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wildflower

Migration Songs

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Fight or Float? Songs to Change By

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Farewell to May Flowers (until next year!)

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October 27, 2020 Leave a Comment

Migration Songs

Crex Meadows, Sandhill Cranes and Thoughts on the Inner Compass

Sandhill cranes in flight
Pair of Sandhill Cranes Taking Flight, Crew Meadows Wildlife Refuge

A couple weeks ago, we went on our annual family pilgrimage to a place in northern Wisconsin called Crex Meadows. It’s a wildlife refuge and favorite pit-stop for sandhill cranes and many other migratory birds.

We first read about the sandhill cranes about 15 years ago in the local paper and made a day trip with our son Sawyer who was around 18 months old at the time. Even though that first year we didn’t see many cranes, there was something about the place and those beautiful creatures that captivated us. A few years later, when our daughter Zola was a toddler, we started making it a favorite fall tradition.

Pair of standing greater sandhill cranes
Standing pair of sandhill cranes in sedge grass.

The refuge has a wild and empty vibe stretching over 30,000 acres of restored brush prairie and wetlands. Bumping along the rugged gravel roads under a wide open sky feels a little like a midwest safari as we peer excitedly out the open windows searching for signs of life.

Crex Meadows wetland and sedge marsh.

As the largest area of the endangered pine barrens ecosystem in Wisonsin, Crex Meadows boasts impressive biodiversity including 280 species of birds that call this place home. In the fall, migrating birds, specifically the Greater Sandhill Cranes, are the big draw. It’s estimated that 15-20% of the world population passes through this area in Wisconsin each year with annual counts between 15,000-20,000 at Crex Meadows.

Large feeding flock of cranes

If you’ve never experienced cranes, they have several unique charms. They are long and lean with 6-foot wing spans and while graceful in flight, the hovering, teetering descent before landing is comically awkward.

Nothing is more distinctive than their loud and raucous collective calls (link to sound sample below). In the morning, well before the sunrise, we awake to a chorus of thousands of cranes greeting the day and, I imagine, warming up before they take flight.

V-formation Canadian geese with sunlightV-formation Canadian geese with sunlight
trumpeter swans taking flight from watertrumpeter swans taking flight from water
greater sandhill cranes flying in silhouettegreater sandhill cranes flying in silhouette
large flock of birds in flightlarge flock of birds in flight

This year we were also delighted to see (and hear) more trumpeter swans than ever before. They woke us up in the night with what sounded like a car horn going off; we suspect coyotes or some other critters were behind that sounding alarm in the cold, still night. We were happy to see so many swan families alive and well the following day!

Trumpeter swan in flight just after sunrise

I started thinking more about migration. Don’t we all marvel, a bit enviously perhaps, at the freedom of flying? And don’t we wonder how they do it? How they find their way – sometimes traveling to a place they’ve never been before?

I did a little research. The All About Birds guide by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology explains that birds use a combination of senses in their wayfinding:

Birds can get compass information from the sun, the stars, and by sensing the earth’s magnetic field. They also get information from the position of the setting sun and from landmarks seen during the day.

The author admits that our knowledge of migration is still limited – there’s mystery in it. Somehow, they just know.

TerraRathai_CrexMeadows-TrumpterSwansTakingflight02
TerraRathai_CrexMeadows-SandhillCranes-Standing
TerraRathai_CrexMeadows_Long-Line-of-Sandhill-Cranes-in-Flight

The energy of this place reminds me that I, too, am a wild creature. When I can strip away the business of modern life and the chatter of my own thoughts, whether I tune in to the rhythm of my own breath on my yoga mat, the sound of the wind in the trees, or the soaring of the cranes, this connection brings me back to my true self, my own inner compass.

We don’t have to struggle to know who we are or find our way – the answers are within us. It’s like a favorite quote of mine from German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.

Sandhill cranes departing the marsh.

Sandhill cranes don’t fly in a strict V-formation like Canadian geese. They move within an irregular, undulating and ever-changing line. In times of uncertainty, I am comforted by the idea that change unfolds within the certainty of the seasons, repetition exists alongside infinite variation and, living fully in the present moment is the only way to fly.

These were the ideas tumbling around in my head when I created this month’s playlist. Home, sky, freedom, flight, belonging. These are songs for the journey. You are nature. Trust yourself.


Migration Songs (12: October 2020)

To migrate is to have faith in the journey while holding home in your heart. This month’s playlist is inspired by the freedom of flight, the power of nature, roots that let you rise, and the promise of every new day.

Listen to Migration Songs on Spotify.

Rising | Reuben and the Dark

I Knew I Could Fly | Our Native Daughters

Home in Your Heart | Elephant Revival

Song For Leaving | Brett Dennen

No Roots | Alice Merton

Light of a Clear Blue Morning | Dolly Parton

On the Road To Find Out | Cat Stevens (Yusuf)

Shine a Different Way | Patty Griffin

This Sky | The Derek Trucks Band

Human Thing | The Be Good Tanyas

Bring It on Home | Current Swell

All This Beauty | The Weepies


Resource Links:

Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge Find more information about the history and management of this area as well as visitor’s information and wildlife reports.

The Basics of Bird Migration, All About Birds an online resource from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Sandhill Crane calls: To hear the unique crane song, scroll to the bottom and click on “flock flying overhead”. Then imagine the sound multiplied by a couple thousand or more!

