Generational Amnesia and Regeneration.

My husband Curtis and I drove to Christoval, Texas for a public hummingbird tagging event. I had been to a private tagging before, but this one was different. The public was invited in. Children were there.

Biologists carefully capture tiny hummingbirds to collect vital information — sex, age, length, weight. After gathering the data, a skilled volunteer carefully cradles each delicate bird in the palm of an observer’s hand.

The tiny creature briefly pauses. You hold your breath. You feel an almost mechanical vibration, like a toy stuck in the “on” position — the rhythm of its heartbeat. Then, in an instant, it is back into the wild.

It wasn’t until I looked at my photos afterward that I saw it — a trusted volunteer placing the bird in a child’s hand. The transfer of knowledge, right there in the frame. A tiny beating heart. A child holding their breath.

That moment — the exchange of a tiny life from seasoned hands to smooth palms — is a living metaphor for what it means to nurture the passing of knowledge and care across generations. It is the story of regeneration.

This is what generational amnesia looks like in reverse.

Generational amnesia — also called shifting baseline syndrome — describes how each generation views the environment they inherit as the normal standard, even if it is significantly more degraded than that of previous generations. We absorb the world we are born into. We mistake it for the world as it is.

In the 1980s in Houston, our garden was filled with hummingbirds. Their vibrant presence shaped our daily conversations, our sense of place, our sense of wonder. They were part of our love story. Curtis proposed and hummingbirds were there. We miss them.

Today’s children in Houston have likely never seen one in a garden. They have no baseline for what’s missing. And that is the whole loss — not just the hummingbirds, but the memory of them.

Breaking this cycle requires hands willing to reach out and moments prepared to receive. It demands nurturing curiosity, empathy, and attention in children and adults alike. It calls for the deliberate passing on of more than just facts — but also the emotions and experiences that bind us to the world beyond ourselves.

The hummingbird’s pause in the palm of a stranger’s hand is brief. But it is enough. This is how we pass down the endangered knowledge of our natural history now — not around a campfire, not through a grandmother’s photo album, but in a field in Christoval, Texas, with a tiny beating heart in your hand and a trusted volunteer saying: this existed. Pay attention


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IU - What kind of What Labyrinth should I make? What is my site-specific message?

I wrestled with this question. There was not anything in either of Kurt Vonnegut’s books that inspired me. I do feel he wrote about what he knows and my work should be true to my own heart. A list of the obvious came to my mind- butterfly, chrysalis, beatle, seed, flower, IU letters…….

After a full day at the Eskenazie Museum on IU’s campus I was intrigued by this piece.

The museum label read-

According to traditional Bamana beliefs, an energy or force called nyama animates the universe. Objects such as this boli are made to harness that energy and use it for the benefit of the community. The thick, crusty surface is the result of offerings such as millet, other vegetal matter, beer, and chicken or goat blood, all of which are applied to attract nyama and serve as physical evidence of its presence. A boli does not represent a particular creature.

It is kind of perfect., should I make another bison? Can I make a Boli bison labyrinth?

I can see it.

Here are the steps I took

More to come tomorrow.

IU - How do you draw a labyrinth?

During the first week of my residency at IU when I wasn’t exploring the city, University, art, museums, ecology, architecture, and landscapes I was experimenting with labyrinth designs.

Some sketches of three different types of kabyrintgs.

This design starts with a simple cross. I need to keep this simple.

Turning the cross/square labyrinth upside down I decided to attempted a seed labyrinth. I think a design less feminine will be better.

TOAST - 1.5 Degrees - planet toast

I am still at IU busy working out the details of an installation. I start each morning reading/researching as I enjoy my coffee. I found this article alarming and inspiring. Climate Change Is Speeding Toward Catastrophe. The NextDecade Is Crucial, U.N. Panel Says.

Working out an idea for a future work.

1.5 - sketch for TOAST

Myy work is about the ecological solutions in urban landscapes. What solutions can I unearth in food, toast, char? - time to ponder and ruminate. Stay tuned.

IU - What Does Ecological Change look like? It looks like Beanblossom Bottom Wildlife Habitat.


To change our environmental path to one of positivity, we need visuals. With that thought, I am excited to share this morning’s experience.

We discover the captivating beauty of Beanblossom Bottom Wildlife Habitat - a living testament to the power of ecological change. Once a family farm for over a century, this remarkable property has been transformed into a thriving wetland sanctuary.

Formerly owned by the Johnson family, since 1898 Robert Anthony Johnson, an esteemed ornithologist and IU professor, dedicated his life to studying bird behavior and publishing research on diverse species worldwide. In 1995, the Johnson family generously donated their beloved farm to the Sycamore Land Trust, marking the beginning of an incredible transformation. Over the years, this once-dry farmland has evolved into a spectacular wetland ecosystem, showcasing various stages of growth and renewal.

If you are interested in regeneration Beanblossom Bottom wildlife is a must. As you explore the grounds, you'll encounter many ecosystems - from old fields returning to young forest, dense forests and lush wetlands to rejuvenating fields and downed tree-filled areas sculpted by tornadoes. These diverse habitats offer a haven for many tree and shrub species, providing ideal nesting grounds for a diversity of creatures. My husband Curtis always looking up identified nine birds : Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Green Heron, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow.

I am always looking at the soil, plants and for things living in relationship with the them.

Me in my mosquito protection wardrobe.

Prepare to be immersed in a symphony of nature's harmonious spectacle, where beauty and tranquility intertwine. Embark on a journey through the captivating landscapes of Beanblossom Bottom Wildlife Habitat and witness firsthand the extraordinary power of change.

Below are some images from the morning.

Newly forested area with little lower story plant life and dry ground.

The most important ecological change is due to one species, Nature's Water Engineers the super camera shy Beaver. By building dams, beavers regulate water flow, reducing erosion and preventing flooding. I am hoping my camera snagged an image of one. My cell phone failed.

These industrious creatures also create vital wetland habitats and help replenish aquifers, ensuring the health of our ecosystems.

Their strategic use of wood in the water provides nourishment and shelter for insects, fish and other creatures creating a thriving ecosystem. It was thrilling to see at least two of these eco engineers reminding me of the rol-engineers reminding me of the role beavers play in preserving our natural world.

Northern leopard frog

New forests are easy to identify by the lack age diversity in it's tree trunk population. An old forest will have tree trunks of all sizes multiple species and stages of life.

Sycamore trees are tolerant of pollution and are superstars at turning carbon into oxygen. Why do they shed their bark and why don’t all trees shed? - a topic for another day. If anyone knows please share.