There is a small grove of coastal redwoods at the arboretum. Underneath them, there is a small bench. I decided to sit on the bench to relax and let go of the busyness of the day. While sitting there, small branches occasionally fell out of the tree and landed on the bench. The vibrancy of the rich, burnt orange color of one of them caught my attention. While enjoying its color, I became fascinated by the shape and texture of the needles—narrow, pointed, and smooth. It was interesting to see the manner in which they were wrapped around a stem that must be underneath. It created such a beautiful pattern.
I put the small branch down on the bench. When I looked back at it a few minutes later, a small jumping spider had crawled up on it and was watching me. It was remarkable to see how its coloration matched the dead needles. I was reminded that there are so many wonders to behold in nature if I sit and take the time to slow down so that I can notice them.
