Sticks and leaves scattered across the earth in various states of decomposition; a myriad of colours in autumn, sprinkling the forest with red hues; mushrooms spread across a log in a wild pattern. There’s much “messiness” to be found in nature, but to my eye, there’s beauty in the disarray.
A twisted branch creates a “path” for the eye in this photo. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A scattering of mushrooms. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021Oceanspray leaves sat against the forest trees. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A tiny mushroom perched between sticks and cedar branches. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021Decomposing wood. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A forest of moss, seemingly disorganized until looked at at a much smaller scale. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A root exposed on moss. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A small mushroom nestled in the bark of a log. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021The background of pinecones, grass, and sticks might seem chaotic, but it also shows the intertwinement of life around us. Mushrooms depend of decomposing material. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021Sticks and moss. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A road of lichen leads the eye to the subject, a tiny mushroom. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021Pine needles add a cluttered feeling to this photo, but in reality they add nutrients to the soil and its inhabitants. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021Spot the tiny mushroom? Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021White streaks of mycelium following the curves of this stump. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021A variety of mushrooms find a home in this decomposing rhubarb. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021Birds nest mushrooms. Copyright Hazel Peel-Hodgson, 2021
The next time you wander into nature and find yourself noticing the disarray or messiness of it all, look a bit closer, deeper, and see the entangled world on which we walk every day. It’s not messy; it’s complex.
“Diversity” could be another word to interchange with “messy”. These words can relate to our Canadian population as we are a society of great diversity, which could be viewed as an opportunity to embrace that diversity as a means to grow into our full potential!
Love this collection of “Messy” photos! Xo
Thanks, Grandma Ushie!
Lovely photos Hazel, guess instead of “messy” it’s more of a “mosaic”
Thanks, Kim! Yes, there’s beauty even in messiness.
“Diversity” could be another word to interchange with “messy”. These words can relate to our Canadian population as we are a society of great diversity, which could be viewed as an opportunity to embrace that diversity as a means to grow into our full potential!
Well said.