The Vision of a Bright World

Natural Lands Trust recently lost a dear friend, loyal member, environmental educator, and advocate. Eileen McDonnell was an inspiration for us all. In retirement she was happiest in a meadow or out on a trail, always with a camera in hand. During her 25 years as a Natural Lands Trust member, she visited more than 17 Natural Lands Trust preserves and numerous other land protection projects. Wherever her adventures took her, she would always share her photographs and musings about the natural world on her blog.

Photography allows us to see what the photographer saw, even if just for that second when the shutter snaps. Eileen’s leaves us with images of a bright world: summer sunshine, winter snow, cardinals nestle in bright green branches, monarchs landed on summer flowers. Even insects seem to smile from their perches. While many people travel the world to find stunning scenes, Eileen discovered beauty nearby – in the meadows and trails of Foulkeways retirement community where she lived, and in the natural areas of our region – especially Natural Lands Trust preserves.

Eileen’s world was one of wonder in the everyday. Her joyful photos of plants and animals are a lasting testament of her dedication to preserving and caring for land. She was profiled in by the Philadelphia Inquirer in an article that highlighted her passion for sharing nature where she was quoted as saying, “I figured I could go out there and take pictures and show everybody, and they can experience it that way.”

And so she did. We are grateful to Eileen for sharing her vision of the world with us.