Speaker 1: Hey, thanks for being a part of the conversation. This
is Forest Stories. I am the Poet in the Forest,
a children's series that I pinned out in the nineteen nineties. Now,
none of it would be possible if it wasn't for
this forest right here in South Charlotte, North Carolina. I
talk about it so much that I thought maybe it's
time that you get to know what has inspired me
for thirty years. Thanks for being a part of the conversation.
Speaker 2: Welcome back to the forest A very chilly, chilly day
in the forest today, because it's fall, Teimer and I
think one of the greatest gifts that I get from
this forest each and every year is to get the
opportunity to watch the dance. I call it the final dance,
the way that leaves, in their beautiful bright colors, fall
from the edges of that tree, that giving tree, and
they dance to the forest floor. It's like this no storm,
it really is. There are so many leaves coming down
at once. I don't know if you can hear the
wind in the background, or hear how the wind is
moving through this forest, through these trees. I just wish,
one time, though, I would like to hear a leaf
with its journey from that limb all the way to
the forest floor. But it's a beautiful sight, especially in
fall time. It's also gorgeous during the spring months because
those leaves are coming. They're a bright green, and you know,
it just sets you up for the final dance. And
that's what I'm experiencing today as I walk through what
feels like a snowstorm. It's not a leaf storm, because
this is a peaceful final dance. And when they reach
the forest floor, they know the job isn't over. We
got to warm the earth. We have to feed the earth.
We have to give animals the opportunity to take advantage
of these leaves. See to other creatures, these leaves could
be fruit, fruit in the way of protection. Look at
how many squirrels nests need these leaves to keep warm
in the wintertime. But here we are the final dance
at chilly fifty four degree day, inside this loving, living
forest as it transitions into change. You can't help but
welcome your own changes. Hey, thanks for being a part
of the conversation.