Hero of Habitat Conservation – E.O. Wilson
The work of E.O. Wilson has been a major inspiration for monthly conservation articles by Charles Hess. I wrote them for the newsletter of GNTOS (Greater North Texas Orchid Society) for several years, beginning in March 2014. Although GNTOS is devoted to orchids, we must remember that orchids live in a complex ecosystem, and it is not possible to think about protecting orchids in the wild without considering the larger challenge of saving the native habitats where they thrive.
Many orchid species live in rain forests, which is why I enthusiastically support the work of Rainforest Trust. But orchids are also found in other types of habitat. Some truly beautiful orchids are found in North America, and they are actively being studied by SERC (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center). I was delighted to learn that the prestigious Smithsonian Institute has devoted resources to this study, and I happily support their efforts with my art sales.
My wife, Trudy, who created this web site, is very much involved in all my conservation work, including being co-creator of these articles, as well as creating the note cards, bookmarks, and other orchid items whose gross sales proceeds all go toward habitat conservation.
Thank you for stopping by, and happy reading.
The Power of One
“Every one of us can make a contribution. And quite often we are looking for the big things and forget that, wherever we are, we can make a contribution. Sometimes I tell myself, I may only be planting a tree … Continue reading →
Mother’s Day Greeting – the Earth is our mother, too!
Sooner or later, we will have to recognise that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.
– Evo Morales (President of Brazil)
“Art makes your soul grow” says Kurt Vonnegut
I have a white mug with a photo of Kurt Vonnegut one one side and part of this quotation on the other. I use it for dipping my brush into water. The message from Mr. Vonnegut serves as a powerful … Continue reading →
Why is art important? Composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein explains
It is so sad that art is at times considered a luxury, even superfluous. Governments, in an effort to trim the budget, all too often decide that teaching children about art is an unnecessary frill, and as a result art … Continue reading →
A well-known scientist makes a case for the importance of art
I like what Neil DeGrasse Tyson has to say about art — why we need it, what it does for us. Tyson’s work is in physics, where he has certainly been a big contributor. At the same time he has … Continue reading →