Urban Nature: Spring Has Sprung on the High Line [photo]

New Yorkers and tourists alike enjoy a bit of nature and open sky this weekend on the High Line.

Photo: Kade BP Hutchinson.

Even in the City - perhaps most especially there - even short walks in the outdoors decrease stress hormone levels significantly.

Do camping trips turn you into a morning person?

It's a legit question. Despite all my tree-hugging glory, most mornings you had best not get between me and my first cup of joe. It "ain't purty."

Photo courtesy MNN/LiveScience.

My better half, well-accustomed to my bleary-eyed, somewhat frightening lack of humanity of a morn, commented with no little surprise when, on our very first camping trip together, I uncharacteristically popped out of my sleeping bag long before him.

I will say that since then, he's learned I do still appreciate some coffee as soon as possible even when camping, but the fact does stand: I'm way more chipper in the mornings when out camping.
So it pleased me to run across this little gem of a science tidbit, written by Carl Nierenberg of the tremendous LiveScience (@LiveScience) family of sites, and in this case published on the delightfully crunchy Mother Nature Network (@MotherNatureNet). The title, "How a camping trip can turn you into a morning person," immediately caught my eye, given my disposition. If you're anything like me, you'll enjoy the read -- check it out!

Cheery Cherry Blossomness!

I'm sure I'm not the first to post one, but this is the first cherry blossom tree I've seen blooming in the District this year -- so I'm bloody well taking a picture! ;-)

Scott Circle, Washington, DC. Immediately before a storm that
will probably annihilate nearly every last bloom. :-/ 

Very cool! Want a more meaningful Spring Break experience in Tijuana?

If so, head to TRNERR.org. The San Diego Refuges (@SanDiegoRefuges) say that you can learn about available

Photo: TRNERR.

volunteer opportunities on the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve website. When you find your bliss, sign up right there on the spot!

Alternative Break!

I say horse ... you say carriage.

I say spring ... you say break!

Some of my favorite Spring Break memories weren't from beach keggers, though -- they were from field trips and volunteer trips.

 University of Colorado Boulder has one such program officially instituted: Alternative Break. Spring Break on San Diego's beaches, helping their wildlife refuges? Sign me up!