canoe Lake is an entertaining book about one of Canada’s most famous artists. It is also a great mystery novel.

Algonquin Park is a very special place. Created in 1893, this incredibly beautiful, large provincial park has an interesting history. Algonquin: The Park and its People contains close to 150 photographs by Donald Standfield. These photographs alone would have made an impressive book. When you add Liz Lundell’s informative text about the park and some of the many interesting people who embraced this wondrous place you are left with a truly special book. 

Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park: Tom Thomson and Other Mysteries by S. Bernard Shaw provides an interesting look at Canoe Lake in Alqonquin Park. Shaw’s well researched book looks at the history of Canoe Lake including the role it played in the timber and tourism industries. Shaw also includes sections on various other topics associated with the lake including: Canoe Lake Railway Station, Canoe Lake Cemetary, Highway 60 and Grey Owl.

The chapter on Tom Thomson is particularly interesting. Shaw has compiled considerable information on this important Canadian artist, his affection for the wilderness and Canoe Lake as well as how he might have met his death.

Canoe Lake, Alqonquin Park: Tom Thomson and Other Mysteries will be of interest to anyone familiar with Algonquin Park or this lake. It will also be of interest to those who like nature, history or who simply enjoy a good mystery!

The Man Who Planted Trees is the tale of Elzeard Bouffier, a man who, after his son and wife die, spends his life reforesting miles of barren land in southern France. Bouffier’s planting of thousands and thousands of trees results in many wondrous things occurring including water again flowing in brooks that had been dry for many years. The brooks were fed by rains and snows that were conserved by the forest planted by Bouffier. The harsh, barren land was now pleasant and full of life.

“Everything was changed. Even the air. Instead of the harsh winds that used to attack me, a gentle breeze was blowing, laden with scents. A sound like water came from the mountains: it was the wind in the forest. Most amazing of all, I heard the actual sound of water falling into a pool.” (page 34)

This popular story of inspiration and hope was originally published in 1954 in Vogue as “The Man Who Planted Hope and Grew Happiness.” 

Besides the wonderful story of Elzeard Bouffier, this edition of The Man Who Planted Trees also contains an “Afterword” by Norma L. Goodrich as well as an informative section about how wood and paper can be conserved. Goodrich writes about Giono’s effort to have people respect and plant trees.

“Giono later wrote an American admirer of the tale that his purpose in creating Bouffier ‘was to make people love the tree, or more precisely, to make them love planting trees.’ Within a few years the story of Elzeard Bouffier swept around the world and was translated into at least a dozen languages. It has long since inspired reforestation efforts, worldwide.” (page 45)

The Man Who Planted Trees is a wonderful story that inspires one to care for the natural world. This book would make a valuable contribution to any teacher’s curriculum. You can visit the publisher’s website at www.chelseagreen.com

Protecting the environment can be achieved in various ways. Sharing compassionate and wise quotations about nature with others can help to generate a greater respect for the natural world. Including quotations about nature in letters to friends or ending an email message with an insightful quotation pertaining to the environment can encourage others to think about the importance and beauty of the natural world and what we can do to preserve it.

I’ve read numerous quotation books about nature and A Nature Lover’s Book of Quotations is one of the best. Quotations by a particular person can easily be found using the index. If you’re looking for a nature quotation about a particular topic, the book is divided into numerous sections such as “conservation”, “forests”, “kinship”, “rivers”, “solitude”, “trees” and “wilderness” – to name a few.

Whether you’re searching for a specific quotation or simply want to read some insightful observations about nature, A Nature Lover’s Book of Quotations is one book you’ll want to check out.

“If we do not go to church so much as did our fathers, we go to the woods much more, and are much more inclined to make a temple of them than our fathers were....” – John Burroughs (page 43)

I enjoy reading the insightful thoughts of others – especially when nature is the subject. Temple Wilderness: A Collection of Thoughts and Images on our Spiritual Bond with the Earth is a beautiful coffee table-style book that contains thought provoking quotations (like the one above) and more than 100 attractive colour photographs of animals and wild places.

