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It is spring again and last week, I purchased a delightful little illustrated book featuring the most common birds, both residents and visitors, found in the gardens and parks of Denmark, titled "På Folderbrætted" by Hermod Karsen (2021). A garden holds significant value for birds as well. If you reside in a city with urban parks and well-treed streets, you might be surprised by the variety of bird species that could grace your garden. During my childhood, my grandparents' house was situated in a rural area where birds played a vital role in my grandmother Jacy's garden. Not a spring went by without my cousins and me discovering bird nests among the bushes and trees, observing chicks chirping for food behind their parents as they fledged. My grandmother often sat on a bench at sunset, enjoying the symphony of birds. I still vividly recall how she taught me to recognize the extensive repertoire of the thrush Turdus rufiventris , a bird that was a constant presence in her garden. Following a year spent in the United States participating in bird biomonitoring programs, I returned to Brazil captivated by the abundance and quality of illustrated materials available for bird identification in USA. The United States boasts a rich tradition of Birdwatchers Clubs, and I was keen on looking for similar interest in my hometown. Hence, I endeavored to enable people in my city to identify and appreciate the diverse birdlife residing in the urban parks of Curitiba, also known as the Ecological Capital of Brazil. Collaborating with the Brazilian nature photographer Zig Koch, we embarked on a project to create a concise bird identification guide. Our efforts received a boost when we secured sponsorship from the "Fundação O Boticário de Proteção à Natureza." The guide, crafted entirely from recycled paper except for a central page that folds out four times, features 62 color photographs aimed at encouraging Curitiba residents to acquaint themselves with the city's birds residents. At the time of its publication, the comprehensive list included 116 species. The Foundation "O Boticário" distributed this guide free of charge to 30,000 Curitiba residents. Additionally, in "Observing Birds in Curitiba" - a practical itinerary, we provided insights on bird recognition, observer conduct, recommended equipment, and methods to attract birds to homes, gardens, and even apartment terraces. Among the motivations for birdwatching, I emphasized: "Disregarding birds means forsaking a kind of sixth sense. They offer insights into the time of day, seasons, weather conditions, and most importantly, environmental changes. In the last century, English miners employed canaries to monitor air quality within mines. These miners carried caged canaries and observed their behavior; cessation of singing, convulsions, or death signaled an immediate need to evacuate the mine." Gardens, parks and streets reforestation are also an important part of climate change strategy, the planted trees and the other vegetation will not just absorb carbon, reduce the local temperature but also provide a vital ecosystem services to local communities. Birds and mammals, insects, reptiles among a serie of wildlife beings will enjoy the improvement of habitats and landscapes. My Memories: Silvana (red hair fashion) Birdwatching in Curitiba, Brazil (1991). Southern lapwing Vanellus chilensis, a common sight at urban parks, Curitiba, Brazil. The Rufous bellied Thrush Turdus rufiventris, one of our favourite vocal repertoires. "Observando Aves em Curitiba", authors: Silvana Lucolli & Zig Koch. A little field guide printed in recycled paper for identifying birds in Curitiba. ( 1991 the 1st. edition and 1993 the 2nd ed.). Featuring colorful photographs by Zig Koch in central pages. Here, my Italian grandfather enjoying the garden of my grandmother Jacy.

Since childhood, I have found joy and peace in a garden. My mother would place me in a wooden rocking chair in the middle of our garden, with flowers in my hand that I observed with curiosity. A garden is not only a source of artistic inspiration but also an excellent space for cultivating mental, emotional, and spiritual health. How many of us are weary of words and seek a place for reflection and silence? A garden offers also a creative space for both children and adults. Do you dare to paint the flowers with your unique touch? A great painter and a true garden enthusiast, the iconic Claude Monet explained where he found his genius: The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration. I must have flowers always and always. My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.

More and more people are committed to go as far as possible in the way to heal themselves and their environmental impact during travels.  The slow traveler understands the “luxury" of being sustainable and they lower their demands in quantity and prioritize instead the quality of their experiences. In essence, slow tourism is primarily characterized by travelers prioritizing fewer, more meaningful experiences and focusing their activities in the local area instead of on commercial activities. They also won’t be particularly keen on following detailed schedules and strict itineraries. For many, it makes sense as we are living uneasy times with climate change, extinction of species, the degradation of the earth's natural ecosystems, the exploitation of resources… Well, the list is very long, catastrophic and completely related with our lifestyle. In order to reduce our impact in the planet we will need much more than political sustainable initiatives; we will need to rethink and change our lifestyle. In this way, slow travel is modifying the priorities in the destination and remarking emphasis in local people, food, nature and in new ways to connect with a diverse cultural environment. In fact, slow travel has also to do with your mindset and you can do it anywhere.  Sharing photos of some slow days with my daughter and son at the remote ridges of Los Alayos de Dilar, Spain. This place was just 2 hours by car far from our home.

