I'm Major Jackson and this is the slowdown.

And this is the slowdown. Diddy and I walked around our house one Sunday with John and Melinda from Habitat Connection.

They are among a group of people helping to restore biodiversity in Middle Tennessee. The nonprofit encourages homeowners to plant native species, to recreate

environments that are friendly to natural life forms.

Last year, we intentionally dug up our decorative roses

and put in the earth plants and bushes that would attract pollinators, beeball, catnip, salvia, and cone flowers.

We excitedly pointed out our work to date and we're thrilled to talk to Melinda and John as to next steps.

They are the kind of people who geek out on different species of native shrubs

and get excited about bird banding, migratory birds,

and one of my favorites, the Indigo Bunting.

We are considering adding more shrubs in trees of differing heights.

Serviceberry, Snowcloud, Virginia Sweetspire.

In the midst of talking about raised beds and converting our backyard lawn into a layered

sanctuary for birds, we noticed a lone grape hyacinth, just cresting above several blades of grass. We all gasp, having

seen it at the same time. We bent low and began cheering it on. Had you been there, you would have laughed at us.

With our outsized enthusiasm, our excessive celebration could quite possibly have been a scene straight out of Portlandia.

During my years in Vermont, I look forward to the annual blooming of flowers.

The appearance of new growth during the seasons

made me care more deeply about all life.

Yellow Colt's foot arriving in spring. Early summers painted trilium. Star-shaped

asters suddenly coloring the woodland floor purple and white in autumn.

Although about the birth of a child,

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