Divided into six sections, Temple Wilderness features the quotations of such people as: Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, John Muir, Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Aldo Leopold.

Temple Wilderness is the kind of book I enjoy perusing at my leisure. It is also a good book to leave around so that others at the cottage can benefit from the insightful views of nature and beautiful photographs found between the covers and which help to generate a respect for the natural world. 

Our species has had a devastating impact on nature. Now, more than ever before, we need to begin respecting the natural world and acting accordingly. To minimize our impact on the environment we need to understand the ecosystems that we live in and how our actions, both negative and positive, affect them. In Watersheds: A Practical Handbook for Healthy Water, Gregor Gilpin Beck effectively explains such things as watersheds, how watersheds work, air pollution, water pollution, habitat loss and what we can do to protect and restore the environment.

Those of us fortunate to live near a lake or river have a large have a large responsibility to keep these areas as natural as possible and to minimize our impact on the environment. Living Near the Water: Environmental Design for Shoreline Properties contains considerable information on how we can minimize our impact. For example, while acknowledging that even preferred docks have an impact, there are docks and materials that should be avoided.

“Avoid using pressure treated wood or used railway ties to build your dock since they contain highly toxic preservatives and may affect water quality. The use of untreated wood in or around water is preferred. It will last indefinitely underwater. Cedar, with its natural preservative, is an excellent material for building docks and other structures that are exposed to both water and weather.” (page 25)

Spending time in natural areas is a privilege that must not be abused. Living Near the Water provides important information enabling us to lessen our impact on nature.

A respect for animals and the environment is developed through education and being exposed to the beauty of the natural world. Books can be instrumental in bringing about an awareness of environmental issues. Brenda Peterson’s Singing to the Sound: Visions of Nature, Animals & Spirit is an informative, thought provoking collection of nature essays. Peterson combines insight into environmental issues with a plea for protecting the Earth and the other species with whom we share the planet. Her poignant stories cover various subjects including the decline of the Northwest salmon, the Makah whale hunt and our species relationships with such animals as wolves and whales.
 

For some people a cottage and a familiar place in a natural setting is a very important part of their lives. I’ve been fortunate to spend summers at my parent’s cottage for the past 35 years. During this time I’ve gotten to know the area around the cottage and the kinds of animals that live there pretty well. Becoming familiar with, and learning about, nature here has been a very special experience; one I’m very fortunate and grateful to have had.

Wintergreen: Reflections From Loon Lake describes Monte Hummel’s relationship with his cabin and its environs northwest of Kingston, Ontario. Through his book Hummel provides the reader with a glimpse of this wilderness area through the seasons.

Besides providing information on a variety of things associated with his wilderness retreat (everything from star-gazing to flora and fauna), Hummel also encourages and provides information on how people can preserve and protect their wilderness properties.

If you like spending time in wilderness areas and appreciate the beauty of nature you will likely enjoy Wintergreen: Reflections From Loon Lake.

What do you think of when you think of Canada’s national parks system? Healthy ecosystems where flora and fauna are protected? Untouched, rugged areas where people can get away from it all and see pristine areas that have been unaffected by our species? If this is your perception of Canada’s national parks then you’re in for a shock!

During a three year period, Rick Searle conducted considerable research into the state of our national parks system where he visited 27 of the 39 parks. His findings are upsetting to say the least.

The problems facing our parks are numerous and varied. Parks Canada, politicians, industry and the public are some of those who are to blame. According to Searle some of the contributing factors for the parks system’s less than healthy state include: activities that are detrimental to the parks are allowed, parks are overused, land surrounding the parks is being used for activities that are harmful to the parks (i.e. logging, mining, agriculture, urbanization) and the parks are underfunded. By not making "ecological integrity" the most important aspect of the parks, some parks officials are also responsible for the current state of Canada’s national parks.