Sandhill Crane on Photo Ark, a project by photographer Joel Sartore and National Geographic

Learn Crane Pose on Yoga Journal – practice the strength that helps you soar in this bird-inspired arm balancing pose.

Crex Meadows Sunrise 01Crex Meadows Sunrise 01
Crex Meadows Sunrise 02Crex Meadows Sunrise 02
Crex Meadows Sunrise 03Crex Meadows Sunrise 03
Crex Meadows Sunrise 04Crex Meadows Sunrise 04

Crex Meadows sunrise progression.

June 30, 2020 Leave a Comment

Fight or Float? Songs to Change By

Learning, listening, and longing for the lake.

Little Sturgeon Lake, view from the cabin.

It’s been a while. How are you?

In the days following the tragic murder of George Floyd, I saw my May Flowers project through to the end of the month. Then, I stopped and took some time to listen and learn.

Wow, is there a lot to learn.

Personally, I’ve been examining my own position of privilege. The fact that I’ve been able to live  in a bubble, that I could shut out the news or choose to look away from the deep-rooted injustice and racism in our society because those issues, while troubling, didn’t directly affect me.

I’m only beginning to understand how racism is embedded in our policies, our thinking, and our places – from confederate monuments to environmental racism and housing segregation. It’s overwhelming. How do we solve these problems that seem sewn into the fabric of our troubled history? The only answer is to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Be willing to be uncomfortable. To learn. To act. 

Becoming anti-racist. It’s a sea change in our personal biases and collective culture that’s long overdue and worth all the growing pains and hard-fought gains along the way. 


This year is full of changes, unknowns and challenges. There is a real sense of grief and loss for the life we knew such a short time ago as normal. When it’s too much to process, I weed the garden…

My family (Sawyer, Zola & Brad) fishing off the dock

Usually, right about now, I’d be up to my eyeballs in planning food for the big family 4th of July vacation at the cabin. It’s our most cherished tradition on Brad’s side of the family, something that was going on way before my time (although I’ve been part of it for nearly half my life at this point!).

This is the only 4th of July my children know – lots of people in a crowded cabin sharing a single bathroom, our favorite pizza place, a goofy, small town parade, boat rides, swimming, bocce ball, tadpole scooping and deer sightings, the BEST fish fry, and evenings around the campfire, eating s’mores, fighting off mosquitos and watching the fireworks sparkle over the lake.

As with everything else this year, the 4th of July is going to look a bit different. We couldn’t see a way to share space safely with everyone at the cabin, so we made alternative plans – social distance camping with our neighbors. It’s one of many favorite things we’ll miss this year.

Feeling nostalgic, so here are couple photos from last year’s celebration…

Hibbing High School Marching Band
Zola, July 4th Side Lake Parade
Sawyer, July 4th Side Lake Parade
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Pizza at Bimbo's
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Sparkler, July 4th, Little Sturgeon

I struggled with the theme of the June playlist. It could have been LOVE – Brad and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary on June 10th. It could have been SUMMER; there are so many songs that express the season’s freedom, sunshine and spirit of adventure but that didn’t feel quite right for THIS summer. I settled on the idea of CHANGE.

CHANGE IS HARD.

Whether it’s embracing the nature of change as the only constant in life, fighting for the change we wish to see in the world, or grieving personal loss during an unprecedented time of uncertainty.

Sometimes change is the only thing worth fighting for – human rights, justice, climate change and conservation.

Other times, we have to fight against change to hold on to something of value and meaning – a relationship, a tradition, a family. 

And then there are the times when everything is beyond our control and we either let the change wash over us and learn to float or we face a lifetime of struggle against the current.

I guess part of the journey is figuring out when to fight and when to float.


Change (11: June 2020)

Rising up, rolling on, letting go, taking a stand. Change is part of life. Here’s a soundtrack to celebrate and explore revolution, renewal and new experiences. Click to listen on Spotify.

Changes | David Bowie

Revolution | Van William (feat. First Aid Kit)

What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye

Let Go | Frou Frou

Talkin’ Bout a Revolution | Tracy Chapman

Changes | Langhorne Slim, The Law

The Times They Are A-Changin’ | Bob Dylan

Pushin’ Against a Stone | Valerie June

Let Go Of Your Plans | Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

A Change Is Gonna Come | Sam Cooke

Revolution | The Beatles

Rollin’ With the Flow | Charlie Rich

Coming Around Again| Session Americana, Ry Cavanaugh

We Can Work It Out | Stevie Wonder

People Have the Power | Patti Smith

I Can See Clearly Now | Johnny Nash

June 02, 2020 Leave a Comment

Farewell to May Flowers (until next year!)

Soul soothing blossoms for a weary world

The month of May closed in a surreal and heartbreaking way. I did finish my annual May Flowers on Instagram before joining #blackoutTuesday.

This project, and my work overall, is about being present to beauty in the world and sharing it with others. In my favorite poet Mary Oliver’s words, “Pay attention. Be astonished. Talk about it.” That’s just what I do, except I photograph it, too.

The past week has made me question the worth of what I do. But beauty has its own power to create reverence, gentleness, love and community. And nature does have the ability to soothe and heal us when we need it most.

