important links:
From their website - "At Native Plant Trust, we aspire to create a shared sense of wonder, appreciation, and care for New England’s native plants. They are evolutionary marvels that translate local soils and physical landforms into the habitats that sustain all life.
Over millennia the plants, insects, and wildlife native to our region have developed mutual relationships essential for their reproduction, food, and shelter.
By conserving native plants in the wild and featuring them in designed spaces, we can nurture those biological relationships while protecting and enhancing the beauty of the landscape we call home."
Enough said!
Mr. Andy J. Miller aka Andy J. Pizza literally changed my life. His mission is to encourage creatives to "strike the perfect balance between art and business" using his own unique and oh, so authentic voice. I don't know what state my creative-self would be in without his work and his incredible podcast "Creative Pep Talks". Andy J. Pizza - keeping creatives from going off the rails since 2016.
The inimitable photographer Joel Sartore. I first discovered him as an online teacher of photography. His teaching and photography are top notch but for me where he really shines is his work for the National Geographic Photo Ark where he has been meticulously documenting the diversity of animal species on this beautiful planet. In his words - "the goal is to show the world what biodiversity actually looks like and get everyone to care about saving species while there’s still time". Thank you for your tireless work Mr. Sartore.
I’m lucky to live in Vermont. Yes, the scenery is beautiful and is perfectly good reason to settle here. But the true draw of Vermont its authentic, dedicated people. Artist and teacher Jason Alden of The Drawing Studio is one of those people. I’ve been lucky enough to be a student of his for a number of years and am so grateful for his dedication to art and generosity in sharing his process. This guy is the real deal.