Searle also blames the Canadian public for our anthropocentric view of nature which holds that people come first "…everywhere and in all cases,…" Searle believes, and rightly so, that we have to switch to an ecocentric perspective which views humans as "…but one species among millions and that we are all interdependent on each other and on the life-sustaining ecosphere…"

Another problem affecting the parks and many species is the increasingly smaller and more isolated areas where animals and plants are "protected." Many of these areas are too small to sustain populations. Searle emphasizes the need to have large, protected areas joined together by wildlife corridors. The areas surrounding these preserves also need to be conducive to maintaining the ecological integrity within the protected areas.

Phantom Parks: The Struggle to Save Canada’s National Parks is a wake-up call to Canadians to stop being complacent about the wonderful wild areas that we have in our country and to take the appropriate steps to ensure their survival and long-term health. As Searle points out near the end of his book, "We all have the ability to make the necessary changes in our lives that will respect the inherent worth of the wild. This ability grows through a simple three-step process, beginning with awareness of the urgent need for change, then learning about the threats to the wild, and lastly, carefully examining all of our decisions and choices in light of what we have learned. I hope my book will serve to stimulate this process of awakening and change."

To begin making constructive changes to Canada’s national parks read Phantom Parks and consider Searle’s passionate and well thought out ideas and suggestions pertaining to what needs to be done in order for the wild to remain a significant part of Canada.

Originally published in 1949, one year after author Aldo Leopold’s death, A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There is one of the more popular and referred to nature books ever published.

Leopold’s book consists of three sections: "A Sand County Almanac," "Sketches Here and There" and "The Upshot." "A Sand County Almanac" consists of Leopold’s experiences with his family at their "week-end refuge" - an abandoned 120 acre farm on the Wisconsin River. This section contains many interesting observations about the natural world on and near his farm throughout the year.

"Sketches Here and There" covers some of the author’s experiences in such places as Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Manitoba. 

"The Upshot" contains four of Leopold’s essays that look at nature and our relationship with the land. His essay entitled "The Land Ethic" contains the insightful quotation "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It’s wrong when it tends otherwise."

Unfortunately, as a species, we have much to learn about living with (as opposed to above) the rest of nature. While Leopold wrote this book more than half a century ago, we are still out of step in terms of living lightly on Earth. We could begin living a more environmentally friendly way of life by heeding Leopold’s wise statement in the Foreword of A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There. "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. There is no other way for land to survive the impact of mechanized man, nor for us to reap from it the esthetic harvest it is capable, under science, of contributing to culture."
 

Up North is different from most nature reference books because it covers common species found in a more “localized” area, Ontario, as opposed to species native to a country or continent. This means that if you live in Ontario and like nature then most of this informative book will be of interest to you. 

Besides looking at amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, “creepy-crawlies,” plants and trees, Bennet and Tiner also include sections on “The Heavens” and “Mother Earth” where such things as clouds, rainbows, northern lights, humus and soil are discussed.
 

Up North Again is a “follow up” to Up North. This book looks at more of Ontario’s animal and plant life as well as offering more interesting information on “The Heavens.” Bennet and Tiner have added a “Nature Almanac” feature to this book where month-by-month nature happenings are listed.

If you live in North America and you want to know more about this continent’s native trees then you will want to read Sam Benvie’s The Encyclopedia of Trees: Canada and the United States. Benvie provides short descriptions of 278 species native to North America. 350 full-colour photographs, along with black-and-white illustrations, complement the text.
 

Part of being a good neighbour to the other species that we share the Earth with involves learning about them and respecting their needs and their habitat. The destructive ways of our species has eliminated many species from this planet with many others on the edge of extinction.

Turtles & Tortoises is an informative book by Vincenzo Ferri that looks at many of the turtles and tortoises around the world including several kinds found in Ontario. Hundreds of colour photographs as well as numerous drawings  and maps complement the text in this guide.

