Nature Notes for Winter 2010
by Greg Armstrong, Holy Wisdom Monastery volunteer and
former director of the UW Arboretum

The prairies, savannas, woodlands and wetlands of Holy Wisdom Monastery are covered with snow as I write this, just before the winter solstice. How beautiful and quiet. The prairie plant’s brown stems and leaves poke through the snow and make a silent tangle of last season’s growth. There are some birds that flit through and into this beautiful store-house of food, probably dropping some to expand the range of the fortunate plant that received the bird’s attention. There are field mice that tunnel under the snow in search of their supper, and coyotes that search for them, leaving tracks in the snow. Great Horned Owls have been heard hooting in the woods. Deer bed down in certain areas too, and then go forth to find a meager living, also from last season’s produce on the prairie and in the woods. They are all living in a community, each dependent upon the other to play its role in this beautifully evolved system of life. The Sister’s community is actively nurturing this complex biological community back to health. I do believe that this represents one of the important Benedictine values. “The tools of the monastery… are to be treated as sacred vessels of the altar. Everyone and everything, all creation is to be treated with reverence.”

Please come and visit the quiet beauty of the monastery grounds sometime this winter. The views from inside the new monastery building are just spectacular, especially with snow on the ground. The Audubon Society who held a recent meeting at the monastery were lucky enough to see bald eagles fly right by the windows of the monastery. I can’t guarantee you will see them, but then you never know when you might be as fortunate at the Audubon folks. Alternatively, bundle up, and come walk where you can get through the snow. Better yet, bring snow shoes so you can really get into the “back 40”. I think this is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of the place, and it is a good season “to listen carefully and to respond heartily” in the Benedictine spirit.

By the end of this winter season on March 21, the natural lands of Holy Wisdom Monastery will undoubtedly have frozen and thawed a few times, and the animals will have struggled with this most difficult season. By March however, things will be thawing out a bit. Paul Boutwell, and many dedicated volunteers at the monastery, will be planning for the rush of spring work on the land. With some luck, enough snow will have melted to have the first of the prescribed burns toward the end of March.

This is the cold part of the annual cycle, but life does go on, spring will come and life will prevail. It is God’s promise at Holy Wisdom Monastery, as everywhere.

Have you been exploring here on your own? Please share your on-site nature discoveries with me at info@benedictinewomen.org.