Who:
Cathie Katz
Late author of 'Nature a Day at a Time'
Where:
Florida,
The following is excerpted from Cathie Katz's book, "Nature a Day at a Time," which appears in daily installments on the Club's Lewis and Clark website. This is her entry for August 6.
Pansies (Viola) are related to violets, the result of crossbreeding four different viola species in the early 1800s. An English gardener experimented for 30 years before developing the colorful velvety pansy. They bloom in the spring and last for months, providing edible leaves to eat through the summer. Seeds develop inside protective pods.
The name pansy comes from the French pensée meaning "thought." The French gave pansies to their lovers to remind them think of the giver.
So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. - Morrie Schwartz in Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