Turtles and tortoises are fascinating animals who have been around for a long time. According to Ferri, “These creatures are among the most successful of all animal groups in that they have retained their unusual body structure almost without modification since the distant Triassic era, some 200 million years ago.” (pages 10, 11) While these animals have been on this planet for a long time, they are facing many threats – most as a result of our species.

Learning about turtles and tortoises and doing what we can to help them, including preserving their habitat, will go a long way to ensuring their survival. Turtles & Tortoises can help in this educational process.
 

When it comes to quality “nature music”, Somerset Entertainment™ leads the way. Consisting of music lines like, Solitudes® and Mother’s Love™ Music, Somerset Entertainment™ offers an excellent selection of music featuring the best musicians on the planet – those who are the natural world. For more information, including listening to samples of the music online, you can visit the individual sites listed below. You can also acquire information at Somerset Entertainment’s™ web site at www.somersetent.com or by contacting them via email at: info@somersetent.com

Solitudes® www.solitudes.com
Mother’s Love™ Music www.motherslovemusic.com

Land of the Loon Dan Gibson, John Herberman UPC 096741416026 (Solitudes Ltd.) Those of us fortunate to spend some time on northern lakes in the summer have heard the wonderful cry of the loon. Land of the Loon is a beautiful recording by Dan Gibson and John Herberman that allows you to sit back and enjoy the beckoning call of the loon, the calming sounds of a lake combined with piano, guitar, flute and strings. The overall effect is a wonderful compilation of songs featuring such animals as the: Common Loon, Canada Goose, Ruffed Grouse, Timber Wolf, Barred Owl, American Toad along with various other birds and frogs. So take a deep breath, close your eyes and let the beautiful music, complimented by the wondrous sounds of nature, take you to a special wild place!

Legend of the Wolf Dan Gibson, Michael Maxwell UPC 096741411823 (Solitudes Ltd.) The wolf is one of my favourite animals (I’m also particularly fond of groundhogs and porcupines.) Unfortunately, it is also one of the most persecuted. As with all species (apart from our own) this intelligent, social animal plays an important role in nature. Slowly but surely our species’ attitude toward this noble creature is changing. More and more people are learning that wolves are to be admired and protected, not despised and killed. Anything that brings about a greater awareness and respect of wolves is to be commended. Legend of the Wolf is a wonderful recording featuring soothing music, the hauntingly beautiful sounds of howling wolves, along with other wolf communications, and numerous other comforting sounds from nature. With a little imagination you can share the experiences of a wolf pack as it lives in harmony with its environment.

Breaking Through the Mist Dan Gibson and Hennie Bekker The music and nature recordings of this CD take the listener on a day’s journey in the wilderness. From the first song, “Dawn of the Lake” which features the sounds of a rainfall to the last song. “Celestial Blanket”, you will encounter many of the sounds you would hear if you spent a quiet day in the wilderness. Numerous species of birds and frogs along with other animals including crickets, loons, wolves and toads share the spotlight in this inspirational recording arranged and composed by Hennie Bekker.

Forest Guitar Dan Gibson & Daniel May It is easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out with all of the negative things going on in the world. It certainly doesn’t help to wake up to the predominantly bad news coming from the clock radio. Our clock radio is also a CD player and I often go to sleep to the soothing sounds of a nature CD. Forest Guitar is a good CD to play when you need to unwind. The quiet sounds of guitars, flutes, piano and cello in combination with many of nature’s musicians, including woodpeckers, loons, crickets and frogs, results in very calming music. Besides wonderful music, this CD also includes a screen saver and a Mahjong game! Song List: 1. Appalachian Morning 2. Clean and Clear 3. In the Evening Air 4. Sequoia Serenade 5. Crimson Sky 6. Spruce Woods 7. Old Growth Stand 8. Lake on the Mountain 9. Under the Willow 10. Moonlight Shimmer

