The Spanish moss hung from nearly every tree branch of particular trees. The blue heron knew exactly when the tide would push fish into the enclosure to deliver an easy meal. The branches of the Angel Oak extended farther than I have ever witnessed. These were three surprises the natural world offered during my recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina.

A friend offered as many giant expired sunflowers as I was willing to take if I would hang them in my yard. The Yellow Finch are starting their 3,000-mile migration and eat three times their body weight each day during the trip. I learned all I had to do, was to hang the large wilted flowers in the yard and the traveling birds would find them on their own. No blog post, tweets or neon signs are required.

Climbing the road from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe, I literally caught my breath as we took a turn and looked down the mountainside into the valley. The view was astounding.

What are your recent discoveries about the natural world around you? The circle of life is always in motion, and change is happening. We didn't notice each successive ring on the tree but surprised to see that it has grown around a bench. The stream continues to run, and eventually, the erosion catches our eye and when the ravine appears. The intricate parts of the flower and the juice sacs of the blood orange are amazing structures of beauty, once we take the time to look.

The circle of life continues to swirl, causing constant change; how are you observing these changes?

Going Further: What is your earliest memory of learning about the natural world? How do you prioritize time to engage with nature?