Celebrating the flora and fauna of our lands is always worthwhile, but what is more important is ensuring the biodiversity in our backyard is protected in perpetuity, which is why Creek 53 Conservancy Trust was established. Our mission is simple: protect the watershed in the western part of Hudson, forever. As Trustees we are deeply committed to this mission. This is what inspired A Portrait of Astonishing Nature.
In A Portrait of Astonishing Nature, 53 works of original poetry and watercolour paintings come together to celebrate the animals and plant life that surround us in our everyday lives. From the elusive Alces alces (moose) to the colour-changing Mustela erminea (short-tailed weasel), each species we encounter deserves the right to survive and thrive. The flora and fauna profiled in this book have all been found in the Creek 53 watershed – the area we work to protect.
More than that, this book will inspire, astonish, and amaze: the poems are simple haiku, accessible yet reflect the complexity of the natural history of the species they describe. The watercolour is whimsical, simple, and beautiful. Eager and curious readers can also devour the back section of the book which includes plain-language summaries of the natural history of the 53 species depicted in the portraits. The book is for all ages and perfect for an armchair biologist, budding natural historian or any nature-enthusiast.
The author Hudson resident and Creek 53 Trustee, Chris Buddle is an artist, poet, writer and scientist. He is a Professor (Entomology) at McGill University and has published close to 100 scientific papers, supervised and taught hundreds of students in a 20+ year career. Chris has spent most of his life enthralled with the natural world. He is a natural historian: documenting and observing (with pen or brush), asking questions, and celebrating biodiversity.
The book is available for purchase on our website here or at the following local retailers:
Mikko
403 rue Main, Hudson Qc
Cardinal Brewing
466 rue Main, Hudson Qc
Le Corbeau et le Renard
472 rue Main, Hudson Qc
All proceeds from the sale of this book will support the Creek 53 Conservancy Trust, bettering the planet for all.