Lakeside Retreat  Dan Gibson & Oliver Schroer  Once the warming breezes of spring arrive and the snow starts to melt, cottagers’ thoughts turn to the cottage where, if they are fortunate, they will spend considerable time during the next six months. Lakeside Retreat is a wonderful nature CD that captures the exciting and relaxed atmosphere synonymous with life at the cottage. Dan Gibson’s nature sounds, combined with music composed and arranged by Oliver Schroer, result in a tranquil CD that will be appreciated by cottagers.  The talented musicians who have contributed to this CD include: Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Ring-billed Gull, Song Sparrow, Canada Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Solitary Vireo, Woodpecker, Gray Tree Frog, Spring Peeper Frog, Barred Owl, Robin, Black & White Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Veery, Cricket, Common Loon, Oliver Schroer (5 string violin, slide guitar), Colleen Allen (flute, clarinet), Bill Brennan (piano), Rob Piltch (guitar), Sharlene Wallace (harp) and David Woodhead (fretless bass, mandolin, mandola, slide guitar). Song List: 1. Lakeside Retreat 2. The Comfort of Home 3. Splash of the Paddle 4. Whispering Pines 5. Glowing Embers 6. A Gentle Grace 7. Morning Light 8. Time Stands Still  Program Time: 54:52

Stargazing (CD) Dan Gibson & Greg Kavanagh Stargazing is a beautiful CD that combines the relaxing music of Greg Kavanagh with Dan Gibson’s nature recordings. How does this CD achieve a night time atmosphere? Well, it is achieved through a combination of Kavanagh’s guitars and keyboards as well as Gibson’s nature sounds featuring animals who commonly make their music after the sun goes down. In the song “Moonlit Waters” Kavanaugh’s guitar combined with the call of the Common Loon and the chirping of crickets results in a haunting and peaceful sound. Other animals who perform in this night time concert include: Western Chorus Frog, Wood Frog, Great Horned Owl, Gray Tree Frog, Spring Peeper, Barred Owl, Bull Frog, Green Frog, American Toad, Whip-poor-will. Stargazing is a relaxing CD that will help you unwind after a busy day at the cottage. Song list: 1. Stargazing 2. Guided by the Sky 3. Aurora Borealis 4. Infinite Wonder 5. Light Years Away 6. Moonlit Waters 7. Pulse of the Universe.

Echoes in the Glen: Celtic Aires & Ballads Dan Gibson, Jeff Wolpert, Loretto Reid & Brian Taheny UPC 096741010422 (Solitudes Ltd.) When you combine two things that, on their own, are good you don’t always end up with a very good, or even good, product. Fortunately, this is not the case with Echoes in the Glen: Celtic Aires & Ballads. Nature’s music, featuring the sounds of birds, crickets, frogs and water, when added to beautiful Celtic music results in a wonderful sound that is very relaxing. The rendition of “Amazing Grace” featuring pipes and harp and complemented by the sounds of waves crashing on the shore is excellent.

A Celtic Christmas Story Dan Gibson, Oliver Schroer UPC 096741415326 (Solitudes Ltd.) Our household contains numerous Christmas CDs. We also have a good collection of Celtic CDs. So it should come as no surprise that A Celtic Christmas Story has quickly become one of my favourite Christmas or Celtic CDs. The wonderful Celtic sound applied to classic Christmas carols results in a beautiful, festive sound. However, when you add some of nature’s most able musicians including the Canada Goose, Crow, House Finch, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Starling and the English Sparrow you are left with a spiritual, musical celebration! For more Christmas CDs click here.

