Father Nature began as a Beetlebung leaf. The name "Beetlebung" is peculiar to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Everywhere else this widespread tree is known as a Nyssa Sylvatica, Tupelo, Black Gum or Sour Gum. "The Vineyard" version,  "Beetlebung,"  was coined because its wood was used to make mallets, called "beetles," that were used to pound stoppers (plugs), called "bungs," into wooden barrels.

In 2012, by chance if there is such a thing, Jonny found ONE Beetlebung leaf that astounded him. In it, on both sides, was and is the image of a bearded man gazing out at "The World." His beard appears to be a young, hopeful owl (owls are symbols of wisdom because of their association with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom).

Jonny named this leaf "Father Nature" because "He" resembles what an anthropomorphized "Father of Nature" would look like and Father Nature came to Jonny as a "one-in-a-trillion" find. How can the odds be truly calculated? 

Here are images of both sides of the Father Nature Leaf. Its actual size is 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high, including the stem, which has since fallen off.

Father Nature "says" : I've Looked Through Leaves From Both Sides Now :

It took Jonny a long time to decide how to create an artwork that included both of the above images. He carefully cut out 6 x 12" prints and adhered them to a primed, fine plywood circular board. There they remained for years until Jonny felt the inspiration to adorn them. What a process it was! 

When it was done he debated the pitch black insect head-like background around Father Nature's images. Then he realized, more profoundly, that Father Nature's one-in-a-trillion-leaves face was saying :

"OH, Dear HUMANS! You have such a wonderful Earth to live on. Do you care what happens to it? Do you care FOR it? If you don't, if you allow its Natural forces to be at odds with your actions, your inaction to care for your Big Home may result in other creatures dominance on Earth, even the insects." 

If the buyer of this Father Nature artwork wishes to negotiate a way for Father Nature's images to be consciously and respectfully distributed, Jonny is open to that idea for developing a business plan.

The 30 inch diameter Father Nature circle is permanently mounted to a 33 1/2inch diameter circular backboard, giving it a floating frame effect. The backboard has two ovalesque holes to lighten the overall weight of the artwork at 12 pounds. Here was that backboard before the Father Nature circle was mounted to it :

Out of respect, Jonny tried to embed a link here. Instead, if one copies and pastes this into a youtube search  . . . Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now (rare live performance 1969)  . . . one may see and hear a great version of Joni Mitchell's wonderful song, Both Sides Now.

Why mention it here? Jonny recreated a concept that originated with her song when he quoted Father Nature saying :

"I've Looked Through Leaves From Both Sides Now." 

In fact, Jonny attended Ms. Mitchell's 1969 Zellerbach Hall (University of California, Berkeley) concert and was so moved he wrote a song. Its copyrighted lyrics are  :

Joni played her guitar and her people

plucked their strings gently and low

sang her songs

she was learning piano

then three encores

the end of the show

as she gracefully entered the spotlight

and began to tighten a string

it broke with a twang and it hurt her

she stepped forward

and started to sing

oh her voice filled the hall

floating lavender velvet

pulled by two white doves

her chest filled with love 

and her eyes looked forever

the ceiling flew off from above

I sat in my seat but flew with it

beyond Berkeley's Bay and the sea

around this planet we live on

to a hill where an English Lady

stood, singing a beautiful ballad

I knew I'd heard somewhere before

a song sung at one with the lilacs

sung sweetly forever more

sung sweetly forever more