Human + Nature: Alice Lee

Do you like to go outside? 

I like going outside. It’s my favorite thing. I like it when it’s a sunny day. I play in the sprinkler and I water flowers with my Nana. And I like to play with my little brother and play house.

Can you tell me about your flowers?

I have planted some flowers. I think I have daisies. I like to water flowers because flowers love that and they grow more. My mommy plants things besides flowers. I think she grows tomatoes.

What are your favorite things to see outside?

My favorite things I see outside are squirrels, dragonflies, and butterflies. I really like butterflies. I had caterpillars and they went into cocoons. And then they were beautiful butterflies. I let my butterflies go because they needed to find their new home. They came back one day to visit.

(Note from Alice’s mother: Those… may not have been the same butterflies but that’s what we’re going with.)

What do you like to do outside?

I have been to a bunch of parks. I love to do that. I have been to a water park. I like to go outside with my mom and dad and listen to them and talk to them. Daddy has rided me and my little brother on a bike. But now I have my own bike. It’s all pink. 

And I went apple picking and we went on a tractor ride. We had to wait our turn. We only picked the red ones — not the green ones because they are still growing. 

What is your favorite season?

I know all the seasons. I know the leaves turn color in the fall. My favorite season is when snowflakes come down. I have seen snow and when I was two years old we built a snowman and we put a carrot on his nose.

Do you know what “nature” means?

My mommy told me that nature is a lot of animals. And a lot of trees and a lot of flowers. I have seen a big mountain. One time I also went to the beach and there were jellyfish. They were on the ground and the water took them backwards and then back to the land. In the morning I saw deers and an alligator.  

Is nature important to you?

Animals and nature are important because we need to watch them and take care of them. 

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Alice Lee lives in Greenville with her mommy, daddy, and little brother Sebastian. This story was initially published in the Upstate Advocate, a twice-yearly print newsletter produced by Upstate Forever, as part of a piece called "Human + Nature: Ten Upstate Residents Share How the Natural World Shapes Their Lives." View the full issue (PDF)