Christmas in the Country: Twelve Traditional Carols Dan Gibson and John Herberman UPC 096741411427 (Solitudes Ltd.) Dan Gibson and John Herberman have combined their talents in producing this beautiful Christmas CD consisting of twelve traditional carols. Sleigh bells, children playing along with the delightful vocals of a dog and of a horse result in a fun, cheery version of "Good King Wenceslas." The vocals of Mia Sheard on "Away in a Manger" are calming and pleasant to listen to. Of course the sounds of nature are abundant throughout Christmas in the Country. The sounds of various birds along with crickets, water and wind make what would otherwise be a very good Christmas CD a truly special one. Christmas in the Country will be much listened to in our house - especially during the weeks leading up to that special day known as Christmas. For more Christmas CDs click here.

Christmas Wonder (Solitudes Ltd.) Christmas Wonder is another quality Christmas CD from Solitudes Ltd. that includes, as the liner notes point out, "...some of the season's more tranquil, reverent carols blended with appropriate nature sounds." Christmas is a time for family. It is also a good time for reflection and to give thanks for the positive things in life. Nature is a truly special part of life. Christmas Wonder is the sequel to Christmas in the Country and features such wonderful musicians as the Black-capped Chicadee, Cardinal, Canada Goose, English Sparrow, Common Crow, House Finch, White-breasted Nuthatch and Barred Owl. Some of the songs featured on this CD by Howard Baer are: "Joy to the World", "The Holly and the Ivy", "Carol of the Bells", "I Wonder as I Wander" and "What Child is This?" Christmas Wonder is a wonderful CD that combines festive songs with the relaxing, inspirational sounds of the natural world.

Woodland Flute Dan Gibson and Steve Wingfield UPC 09674141752 (Solitudes Ltd.) Take a relaxing walk deep into the forest with Dan Gibson’s and Steve Wingfield’s Woodland Flute. The gentle sounds of the flute, clarinet, piano, guitar and cello combined with nature’s magnificent music results in a truly peaceful listening experience.

Lullabies & Butterflies Dan Gibson and Michael Maxwell UPC 096741413827 (Solitudes Ltd.) Do you occasionally have trouble sleeping? Are you looking for some soothing music to help your baby go to sleep? Well, help could be on the way! Lullabies & Butterflies is a beautiful, quiet CD by Dan Gibson and Michael Maxwell. The gentle sound of water when added to a wonderful rendition of "Lullabye" makes for a soothing piece. Mozart’s "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" is enhanced with the incredible calls of the Screech Owl. Lullabies & Butterflies is a CD that will appeal to children of all ages and it is a nice way to introduce young children to some of the wondrous sounds of the natural world.

Celtic Charm Howard Baer UPC 096741803222 (Avalon Music) Celtic Charm is a wonderful compilation of Celtic songs from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Newfoundland. Relax listening to the calming sounds of the Celtic harp, recorder and various other instruments synonymous with Celtic music. While there are no nature sounds in this CD, it is a recording that you can play and drift off to that special wild place. Having grown up watching the children’s television show The Friendly Giant with Bob Homme, I particularly enjoy the song "Early One Morning."

Emerald Forest:  A Celtic Sanctuary Dan Gibson and Michael Maxwell UPC 096741416729 (Solitudes Ltd.) In this day and age when much of the planet is overpopulated and polluted, it is easy to get stressed and lose sight of the important things. If your spirit needs recharging you may want to visit a special wild place to reconnect with the natural world, think good thoughts and let your body and mind relax.  If this beneficial exercise is not possible at the moment, you may want to seek solice and reflection in Dan Gibson’s and Michael Maxwell’s Emerald Forest: A Celtic Sanctuary. This inspirational recording combines the songs of various birds, and other nature sounds, with such musical instuments as the harp, fiddle, penny whistle, guitar, flute and piano. The result is a wonderful CD that has the ability to relax and rejuvenate.