With hope for a brighter future and real change on the horizon – Terra

MF20_shooting-star
IGMay20_colors-of-the-spirit
IG20_CELEBRATE
MF20-fern-peony
MF20_anemone
Ig-world-without-flowers
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MF20_bergenia
May 26, Flowering CrabMay 26, Flowering Crab
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IG-earth-heaven
May 27, Wild GeraniumMay 27, Wild Geranium
May 28, Wild ColumbineMay 28, Wild Columbine
IG-heart-of-darkness
IG-nature-nothing-in-vain
May 29, Pink PeonyMay 29, Pink Peony
mf20_bachelor-buttons
IG_love-more
IG-tenseness
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Purchase May Flowers prints and see of my art online.

May 27, 2020 Leave a Comment

May Flowers Keep Blooming

fresh flowers and inspiring words every day in May

The May Flowers continue this week as more and more flowers bloom! The world is fully green and growing, seeds sprouting, birds nesting. There’s nothing like spring to make a person believe in miracles. Nature is full of them!

If you missed the earlier posts, the May Flowers project kicked off with this post and continued in last week’s post with more photos and quotes plus a flower-themed playlist for May.

If you want your dose of beauty daily, follow @wildflowertheblog on Instagram. Thanks for visiting the blog. I love sharing the beauty of flowers. – Terra

may 15, bluebellsmay 15, bluebells
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IG_beauty-of-the-wild
may 16, pussywillows & azaleasmay 16, pussywillows & azaleas
May 17, bellwortMay 17, bellwort
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IG_good-time
May 18, lamiumMay 18, lamium
may 19, bloodwortmay 19, bloodwort
IG_beauty-of-this-moment
IG-flower-joy
may 20, dandelionsmay 20, dandelions
may 21, fallen petalsmay 21, fallen petals
IG-wisdom-flower
May Flowers Prints by Terra Rathai

Prints of all the May flowers are now available to purchase online.

11×14 signed archival prints on cotton rag, $48.

Click here to visit the online gallery & store.

May 20, 2020 Leave a Comment

More May Flowers + Playlist

Daily fresh flower delivery, inspiring quotations, and blooming beats.

Last week on Wildflower, I launched one of my favorite annual projects: May Flowers. Each year, I share fresh flower photos and inspiring quotations every day in May. It’s an uplifting and celebratory spring tradition that I truly love putting together. This week, I’ve got MORE FLOWERS for you along with a very fun, flower-inspired Spotify playlist you’ll find at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!

If you missed the kick-off, visit last week’s May Flowers post here.

May 8, RhodedendronsMay 8, Rhodedendrons
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Day 9, Petals on Wild GingerDay 9, Petals on Wild Ginger
Day 10, Bleeding Hearts with RaindropsDay 10, Bleeding Hearts with Raindrops
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Day 11, Azaleas and ShadowsDay 11, Azaleas and Shadows
Day 12, Two TrilliumsDay 12, Two Trilliums
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Day 13, Redbud BlossomsDay 13, Redbud Blossoms
Day 14, Deep Purple IrisDay 14, Deep Purple Iris
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Mayflowers-prints-online

May Flowers prints are now available to purchase online! Shop here.


May Flowers (10: May 2020)

Beats to go with your blooms. A fully flower-inspired playlist.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify. It’s even better if you can listen to the songs in order 🙂

Flowers in Your Hair | The Lumineers

Scarlet Begonias | Grateful Dead

Wildflowers | Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris

(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden | Lynn Anderson

Sunflower | Vampire Weekend (feat. Steve Lacy)

For the Roses | Joni Mitchell

Honeysuckle Rose | Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie

Buttercup | Lucinda Williams

Flower | Amos Lee

Honeysuckle Reel | Daniel Bachman

Golden Dandelions | Barns Courtney

Lilac Wine | Jeff Buckley

May 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

May Flowers

Fresh flowers and inspiring words every day in May!

For the last several years, I’ve shared a May Flowers campaign, posting one of my favorite flower photos along with a bit of inspiration – a poem or other lovely quotation daily throughout the month of May.

This year I moved the May Flowers to my Instagram feed: @wildflowertheblog. Follow the feed for beauty every day in May and beyond! It’s where you’ll find bonus nature-inspired content throughout the year.

May Flowers is a labor of love project for me and I want as many people to enjoy this daily dose of beauty as possible. Please share this post with anyone who could use a boost, a bloom, or some everyday inspiration. I hope you find something here to love! Prints from this series are now available to purchase online for the first time! Shop here.

May 1, Trout LilyMay 1, Trout Lily
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05.01.20 quote
May 2, Pulmonaria (Lungwort)May 2, Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
May 3, Marsh MarigoldsMay 3, Marsh Marigolds
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May 4, Creeping PhloxMay 4, Creeping Phlox
Day 5, Cut Leaf Toothwort & False Rue AnemoneDay 5, Cut Leaf Toothwort & False Rue Anemone
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Day 6, HoneysuckleDay 6, Honeysuckle
May 7, TulipsMay 7, Tulips
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May Flowers Prints

Coming next week to Wildflower:

More May Flowers plus a flower-inspired Spotify playlist!

Thank you for looking & listening and for loving nature, too. – Terra

April 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

Love Songs for the Earth

Earth Day playlist, Tree Prints for Arbor Day + Planting Trees with Avant Garden Studio!

Happy Earth Day – 50 Years of Environmental Activism

This week marks the high holidays for earth lovers everywhere! Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day. This year is a milestone: the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement. Happy Earth Day to you! Hope you can get outside.

