I first met Peggy at an Earth Day event at Oakland (Florida) Presbyterian Church. I was inspired by her knowledge and love of nature. As my own interest in healthy plant-based eating, food and sustainability, and the environment grew, I often consulted Peggy.
In 2024, I had the privilege of visiting with Peggy at her 5 -acre property on Lake Lucy in Orlando. Her property has been restored to its original longleaf pine/ sandhill habitat. It is a living example of Peggy’s commitment to nature and conservation.
I also had the honor of selecting an excerpt from Peggy’s book, Earth Care: A Florida Naturalist’s Thoughts on Creation, that appeared on the back of the Order of Worship at Peggy’s Celebration of Life service in January 2026.
Inspired by Peggy, I wrote a Haiku that expressed my hope of someday seeing a flower on the cactus that I found. I submitted it to the inaugural Peggy Lantz writing contest established by the Florida Native Plant Society to honor Peggy’s legacy as a nature writer and advocate for Florida’s native plants.
In case you aren’t familiar with Haiku, it is a poem with a three sentence 5-7-5 syllable structure. There can be one verse or multiple verses.
Here is the one verse Haiku that I wrote:
Sharp spiny cluster
New with a pretty flower
Prickly Pear Cactus
I miss Peggy and her mentorship, but I know that her Earth Care work continues through all of the people who loved her.
Peggy Sias Lantz will be Forever in Our Hearts.
Mary Kaeding
Next week, a member of the Scripture Walk team, Aimee Bernardo, will reflect on "Morning Stillness -A Practice of Presence."