Celebrating the Artistry of Dan Gibson: Fifteen Years of Nature and Music Dan Gibson UPC 096741413025 (Solitudes Ltd.) To celebrate 15 years of Dan Gibson’s nature recordings with Solitudes, this beautiful, special edition CD box set was created. The CDs in this box set are: Tribute to the Wild, Timeless Classics, Wilderness Suites and Inspired by Nature. Tribute to the Wild consists solely of nature sounds. This relaxing CD allows you to experience numerous natural sounds including such things as a thunderstorm, a stream and loons – to name three. Song List: Thunderstorms in the Wilderness 2. Dawn by a Gentle Stream 3. Spring Morning on the Prairies 4. Dawn on the Desert 5. Listen to the Loons 6. Arctic Echoes 7. Spirit of Africa 8. Everglades National Park 9. Tradewind Islands 10. Ocean Surf: Timeless and Sublime The works of such composers as Johann Strauss Jr., Bach and Beethoven when mixed with Dan Gibson’s nature recordings result in a pleasant version of these Timeless Classics. “Huron Carol” and “Greensleeves” are particularly beautiful and will be popular in our house at Christmas. The third CD, Wilderness Suites, contains the beautiful sounds of more than 20 kinds of birds and a couple of species of frogs along with some very relaxing music providing the listener with a peaceful wilderness experience. Song List: 1. Redwoods Forest 2. Glacier Lake & The Foothills 3. Desert Rain & Along the River Bank 4. Kirtland’s Warbler 5. At the Campsite 6. Arrival of Spring 7. Offshore Breeze. Inspired by Nature is the fourth CD of this set and it features a pleasant combination of tranquil music and Dan Gibson’s nature sounds. The first song, “Coastal Marsh,” is a relaxing and beautiful mixture of piano, flute, cello, Red-winged Blackbird, Marsh Wren, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and other nature sounds. Listening to the beautiful sounds on this CD you are invited to visit such wondrous places as rainforests, deserts and oceans not to mention joining wolves, loons and whales in their environment! For many people life has become stressful and development, greed and ignorance have resulted in the loss of much of the natural world. We must get back to what is important – and preserving the environment is vital! This special box set is not only a tribute to Dan Gibson’s important work, it can also be a constant reminder of not only what is beautiful, precious and fragile, but what must be protected at all costs. If not, soon the incredible sounds of nature may only be found on recordings like these.

The Man Who Planted Trees is the wonderful tale of Elzeard Bouffier – a man who spends his life planting thousands of trees turning a barren, harsh land into one rich in life and beauty in the process.

Giono’s wonderful story has also been produced by Living Music. In this CD The Man Who Planted Trees is effectively narrated by Robert J. Lurtsema and complemented with the beautiful music of the Paul Winter Consort.

At approximately 40 minutes in length, this story on CD is great for children too. Not only will it help to teach them about the importance of developing and maintaining a strong environmental ethic, but it will also expose them to quality music featuring the sounds of such instruments as the piano, cello, bass and Paul Winter on soprano sax. It would be an ideal CD to play for children during car trips and it may eliminate that annoying, and inevitable, question “Are we there yet?” It would also make a positive contribution to school curriculums. You can visit Living Music’s website at  www.livingmusic.com

Prayer for the Wild Things is a “companion album” to Bev Doolittle’s painting of the same name. Set in Rocky Mountain National Park, Doolittle’s painting, which features the camouflaged images of 34 animals, is beautifully complemented by Paul Winter, the Earth Band and the voices of many animals including the loon, wolf, coyote, eagle, raven, sandhill crane and greater prairie chicken.

In the CD liner notes Winter wrote, “I envisioned an imaginary journey through a day and night in the Northern Rockies, based on a series of vignettes about the animals, with the saxophone recurring throughout as a kind of interlocutor.” The CD is divided into the following sections: Prelude, Morning, Afternoon, Twilight, Night and Overture to a New Day.

Besides the saxophone played by Winter, other musical instruments featured on this CD include: cello, English horn, bassoon, French horn and pipe organ. These sounds, beautifully complemented by those of the animals featured on the CD result in a relaxing CD.