Even without seeing the crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas and katydids, we hear them shrilling in this season and trust that they're the tiny living gargoyles entomologists claim. Diane Ackerman cicadaclaimcricket Change image and share on social
When a hurricane thrashes the mid-Atlantic, my hilly town often reaps the fringe of the storm. The rain starts blowing sideways, and sometimes we see hail the size of purie marbles. Diane Ackerman atlanticblowfringe Change image and share on social
The more we exile ourselves from nature, the more we crave its miracle waters. Diane Ackerman craveexilemiracle Change image and share on social
Brain scans show synchrony between the brains of mother and child; but what they can't show is the internal bond that belongs to neither alone, a fusion in which the self feels so permeable it doesn't matter whose body is whose. Diane Ackerman belongbodybond share on social
What a lonely species we are, searching for signals of life from other galaxies, adopting companion animals, visiting parks and zoos to commune with other beasts. In the process, we discover our shared identity. Diane Ackerman adoptanimalbeast share on social
Nature is more like a seesaw than a crystal, a never-ending conga line of bold moves and corrections. Diane Ackerman boldcongacorrection Change image and share on social
In the winter, I enjoy cross-country skiing and raising orchids and amaryllises. If I could grow tropical flowers as perennials, I would, especially hibiscus and mandavilla. Diane Ackerman amaryllisescountrycross Change image and share on social
We ogle plants and animals up close on television, the Internet and in the movies. We may not worship the animals we see, but we still regard them as necessary physical and spiritual companions. Technological nature can't completely satisfy that yearning. Diane Ackerman animalclosecompanion share on social
Complexity excites the mind, and order rewards it. In the garden, one finds both, including vanishingly small orders too complex to spot, and orders so vast the mind struggles to embrace them. Diane Ackerman complexcomplexityembrace Change image and share on social
Success produces success, just as money produces money. Diane Ackerman moneyproducesuccess Change image and share on social
