The Waiting Place

We have reached the point of winter where the excitement and anticipation of the holidays have faded, many of us are waning on our New Year’s resolutions, and it feels as though spring is nowhere in sight.

We are, as Dr. Seuss says, “in the waiting place” for warmer and brighter days. Dr. Seuss describes this as the most useless place where people do nothing with their time except wish it was something different.

“Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or the waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.”

It can start to feel like everyone is just waiting for the days of winter to pass and usher in the sprouts of the first hints of spring and the warmth of the sunshine. A great way to pass the cold and sometimes grey days of winter and reignite our spirits is to be purposeful in our efforts to protect and care for nature. Providing a habitat for nature is not just something to do when the weather is nice; in fact, now is as important as ever. It may just seem like nature knows what it is supposed to do because in many ways that is exactly the case, but what can we do to foster a healthy winter habitat in our own backyard this time of year?

A moment of beauty as we wait to usher in spring. (Photo provided)

In order for your yard to be considered a certified wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, you must provide food, water, cover, places to raise young, and exhibit sustainable practices. Birds are very attracted to feeders during the winter months for obvious reasons; it is harder for them to come by food this time of year. It can be an easy time of year to think it is too cold and you do not want to deal with keeping up on feeding the birds, but now is such an important time to continue to feed them. Planting bushes that provide berries and other food sources in warmer months will help sustain wildlife during the cold winter months.

Water is also essential for wildlife right now. Winter can be a challenging time for nature and wildlife when temperatures drop and cause water sources to freeze. There are things that can be done to mitigate this such as a heated bird bath or a good old fashioned rubber mallet.

Providing cover is important right now because with so many trees having no foliage right now, it leaves many animals vulnerable to predators. Birdhouses, ornamental grasses, leaf and brush piles, thick branches, and trees such as pine trees and evergreens are all wonderful sources of cover and offer places for animals to raise their young.

As always, it is important to incorporate sustainable practices such as repurposing your dead Christmas tree for firewood or even placing in your backyard as an additional place to provide protection for wildlife are all effective ways to promote the well-being of wildlife this winter.

Eventually the days that we all long for will return, but in the meantime, stop and enjoy the winter. Listen to the morning stillness, notice the way the moonbeams look on the fresh snow. Pay attention to how beautiful the snow looks before the world wakes up and disturbs it. Appreciate the way nature is cyclical, and remember that no matter what, spring will come.

While we are all waiting for spring, do not rush along the beauty that still is this season. “Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.”

We will get to spring eventually; we just need to be patient. Nature is speaking to us. It is teaching us the value of patience while we are in the waiting place. Are you listening?

Megan Rathz is a wife, mother and teacher. She says everything she has ever learned in life came from her Master Gardener mother.