Now, more than ever, we need global activism and unified efforts to work together for the health of our planet. Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has mobilized 1 billion people worldwide. Today, the Earth Day Network is working “to build a historic moment when citizens of the world will rise up in a united call for the creativity, innovation, ambition, and bravery that we need to meet our climate crisis.” We can do so much when we work together. (Find links to more resources at the end of this post.)

A Day for Planting Trees: Celebrating Arbor Day

But wait, that’s not all! Friday, April 24th is Arbor Day! Treehuggers, this day is for you (and me)! Arbor Day started in 1872 in Nebraska as a day devoted to planting trees. Since then, all 50 states have come to observe Arbor Day and planted more than 350 million trees so far!

This week, I became a member of the Arbor Day Foundation. Guess what you get with your membership? You got it: TREES! Select trees to plant in your yard or opt to donate your 10 trees to be planted in a National Forest or Rain Forest. Learn more and consider joining – it’s cheap! (Link below.)

Buy Tree Art, Plant More Trees: Tree Prints Now Online

Gingko After the Rain
Spring Forest
Forest Tapestry
Hanging Pines

In honor of Arbor Day this week, I’ve set up a special online gallery of my favorite tree photographs available for purchase in a variety of sizes.

Did you know that just looking at a picture of a forest can improve your health and well-being? It’s a proven Nature Rx. Instant calm.

Every purchase on my website supports reforestation efforts around the globe! Keep reading to learn more…

SHOP TREE PRINTS

Avant Garden Studio: Eco-Friendly Paper Goods

Earlier this year I launched a brand-new line of eco-friendly paper goods through my business Avant Garden Studio. Greeting cards feature 100% PCW recycled brown kraft paper produced in the USA with green, hydroelectric power. Products are sustainably printed in Minnesota.

Avant Garden Studio Greeting Cards

The greeting cards combine my vibrantly-colored, contemplative nature images with carefully-curated inspired quotations. Blank inside with matching envelopes. 30 designs for all occasions. Visit the card shop.

SHOP CARDS
Blank journals by Avant Garden Studio

Blank journals come in two sizes: pocket (3.5×5.5) and standard (5×8). Made in the USA from 100% recycled materials with 48 dot grid pages.

SHOP JOURNALS

All Avant Garden Studio sales support our mission to help the planet!

Helping the Planet, One Tree at a Time

As of January 1, 2020, my business is donating 1% of sales to reforestation efforts through One Tree Planted. Every dollar donated plants one tree. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Last week, I made my first donation and planted trees in India! How cool is that?

$1 = 1 TREE

One Tree Planted works with partners around the world to help the planet by planting trees. They have a great website (link below) with information about why trees are so important. Here’s the lowdown:

  • AIR: trees improve air quality. They absorb pollutants, produce clean oxygen, soak up carbon dioxide and reduce effects of climate change.
  • WATER: trees help to capture rainwater and help to prevent risks of flooding and landslides. They also filter and clean groundwater.
  • BIODIVERSITY: Trees provide homes to hundreds of species including birds, insects, and mammals, as well as plants, fungi and moss.
  • SOCIAL IMPACT: From jobs to food, trees provide important resources that support human life through sustainable tree farming.
  • HEALTH: Trees reduce stress and help people connect with nature as well as shading us from harmful UV rays! Told you! Nature Rx.
  • CLIMATE: Trees soak up greenhouse gases and can reduce pollution and temperatures in urban areas.

I’m so excited to be part of this effort and watch the Avant Garden Studio forest expand as my small business grows! Every purchase plants trees.

SHOP AVANT GARDEN STUDIO / PLANT TREES

Before I go (remember those links at the bottom of the post), I have a fresh new collection of songs that celebrate love and care for our planet. I hope you get a chance to walk among the trees this week. And maybe grab a hug.

Earth Day, Every Day Playlist

earth love: (9: April 2020)

listen on Spotify here.

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) | Marvin Gaye

Big Yellow Taxi | Joni Mitchell

Two Little Feet | Greg Brown

Into the Wild | LP

Natural Beauty | Neil Young

Mother Nature’s Son | The Beatles

Monument In Green | Big Head Todd & the Monsters

Old Pine | Ben Howard

Nature Boy | Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

(Nothing But) Flowers | Talking Heads

Let It Grow | Eric Clapton

Children Play With Earth | Arrested Development


Further reading/Links:

EarthDay.org – Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.

One Tree Planted – One Tree Planted is a non-profit organization with a focus on global reforestation. They’re on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees! $1 = 1 TREE

Arbor Day Foundation – The Arbor Day Foundation seeks to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

Avant Garden Studio – Eco-friendly art & paper goods by Minneapolis artist Terra Rathai. Every purchase supports One Tree Planted.

March 25, 2020 1 Comment

Songs for a Second Winter

Late-afternoon sunlight at the lagoon. Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis

Hey world. Are you hanging in there?

Last month I was thinking about themes for upcoming playlists and I thought, “Oh, in March I’ll have a spring theme! Yay!”. But, as we’re all too aware, things have changed monumentally since then.

Blue skies and open water near the shore. Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis.

Technically, it is spring here in the northern hemisphere. The snow is gone, the ice is opening up on the lakes, the first green things are peeking out.

But, psychologically, it feels like a second winter. Another period of hardship to weather and survive.