A garden is an opportunity to engage children with the natural world. Introducing children to gardening provides them with a unique opportunity to engage with and rediscover the natural world, to appreciate the cyclical rhythms of the seasons, and to understand their responsibility in nurturing and preserving the Earth. Insects, reptiles, birds and mammals among a serie of wildlife beings will enjoy the improvement of habitats and landscapes. Here is one of my great learning experiences at my grandmother garden when I was just 8 years old. My grandmother, Jacy, possessed a profound love for plants, a passion she imparted to me along with invaluable lessons in ecology. In the Brazil of the 1970s, ecology was seldom discussed, but my grandmother grasped its significance with remarkable depth. I recall a particular Mother's Day when I found myself without money to buy a gift for my mother. Sensing my dilemma, my grandmother suggested I gather flowers from her garden. On that sunny May morning, she instructed me to select blooms with long stems for a tall vase. As I eagerly searched for the most vibrant ones of her garden, a serendipitous encounter occurred. A little green garden snake coiled around my hand prompting me to shout out , dropping the flowers and running in a panic. My grandmother, alarmed by my reaction, quickly approached. Upon learning of the snake description, she calmly assessed the situation. She said: _Whether you like the snakes or not, whether they scare you or not, snakes are indeed a crucial part of the nature. This one that you saw repels and control pests, such as mices, grasshoppers, cockroaches and other insects in the home garden. She also shared her own similar encounter and explained that the little snake was harmless to her but, I should keep myself away from the snakes and respect their space. I calmed down and together, we retrieved the fallen flowers and fashioned a beautiful bouquet. The surprise delighted my mother. Later, when tasked with writing about Mother's Day for my school homework, I recounted my encounter with the little snake and my grandmother's sage advice. My teacher, Maria Nelci was astonished by my narrative, prompting her to inquire if I had written it alone. With a nod, I affirmed her question, earning her praise and the honor of having my essay shared with the entire class on the blackboard. Then my teacher turned to me and asked, _ Are you still afraid of snakes, Silvana? And I paled and nodded again, making all the classroom laugh. MY MEMORIES: Silvana 7 years-old. The little snake "Cobra-cipó verde". Primary School "Grupo Escolar Tiradentes" in Curitiba, (Brazil)

You wouldn't believe the profound impact a deep understanding of garden mathematics can have. Back in 1994, I worked as a documentarist for an independent German film production company. Our task was to develop a television series centered on engineering concepts drawn from nature, aiming for enhanced design efficiency and energy conservation. The producer and I embarked on a interesting journey, meeting numerous researchers before collaborating with the technical filming team. It was a true honor to encounter Professor Biruta Kresling, renowned for her work in architecture, design and packaging inspired by natural models. She was interested in the intricate folding mechanisms observed in flower buds and closed leaves, which unfold into expansive surfaces with remarkable energy efficiency, left an indelible impression. Consider a tree emerging from a harsh winter, needing to sprout thousands of new leaves despite the limited light between seasons. How does a plant efficiently allocate energy to carry out these transformations simultaneously? The study of such mechanisms is not just compelling but essential in the context of our modern era. Plants, with their myriad energy-efficient strategies, are indeed remarkable. Prof. Kresling, was the co-author of the German book 'Erfindungen der Natur - Bionik die Technik lernt von Tieren und Pflanzen' (translated as 'Inventions of Nature - Bionics: Technology Learning from Animals and Plants'), was instrumental in pioneering the exploration of nature-inspired models, particularly in architecture. Biruta had expended years smashing the beauty of nature in Origami structures. Our journey led us to delve into the intricacies of leaf and flower folds, extending even to vegetables like cabbages, lettuces, and cauliflowers. Under the tutelage of Prof. Kresling, we learned to replicate some of these natural models in paper folds or Origamis. We knew about the Japanese origem of the origami but, could not imagine that we would finish interviewing her tutor Prof. Miura in Japan. Yes, surprisely after Biruta´s meeting we eventually finding ourselves at the Astrophysics and Astronomy Institute at University of Tokyo. There, we encountered Prof. Emeritus Miura, a revered Japanese researcher, who studied leaf folds' geometry, their angles and reproduced them into paper folders. He had smashed thousand and thousand of cans and papers sheets and had studied the pattern of the winkles to finally created the famous origami structure called Miura-Ori. His insights combined with the studies of natural leaf unfolding was inspiring solar panels for satellites, aimed at minimizing energy consumption when opening in space. On those years his ideas were "blooming" and we were so glad for the opportunity to following some of them. Later, many other applications were found including in cartography, surgical devices, flat-foldable furniture, and electrical storage. Our journey in Tokyo culminated in capturing aspects of Prof. Miura research for a German-French TV series called "Bionik: patente der Natur". Isn't it fascinating to contemplate the boundless possibilities that a garden can unveil?" My memories: Japan (1994) Bioniks crew. Silvana visiting a Japanese garden, Hokkaido. Miura-Ori structure. Prof. Miura studied thousand of wrinkles created in smashed paper sheets. Prototype of folding structures for solar panels in satellites.