Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell.
Research done in hospitals, offices, and schools has found that even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on stress and anxiety.
My new desk space in the corner of my bedroom (as opposed to previously in my tiny lounge). Note the Christmas present to myself – my digital microscope – used every night for the last 3 months. I hope to bring you some fascinating images……one day. The tiny memory card is jammed in the slot at the moment and I can’t get it out to transfer images to my iMac and my nature blog.
And a little reminder to the newer followers. Frogs Hollow nature reserve (lower left quadrant of the photo below), which is mostly fenced off and being re-vegetated since last year’s floods and 400 hectares of parkland up and down the Maribyrnong River is where I call home in Melbourne’s inner western suburbs.
A Moment in Time 
It must have been nice to get out for a walk, Vicki. The light is lovely.
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I like the softer light this time of year, Tracy, even more so when the golden hour arrives (that all photographers love).
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Love the bird pics, but great to see your ‘office’.
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Thanks, Peggy.
(I always wonder what desks or writing spaces regular bloggers have so decided to share my new space. It’s much better with my tiny new desk and the breeze from the bedroom windows. I can’t see the birds on my balcony, but it’s only one step into the lounge to capture some bird life).
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I’d go bonkers without my daily infusion of nature!
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I have definitely gone bonkers, have cabin fever and a whole lot of other mind/body/spirit dis-eases (meaning the ‘absence of ease’ or health of/in daily life in my case). 😀
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I’ve never heard of a digital microscope. At least, I didn’t realize that was something “just people” could have and use. Interesting. It will be fun to see any images you want to share in the future.
I’m always struck by the similarities in our environments. Here, it’s the Plantago and the Rock Dove that we share. No Pacific Black Ducks here, but my goodness, what a handsome creature.
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A digital microscope merely has a 9″ digital computer screen (and camera) to see more details of plants/insects as I can’t see through an eyepiece with my thick glasses. These days, I’ve found I can only see through my camera’s viewfinder on an overcast day.
If I could still wear my bi-focal contact lenses like I had pre-2010, I suspect I would be much better at photographing birds on sunny days. I used to photograph the small birds on my apartment balcony mostly before the sun moves over the building and becomes too hot and glaring.
I’ve always been one for the small details in anything in my life, so it really is fun using this digital microscope. Last week I jammed the tiny memory card in the side slot, so I’m hoping to get to the microscope/telescope company in West Melbourne to sort that out.
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This is the truth ~ how we need to envelop ourselves in nature every now and then to return to our more natural state. Your opening shot is so good, the sunburst through nature leaving such lighting… now I just need to slowly get out for a walk 🙂 Wishing you a wonderful day, Vicki. Take care ~
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Sorry I missed answering your comment, Randall.
Thanks and hoping you get out for that walk soon…..knee permitting. Both my knees have finally started to improve after nearly 7 weeks after the fall. Hope yours does too.
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Beautiful images and city! I love, in particular, the last one, the city skyline at sunset. Gorgeous!
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That last shot is a favourite of mine, Alina. It shows how much my home location falls into shadow at dusk, but the city of Melbourne doesn’t have any higher ground to impede that later golden hour.
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