WP-coneflower-seedheads
WP-leaves-in-ice
WP-dry-grasses
WP-march-buds

While we hunker down through this second bleak season, the natural world will awaken, the sun will warm the soil, things will grow and bloom.

Eventually, we, too, will emerge from this darkness. We’ll walk out into the fresh air, stretching and blinking in the sun and see that we have survived.

First spring flowers! Hellebores.

Until then, emotions are volatile. There are moments when I feel like kicking and screaming. Others when I don’t want to get out of bed.

But then I go for a walk and feel all the delight of the first heron back on the just-open water at the lake’s edge. Or, I nestle in to a cozy evening at home, hibernating with my favorite people.

Great blue herons have returned to Minnesota.

Sometimes, many times, music helps keep me going. So, I’ve put together a mix of songs to help us keep trucking through troubled times. Songs to encourage us. Songs of strength and survival. Songs of hope.

We’re all in this together. And, ultimately, love will save the day. Sending love to you & yours, Terra

The other day our daughter, Zola, and her best friend wrote encouraging messages in sidewalk chalk in front of each neighbor’s house. #chalkthewalk

keep the light (8: March 2020)

Listen on Spotify here.

Ooh Child | Beth Orton

Back in the High Life Again | Steve Winwood

I’m Still Standing | Elton John

Killing the Blues | Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

19th Nervous Breakdown | The Rollings Stones

My Silver Lining | First Aid Kit

Hours Are the New Days |Mary Glenn

Lean on Me | Bill Withers

You Gotta Be | Des’ree

Trouble | Cat Stevens

Don’t Panic | Coldplay

Love is Gonna Bring Us Back Alive | Rickie Lee Jones

I’ll Take You There | The Staple Singers

There’s So Much Energy in Us | Cloud Cult


February 12, 2020 1 Comment

love, sweet love

(what the world needs now + new music)

heart-shaped deer print (order print)

Greetings from the second half of winter here in Minneapolis!

While I’ll admit to having a little cabin fever the past couple weeks, all it takes is something like yesterday’s rime frost to rekindle the winter love. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen – like walking through a magical fairyland. Every branch and cattail covered in white, even frozen mist hanging in the air until the the sunshine burst through.

You can see how dramatically the light and colored changed as golden sunlight burned through the frozen fog and brought colors back to life!

flying frost
willow frost panorama
power line frost

Love comes in all shapes and sizes for family, friends, strangers and self. For animals and plants and art and music, favorite foods, favorite places and all manner of other things that tug at our hearts and bring us joy.

I choose to make Valentine’s Day about the power of Love. It’s what the world needs. Now, and always.


i want to sing you a love song

Music is among the great loves of my life.

My gift to you: an eclectic collection of love songs or, more accurately, songs about love. Not just for Valentine’s Day – more like a soundtrack for a love revolution, an ode to the sweet moments of our lives, an anthem to the power of love over fear.

For friends, lovers, family, plants, animals & people we haven’t met because the whole wide world needs more love. And, of course, for you! xo, Terra

love (07: february 2020)

Something’s Got A Hold On Me | Etta James

Let Your Love Flow | The Bellamy Brothers

Love and Happiness | Al Green

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding | Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Songbird | Fleetwood Mac

Let Love Rule | Lenny Kravitz

Make You Feel My Love | Bob Dylan

Shower the People | James Taylor

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) | George Harrison

O, I Love You | Essie Jain

Weight of Love | The Black Keys

What the World Needs Now | Cat Power

Listen here on Spotify.

January 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

let’s take it from the top

new year’s plans and good intentions

1/365: long shadows (new year’s day)

I’ve found in the past few years that, while I’m fired up to begin the new year, actually getting things rolling takes me a couple weeks.

I am a person who thoroughly enjoys the promise of a fresh start and, yes, I do set goals at the start of every new year. Around our house, though, we sit around the fire on New Year’s Day, recall our favorite moments of the past year, burn any regrets or things we just want to let go, and then we declare our resolutions – except we call them Hopes & Dreams.

worth 365,000 words…

One thing I have got off the ground already for 2020 is a renewed commitment to daily creativity: the 365 Project.

If you’ve read the Welcome to Wildflower post, you know that my first 365 project (and blog avantgarden365) changed my life and shaped my artistic process of seeking out beauty in everyday subject matter.

2/365: hope springs eternal (azalea buds in january…in minnesota)

The photos you see in this post are the first nine days of 2020. If you’d like to follow along daily, please follow me on Instagram @terrarathai.

There, you’ll also find more commentary on the images.

3/365: trillium by alexis rockman @ Weisman Art Museum

The practice of taking photos everyday is like a sketchbook for me. It’s a place to explore, push myself to see with fresh eyes, experiment, fail, play and commit to the rigors and revelations of any daily practice.

4/365: snow shadows

Some days, the last things I want to do is pick up my camera and try to discover something worth seeing in the same, ordinary, everyday surroundings of our home and neighborhood.

But, I do it anyway.

5/365: weeping willows

Seeing with an awakened eye, being open to beauty and discovery in the most familiar places, has become both an artistic and a spiritual way of being. It’s my brand of mindfulness – being present in the moment.

6/365: self portrait (with rocco): first run of 2020

The daily photos also become a journal, a visual record of the places we’ve been, the way we’ve grown and changed, and the things that matter to us.

