If you are among the few happy readers who do not have one or more Bernd Heinrich titles notched on your belt, you are in for a “new best writer” experience. You can start with his new Summer World: A Season Of Bounty or go to one of his earlier great titles. Any title is a good starting point. This can be your BH summer.
The newest book is a gentle sorting through of observations, old and current notes on experiments, and life time knowledge about what goes on in nature all summer long. He looks, listens, and scratches around everywhere, his yard, garden, trees, driveway, roadside, creek, pond, you name it he has been in it observing more closely than you can imagine. He will soon have the most layback reader looking more closely and noticing more things happening around them in small to incredibly tiny ways.
BH’s ability to retain so vast amount of detail would in most situations be intimidating and just plain unpleasant, but not with him. He delights in sharing what he knows and seems to accept ignorance as a commonly shared human experience. He has some. You have some. There is enough for everyone, but unlike mosquito bits no one builds an immunity over the summer. The question remains however, when does he sit down to read for the pleasure of reading? If you were around him you might feel you need to find a hiding place for your afternoon nap.
An additional delight in Summer World are the line and colored drawings done by BH. They are a good sipping bourbon added to a pleasant meandering summer conversation. Feel free to join.
Our bullfrog friend from last year’s garden is Rana catesbeiana, but if that is not the correct identification, you know what you must do. Post a correction. Charles Marlin
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