What I Collect: Natural History
Hey there friends! If you ask me if I collect anything, I will say no; I’m a seller, not a collector. But then one day I stopped and thought about it and realized that I’m a bit of a collector, but I think of it more as “decorating” than collecting.
I had a small ivory pottery collection that sitting atop my kitchen cupboards, but I divested a couple of years ago–same with roosters (though I’ve kept a handful). I also collected children’s books for years, but recently whittled that collection down to just miniature children’s books. And even those I’m slowly passing on to my six year old niece who loves them.
Thinking about all of this forced me to admit that yes, I am a collector. There, I said it. Not so bad. Along those lines, I “discovered” my natural history collection, arranged on a shelf near my cookbooks. I enjoy looking at the pieces regularly, but had never confessed to myself that it’s an actual “collection.” Let’s take a look.
So when the blog post idea of sharing a personal collection came to mind, I had to stop and think, “What do I collect?” I looked no further than my kitchen shelf to get the answer. On display I found a small assemblage of natural objects. I’m fascinated by all kinds of bits and pieces of nature–rocks, shells, leaves, sticks, you name it.
I uncovered this wonderful collection of sea urchins at a garage sale about a year ago and paid the exorbitant price of fifty cents for the entire lot. Crazy, I know. Each perfect little thorny orb, in lovely shades of ivory, taupe, and brown, reflects such priceless beauty.
I found this driftwood on the beach a while back. A nice resting spot for my urchins.
The rose quartz on the bottom came home with us from England (I love pink!); my father brought me the smooth oval stone oval stone with the white striations from Lake Ontario; and I purchased the green quartz at a garage sale just a few months ago for fifty cents.
My father and his family come from the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. In his home town of North Creek, the locals mine garnet. All the gemstone quality garnets have been mined, but I’m lucky enough to own a beautiful [North Creek-mined] garnet ring that my grandfather designed for my grandmother. Garnet tailings (gravel-sized leftovers) are used throughout the area for driveways, parking lots, and general fill.
When we were kids, we’d sit by the side of the road and search for small bits of garnet (pea-sized or smaller). When we had a handful, we’d pour them into a small jar and place them on the window sill to let the sun shine through.
They’d glow ruby-red in the rays of the sun. Last autumn my husband and I found these two hunks of garnet (above) when we stopped along the side of Barton Mines Road. You can see some interesting photos of the mine and the garnets here. Tours are available July through October.
A small, dried fungi resting on a much larger one. Sometimes we draw or write on them when we find them fresh. When the markings dry, they leave a permanent message or piece of art. I prefer mine as they are found in nature, growing on fallen trees, turning them into mulch.
A close up of one of my urchins.
What do you collect?
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I’d love it if you’d pin me 🙂
I’d love it if you’d pin me 🙂
Hi you!! My goodness are your shots stunning! WOW!! What a beautiful collection you have there! I would display those in one a glass display table as the colors are just fantastic!!!! Lovely day to you!! Nicole xoxo
Wonderful collection…It is amazing the color sand textures
I collect quotes, and I thank you for the newest addition to my collection! Love your collection of earthy things. My Grandma could not pass by a rock to save her life! I guess the largest collection I have {besides books!} is my penguin collection. People have been giving them to me since I was a child. Fun post, Diana – thanks for sharing!
All of it is incredibly beautiful.
Love all the natural items you listed. I have several lamps that I filled up with seashells and items from places we were stationed while my husband was in the Navy. You don’t see lamps like this anymore Thanks you for sharing Marge
You’re welcome Marge! I occasionally see lamps like that out in the “wild” but not too often. I use large cylindrical vases and apothacary jars to show off shells in my bathroom-