7/365: pink flamingos on ice

And, then, sometimes, it’s purely for fun!

8/365: breakfast (green protein superfood smoothie)

There is nothing more earnest in a post about good (new year’s) intentions, than a green smoothie, is there? It’s the breakfast I turn to when I’m getting S E R I O U S about my health and fitness.

The fact that I drink it from a 20oz. beer glass tells you a little something about how I see the concept of “balance” in that part of my life…

9/365: gray cloud, pink sky

On any given day, there are subjects I’ll turn to. Subjects that manage to be ever-changing and always new no matter how many times I’ve seen them. The sky is almost always a sure thing. The endless variety of cloud forms, light and color, mood and movement are always the stuff of wonder. And, although we see it every day, it is certainly worth looking at.

To follow along with the daily photos throughout the year, follow my person Instagram @terrarathai. And for even more everyday wonder, follow the blog @wildflowertheblog. Until next time, keep on turning.


Just in time for the Lunar New Year on Saturday (wink, wink), I’ve put together a playlist full of energy, hope, determination, dreams and rock ‘n’ roll. OK, 2020, let’s go!

begin (06: january 2020)

Start Me Up | The Rolling Stones

Setting Forth | Eddie Vedder

Changes | Langhorne Slim & The Law

Running Down A Dream | Tom Petty

What’s the World Got in Store | Wilco

Fire Starter | Honeysuckle

You’ll Be Bright – Innovacation Part 1 | Cloud Cult (*MN Band)

Awake | Freedom Fry

Don’t Stop | Fleetwood Mac

Brand New Day | Van Morrison

My Silver Lining | First Aid Kit

Let The Good Times Roll | JD McPherson

Listen on Spotify.

December 17, 2019 2 Comments

winter wonderland

(with a soundtrack for your Solstice)

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“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” according to the familiar song. While I would argue that every season is full of its own wonders, I do find this time of year pretty magical. There are so many memories and cherished traditions, delicious treats, the joy of giving and, for those of us in the north country, the beauty of winter.

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As a snow lover, a White Christmas is always on my wish list. This year, several early season snowstorms have guaranteed that we’ll have one!

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The approach of the Winter Solstice has me happily nestled in. Cozy socks, white lights on the mantle, a warm, fuzzy blanket, and my favorite candle (scented with essential oils of Frankincense, Myrhh & Palo Santo; it’s called Peace). I start each day in the dark of early morning, soaking up the quiet and candlelight over a fresh, hot cup of coffee.

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I’ve embraced the Danish concept of hygge to fully cultivate these simple pleasures in my life and find ways to create ease and joy in what can be a harsh and, sometimes, challenging season. (*Note: the spirit of hygge, defined as: a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being, can be enjoyed year-round, although it’s particularly well-suited to a cold, dark winter).

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When nights are long and dark and days are short and cold, what better way to thrive and enjoy daily life than to cultivate connection, simplicity and warmth – not only in one’s home, but also in our hearts? I don’t need to be “doing” anything to fully enjoy being with the people I love. Ideally? With all four of us (plus Rocco) snuggled up in front of the fire like a pile of puppies in a nest of fleece and wool.

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Despite this ode to all things cozy, you’ll notice that the photographs in this post have nothing to do with hibernating indoors. That’s because my other favorite thing about the season is a good winter walk with my camera in tow! A fresh blanket of white snow creates the perfect blank canvas, casting each leaf and stem into a starring role in its own work of art. And the subtle color palette – an infinite spectrum of gray, brown and white – is richly soothing in the thin winter light. Truly a winter wonderland.

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I hope that you find wonder in this and every season. My gift to you: a playlist that celebrates the many moods of winter. From my north-country home in Minneapolis to yours, wherever you may be.

CHILL (05: December 2019)

A Hazy Shade of Winter| Simon & Garfunkel

Northern Lights | Communist Daughter (*Mpls Band)

Winter | Tori Amos

White Winter Hymnal | Fleet Foxes

River | Joni Mitchell

December Song | Birdtalker/Joy Williams

The Fox in the Snow | Belle & Sebastian

Wintertime Love | The Doors

Flowers In December | Mazzy Star

Shelter from the Storm | Bob Dylan

Like the Weather | 10,000 Maniacs

Cold Weather Blues | Muddy Waters

Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Snow (Hey Oh) | Red Hot Chili Peppers

Play on SPOTIFY here.


lone leaf – purchase print

Select images available for purchase online @ terrarathai.com

November 27, 2019 Leave a Comment

Season of Thanks & Giving

November Leaves

I haven’t had a chance to post lately, despite having all kinds of photos and stories to share from our road trips this fall and the glorious change of seasons.

This is the busiest time of year for me between holiday art fairs every weekend and hosting the annual Thanksgiving celebration. I usually throw in some home improvement projects, too, just to keep things interesting! Ha!

In the midst of this whirlwind of activity, I do want to take a moment to say THANK YOU for being here! I’m happy to have my little Wildflower blog out in the world and I’m excited to see how it grows.



You read a lot these days about the benefits of gratitude, counting your blessings, and recognizing all the good things in your life. I think it requires intention – not lip service. The art I make has a lot to do with this kind of gratitude, being present to the wonder and beauty in my ordinary, daily world.

Mary Oliver said, Attention is devotion. It’s a form of love – the opposite of neglect or taking things for granted. What better way to show love than giving something or someone your time and attention?

