LEAVES AND A LIZARD'S LOCOMOTION
by Karin Kersteter, Spring 2023
illustrations by Karin Kersteter
LEAVES AND A LIZARD'S LOCOMOTION
by Karin Kersteter, Spring 2023
illustrations by Karin Kersteter
There is an expression “leave the leaves,” which is designed to encourage people to let leaves lie in yards and gardens, rather than rake them up and dispose of them. Leaves are a vital part of our ecosystem, providing nutrients for the soil as they decompose and valuable cover for critters like bumblebees, frogs and snakes. What about leaves as an aid in animal movement? It never occurred to me that leaves could help an animal as it moves throughout its territory. It seems we do learn something new every day!
Last fall I was walking my three dogs down a paved street that borders a nature area in Skagit County, Washington. I walk there daily in all kinds of weather. This was one of those chilly fall days, and the leaves on the ground were crispy, brown, and crunched under our feet. One of my dogs perked up and ran to the curb of the street. When she spots animals, I can always tell by her posture and her large, perky ears. (I affectionately refer to them as satellite dishes.)
I gently pulled her away from a pile of leaves and bent down to see what she was looking at. I moved a leaf, and to my amazement, I saw a northern alligator lizard under the pile. I snapped a quick photo with my phone, then stepped back with the dogs and waited to see what the lizard would do. After a moment of stillness, the lizard continued its journey up the street, making its way by traveling under the cover of the leaves. I could see the leaves rippling as it moved along on its way to the nature area. The leaves were perfect camouflage for the little brownish lizard on its journey up the street.
This observation really stuck with me. It was the first lizard I had seen since moving to Washington from southern California. I loved the idea that animals were moving about our yards and neighborhoods right under our noses, but hidden from us under those wonderful leaves. When I see something that moves me or interests me, I illustrate it in my nature journal. In my journal, I try to depict animals with a certain sense of character and playfulness, rather than realism. My journal is a place to explore and learn. I want to express how I felt when I saw the subject, as well as gain some knowledge about the subject. Nature is full of wonders that we can notice, if we remember to look for them.
Karin Kersteter is a Skagit County resident, a self-taught artist, photographer and appreciator of nature. She is in the process of turning her suburban lot into a wildlife garden, filled with native plants, nesting sites, and brush piles. She enjoys bird and insect photography and getting up early to watch the sunrise over the trees. You can follow her on Instagram: @kerstekl
Table of Contents, Issue #19, Spring 2023
Underground Movement
by Amy Porter, Spring 2023 Wolf Haven mounded prairie. photo by Wolf Haven Internationalby Amy Porter, Spring 2023On Wolf Haven’s mounded prairie, there is an underground movement happening that largely goes unnoticed — bioturbation (the movement of soil) by Mazama...
A Window on Eelgrass
by Kylie Rench, Spring 2023 photos by John F. Williams by Kylie Rench, Spring 2023 photos by John F. WilliamsLow tide opens a window for the beach walker onto the vibrant world of eelgrass meadows. Submerged by salt water during most tidal cycles, these meadows are...
Poetry-19
Spring 2023 photo by Thomas NolandSpring 2023Sand and Water by Jeffrey Hummel Sand infinite amountsappearing all the sameBlowing, shifting, changingAbrasiveA handful you can’t holdSlides through your fingersGets into everythingevery part of youEvery nook, crack...
Turbulence
by Rebekah Boettcher, Spring 2023 photos by Rebekah Boettcher except as noted Seagull with clam. photo by John F. Williamsby Rebekah Boettcher, Spring 2023 photos by Rebekah Boettcher except as notedHow did I get here? I ponder, stunned once again as we walk down to...
Learning from a Snail’s Pace
by Michelle Ryder, Spring 2023 Photos by Michelle Ryder except as noted Mapfire peering over the side of the bathtub from inside of it.by Michelle Ryder, Spring 2023 Photos by Michelle Ryder except as notedIn 2022 a snail came into my life. And stayed. Late last...
Movement Imagery
Spring 2023 Cowling Creek, Suquamish. photo by John F. WilliamsSpring 2023Here is a collection of photos and art work depicting various kinds of movement. You may enjoy playing the audio file below as you view the photos. The music evokes the feeling of motion through...
Plant motion
text and photos by John Bolivar, Spring 2023 Ribes sanguineum floral bud encased in ice.text and photos by John Bolivar, Spring 2023At first look it would appear that plants do not have the luxury of movement to help them avoid bad weather — like our recent bout of...
2022 Photo Challenge
by MaST Center Aquarium, Spring 2023 Jurors' Favorite - On the Bottle, Veronika Nagy. Small octopus sitting on a bottle. by MaST Center Aquarium, Spring 2023The Underwater Photography Challenge focuses on bringing divers to Redondo Beach, Washington, to highlight the...
Gray Whales
by Laura Marx, Spring 2023 Gray whale off the Oregon coast. photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash by Laura Marx, Spring 2023Gray whales and their amazing migrations up and down the west coast of the U.S. have made an impact in my life ever since I was a child. In the 1990’s...
COPYRIGHT
Copyright SEA-Media
All rights reserved. Reproduction or distribution, in whole or in part. without consent of copyright owner is strictly prohibited — except for brief quotations in critical reviews and other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright laws.
SEA-Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT
SALISH MAGAZINE
DONATE
Salish Magazine contains no advertising and is free. Your donation is one big way you can help us inspire people with stories about things that they can see outdoors in our Salish Sea region.
We also don't advertise Salish Magazine, so please spread the word of this online resource to your friends and colleagues.
Thanks so much for your interest and your support.