Nature’s Hidden Vocabulary: my Vermont Childhood in Poetic Words

Some experiences are so vivid they imprint on us forever like the scent of earth after a storm, the warmth of the winter sun, or the hush of wind moving through leaves. Growing up in Vermont, I felt these moments deeply, though I didn’t have words for them at the time. Later, I discovered that languages across the world had given them names.

These rare, beautiful nature words not only describe the natural world but also deepen our connection to it. They remind us that language is another way to listen to the earth.

• Petrichor – The earthy scent after rain. Vermont summers carried the fragrance of wet soil and pine, a reminder of renewal after every storm.

• Psithurism – The sound of wind through leaves. Autumn in Vermont was a living orchestra of whispering maples and birches.

• Apricity – The warmth of the sun in winter. On cold Vermont days, sunlight was a quiet gift that lifted spirits.

• Komorebi – Sunlight filtering through the trees. Hikes through the forest glowed with golden light dancing between the branches.

• Susurrus – A soft, whispering or rustling sound. Twilight carried a gentle chorus including  brooks, crickets, and the quiet rustle of leaves.

Why These Words Matter

Each of these poetic words connects us to a feeling, a memory, and a sense of presence with the natural world. For me, they are the vocabulary of my Vermont childhood, a reminder that nature speaks in whispers, scents, and fleeting warmth.

At Birdsong Medical Centre, we believe that health and healing also come from this sacred attention to nature. Just as language gives us tools to understand the world, mindful presence allows us to tune into the rhythms of the earth and into ourselves.