My sister Victoria’s house is surrounded by acres of what I call “just watch me” nature, which is nature that does whatever it wants to, and laughs in your face if you try to reason with it.

She also has a gorgeous garden and pond (but that’s not what this story is about.)

Growing up in Los Angeles, my experience with nature was isolated to trapped backyards, vines climbing and dying on brick, and curated little pockets of manicured trees and bushes.

This means that back when I visited my sister’s home for the first time and she suggested we go for a walk on the beautiful land surrounding her house, I, like a naive Nature Tourist, said yes.