November Wildflowers & Cattails

Before I turn my time and attention to preparing a Thanksgiving feast to share with our extended family tomorrow, I want to wish you a day full of good things: friends & family, a hearty feast, thoughtful conversations, belly laughs, a walk in the fresh air and plenty to be thankful for.


November Playlist: THANKS

Songs of gratitude & gathering together. With a little rock ‘n’ roll for dessert. Something to sing with while you work in the kitchen, perhaps…

Blessed, Brett Dennen

Thank You (Falettinme…) / Sly & The Family Stone

Give Thanks & Praises / Bob Marley & The Wailers

I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For / Bing Crosby

Thank you Friends / Big Star

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) / James Taylor

Thank You / Bonnie Raitt

Home / Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

Thank You / Dido

Gratitude / Earth, Wind & Fire

Home / Caribou

I Want to Thank You / Otis Redding

My Sweet Potato / Booker T. & the M.G.’s

I Thank You / Sam & Dave

Apple Pie / Rafferty

PLAY on Spotify here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November sky over frozen Lake Nokomis
October 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

Meander & Muse

The Importance of Doing Nothing

A couple weeks ago I gave myself the rare gift of taking a slow walk alone. I had no agenda, no destination, and no time limit. It was HEAVEN.

I’ve read many times how important it is to give yourself down time, particularly as an artist, in order to allow your brain to rest and recharge. In fact, it’s often in those times of “doing nothing” that the ideas really start to flow because the brain is relaxed. (Article links below)

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It’s amazing how difficult it is to allow oneself this time and freedom. I had to remind myself to slow down, be in the moment, loosen up and PLAY.

Of course, I wasn’t actually doing nothing. I was walking, thinking, looking, and (obviously) taking pictures. But it was something about the meandering nature of the whole excursion that made it special.

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What does it mean to meander?

It’s all about intention and direction. Whether it’s a winding or indirect course, like a meandering stream, or an just an aimless wander, a good meander is unstructured, organic, and unhurried. It’s about setting the mind free to ramble as well as letting the route form with each spontaneous step.

It’s a chance to daydream. Ponder. Space-out. Imagine. Muse.

To muse is to think silently, to meditate. About something in particular or nothing at all. The archaic definition includes the act of gazing in a meditative or wondering way. What do you know? That’s just what I do!

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Then, of course, there is The Muse – artistic inspiration in goddess form. I think of the muse as anything that inspires awe, reverence, and expression.

Meandering summons The Muse.

My muse is nature. There’s no better way to conjure up fresh ideas, discover a different perspective, think outside the box or form new connections than downtime in the great outdoors.

The place I return to again and again is this lake. Just blocks from my house, Lake Nokomis is my haven in the city. It is never the same place twice.

I could spend hours just gazing at the water! Then there’s the flora and fauna, including all manner of trees, bugs, birds and butterflies, an occasional muskrat and native plant gardens along the shore.

I’m blessed to have this place that is so familiar, yet always new. It’s a perfect meandering spot. Like being with people you love most, the ones who know you best, a favorite place allows you to relax your mind and just be.

Music is another great companion for musing! The October playlist evokes migration, movement, fall colors and the feel of chill autumn days.

FLY (03: October 2019)

The Littlest Birds / Jolie Holland

Free Fallin’ / Tom Petty

Autumn Town Leaves / Iron & Wine

Come In From the Cold / Joni Mitchell

Autumn Leaves / Caamp

She’s a Rainbow / The Rolling Stones

Water Under the Bridge / Tow’rs

Rolling Stone / Wild Rivers

Further to Fly / Paul Simon

Wild Is The Wind / David Bowie

Meet Me Where You’re Going / Cloud Cult

Don’t Let It Get You Down / Johnnyswim

Listen on Spotify here.

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RESOURCES on the benefits of Downtime

Simon Gottschalk. In Praise of Doing Nothing, The Conversation, May 31, 2018.

Manfred Kets De Vries. The Importance of Doing Nothing, Forbes, July 1, 2014.

Ferris Jabr. Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime, Scientific American, October 15, 2013.

October 01, 2019 Leave a Comment

New Work: Into the Woods

Work in Progress from Frontenac


After our sailing trip a few weeks ago, we camped overnight at Frontenac State Park (sweetly, the first place Brad & I ever camped together more than twenty years ago). The best part, aside from just being together, was heading out for a couple of hikes.

The hiking trail near the campground ran through dense forest along the top edge of a steep bluff. It created a dramatic contrast between the bright sunlight breaking through the canopy and the deep shade of the forest floor. It’s a challenging photography situation, too; the light is constantly shifting between extremes of dark and light and from cool to warm tones.

Not every photo is meant to become a finished work of art. I think of my daily photos like a sketchbook. So many of them are disposable and quite awful! Thank goodness for digital photography! It give me the freedom to experiment and discard at will while I explore new ideas or play around with different techniques. And, sometimes I’m just gathering information.

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From the photos I shot that day, I’ve started working on a series of forest pictures. They reflect both dreamy and dazzling, dappled light, the many layers of leaves revealed through highlight and shadow, and the striking forms of tree trunks cast in silhouette.

Here are a few of the images from the new ‘Forest Light’ series:

Select images from Wildflower (including the new Forest Light series) will be available for purchase online. See more of my finished work: terrarathai.com.


