Like the petasites pushing their purple conical heads through the cool soil to feel the warm sun of May, all of nature emerges from the deep slumber of this long winter. Movement and energy return, every manner of insect springs into action, flora and fauna busily work from sun-up to sun-down to take full advantage of the life they have left. For some, like most insects, that can be a few days or weeks. In contrast, the life of the maples and oaks spans human generations. No matter how short or long, all of nature -- insect or tree -- lives the life it has to the fullest. It is from nature that we can truly see the Latin aphorism, Carpe Diem, at work; and it is from sages like Rachel Carson that inform our ability to learn its lessons.