“That bird was going to rearrange my entire life. Not dramatically. Not all at once. Just quietly—the way a native plant works its way through a crack in the pavement. Slowly. And then completely.”

This is the origin story of Flutter By Meadows—and, in essence, The Flutter By Effect.

In this conversation, I reflect on my connection with nature, specifically, my first encounter with a tree swallow, a moment that sparked a decade-long journey of discovery and appreciation for the natural world. I emphasize the importance of curiosity, observation, and the stories that nature has to tell.

You will gain a better understanding of what sparked me to author a blog and a podcast. I am hoping to invite others to notice the beauty around them and to engage with the environment in meaningful ways.

If you need me between now and the spring equinox, Episode 20 leaves you my whereabouts.

My Free Substack Where All My Nature Essays are Housed

You can also find additional reads here at my blog.

Or on Instagram

Chapters

00:00 The Arrival of the Tree Swallow

02:56 A Journey of Discovery

06:01 The Rituals of Nature

09:01 Curiosity and Connection

12:02 The Impact of a Single Bird

Episode 19: Why You Can’t Find Spring (And where it’s actually hiding)

It’s never been lost. It’s been quiet, and there all along.

Episode Summary: When a heavy late-winter snow split a juniper tree in Samantha’s yard, it didn't just change the view from her laundry room door—it revealed a hidden entanglement that had been there all along. In this episode, we explore the "narrowing" effect of winter and the frustration of waiting for a season that feels late.

Through the lens of a lost wedding diamond found in the most unlikely place, Samantha reflects on the paradox of finding: why do the things we search for most desperately only appear when we finally stop the hunt? Whether you’re buried under sixteen inches of snow or just feeling "weighed down and Vitamin D deprived," this episode is an invitation to step to the doorway—not as an exit, but as an entrance.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

How a split tree revealed a hidden invasive vine (and a deeper view of the yard).

Why we can't find the things we obsessively search for.

The "shimmer" that lives inside the winter grit.

Thanks for listening!

February can feel exhausting. The days are slowly getting longer, but energy still feels low.

In this reflective winter episode, I explore how cold weather doesn’t necessarily drain us — it simply reduces our range. Like an electric car in winter, we may travel the same roads… just not as far on a single charge.

After a fresh snowfall in my backyard, an unexpected female Eastern Towhee reminded me that even when life looks frozen, it is still moving underneath.

This episode explores:

Late winter fatigue and seasonal energy shifts

The quiet accumulation of daylight in February

The subnivian layer — life beneath the snow

Battery metaphors, reduced range, and rest

Why hibernation isn’t weakness — it’s strategy

Noticing what still functions

If you’re feeling low-power this winter, this episode is an invitation to conserve, recharge, and trust the slow return of light.