I’ve had my head in the trees all week and I can’t think of a better place to be! So until next week, I’ll leave you with a little tree inspiration.

Plus, I’ve got The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben on my reading list. Have you read it? It’s all about how trees are social beings that share resources, communicate and maintain family ties. Fascinating stuff!


A few more photos from our time at Frontenac:

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Pictured clockwise from upper left: Pale Touch-Me-Nots (impatiens pallida); Shelf fungus & lichens on crooked branch; my family patiently waiting for me to catch up on the trail; our awesome REI Kingdom 6 tent; Great Northern or Modest Aster (canadanthus modestus); shelf fungus and yellow mushroom on mossy log.

Frontenac State Park

29223 County 28 Boulevard
Frontenac, MN 55026

September 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

Going With the Flow

Life Lessons from the Mighty Mississippi

Thoughts on Flow

This month I’ve been thinking about FLOW. Our family enjoyed a sailing trip and time along the Mississippi River early this month. Plus, it’s National Yoga Month! This idea of flow – graceful movement, harmony with wind & water, body & breath, a way of staying in balance – is a frequent intention for me.

As someone who likes calendars, plans, to do lists and goals, life’s ever-changing current can be challenging. I’d like to float but sometimes my instinct is to fight. Go with the flow is a spiritual challenge but it sure feels good when I can let go and enjoy the ride!

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Come Sail Away

Our sailing trip started at the Lake City Marina and Yacht Club on a pleasantly cloudy, blue sky day with just the right amount of wind. We sailed Lake Pepin, the largest lake in the Mississippi River and the birthplace of water-skiing! On this September day, though, it was all sailboats and seagulls!

I was a little “nervous-cited” (a term our daughter Zola uses to describe that particular combination of fear and anticipation that causes butterflies-in-the-stomach); I’d never really been sailing before…

There were white caps on the lake. Maybe it was a little too windy? And, why do the sailboats always appear to be on the verge of tipping over?

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I had no need to worry. Captain Harry was calm, confident and charming with thirty years of experience sailing Lake Pepin. When I asked him about the dramatic lean of the boat (heeling), he coolly informed me that I didn’t need to be concerned until the sails were actually touching the water.

He also explained what I couldn’t see beneath the water – a deep keel that counter-balances the force of the wind on the sails. Ahhh…

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Even Keel

“Our Lady”, a 32′ ketch, sailed smoothly along through constantly shifting winds and changing conditions. Under the calm guidance of Captain Harry, and with small adjustments to sail positions, the boat stayed the course, moving steadily and without upset or drama (much to my relief).

It reminded me of the concept of Equanimity in yoga. It’s a type of balance and resilience that is a primary goal of yoga practice, an ability to maintain inner calm and peace in the face of life’s difficulties. In other words, no matter what life throws at you, yoga is meant to help you stay even keel:

Whatever chaos might be swirling around us, equanimity allows us to stand in the middle with a steadiness of mind and a compassionate heart, holding joy and sorrow in perfect balance. 

– Judy Bierma, Living Yoga: 6 Steps for Equanimity in Your Yoga Practice (link below)

Like a River

The river itself is a perfect metaphor for the ever-changing flow of life. It, too, works best when in balance. The banks hold a certain amount of water. Too much and the river floods. Too little and there’s not enough movement. The current carries some things along and leaves others behind. Too much holding on causes blockage and stops the flow.

I like Lake Pepin, the lake within the river. The lake is really a natural reservoir, a holding place. Except that this is not stagnant water – it keeps passing through, following the Mississippi current to the Gulf of Mexico.

It goes with the flow.

I loved sailing. The thing that struck me first, after we’d entered the lake, raised the sails and turned off the motor was the quiet. I felt immediately relaxed by the subtle sounds of the wind in the sails and the lapping waves. No motors to interrupt the reverie. Not even the splash of paddles!

Sailing had a different feeling than any other boat ride I’ve been on. It was a feeling of harmony, least effort and working with the wind and water instead of striving against these natural forces. It felt like breath and movement, opening to the sky and letting life happen in the moment.

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The sailing trip was a Christmas gift from Brad’s sister (Thanks, Michelle!). We are all for sharing new adventures and this was a perfect experience for the four of us to anticipate and enjoy together. So much better than “stuff”. If you’re looking for experience gifts, she used a great company called Cloud 9 Living that provides services in cities all over the U.S. (link below).

Flow Playlist: Songs for September

Rock on with your bad self! You’ll need a free Spotify account to listen.


Resources:

Gem Sailing

Cloud 9 Living

Judy Bierma. “Living Yoga: 6 Steps for Equanimity In Your Yoga Practice“.

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I'm Terra Rathai - this is me in the garden.

a lifestyle blog

the beauty of this moment.

soak up simple pleasures, live in harmony with nature, take an occasional field trip, wax poetic, and revel in a world of rock & roll, bountiful blooms & everyday zen.

never miss a beat. or a bloom.

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About Me

I’m Terra Rathai, artist, garden photographer, music & nature lover, foodie, yogini, sometimes runner and wife & mom to two kids and a very large dog. Wildflower is a place to explore and share life’s simple pleasures from road trips to fresh produce, from the first blooms in the spring garden to winter walks – all with a little rock and roll and zen.

never miss a beat. or a bloom.

Copyright 2019 Terra Rathai