“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” —John Muir Ah, nature. It’s a balm for the spirit and an education for the soul. It has nurtured a wealth of poetry and literature, inspired some of the most treasured works of art, and moved musicians to create soul-stirring compositions. Take Beethoven, for example, who is said to have developed a love of nature in his youth, enjoying strolls along the Rhine River with his father. Despite losing his mother at a young age, having a father who was an alcoholic, and starting to lose his hearing at the age of 28, Beethoven created some of the most beautiful music the world has ever known—with nature often acting as his inspiration. Nature spoke, and Beethoven listened, translating what he heard into music. “No one can love the country as much as I do,” he said. …