Beverly Fooks captures some bird-friendly flowers in the community garden at Zonolite.

Adam Beutel and Cora conspire with the birds.

I didn't set out to seek community that Saturday morning of errands.

I was a company of one, going alone to rescue a week full of laundered shirts from Mr. Patel at the cleaners in Emory Village.

Then I remembered Sally Bando's asking for the Patel's parking lot to set up the model railway trains display during Emory Village's Halloween Sunday Open Streets, October 27. The Magic Touch Cleaners is the best space, she’d reminded me. So instead of a quick pickup I lingered to connect Mr. Patel and Ms. Bando for the Piedmont Model Railroad Association.

At the hardware store I couldn't find what I needed before the Boy Scouts tried to pack some popcorn pounds on me. Ha! I got off with just a donation and some good conversation.

My Lonesome Ranger act was pretty threadbare by the time I got to Zonolite Park. I only wanted to pick some zinnias from the community garden.

But the Atlanta Audubon Society chose Zonolite as headquarters for its annual Sanctuary Tour. Hundreds of people were discovering the trails through the open meadow, woods and creek as the day passed. Many told Audubon staffers they lived nearby, in Morningside, Lenox Park, Virginia Highland and never knew it existed. Beverly Fooks found bird-loving blossoms in the community garden and loved their intense color.

The park itself is a community and a connection. The creek curls alongside the trails built by Park Pride, DeKalb County and volunteers. A ten year triumph of community involvement.

I listened to Auduboners telling visitors the story of reclaiming these 12 acres from asbestos contamination and creating meadow, opening woods and building habitat for native birds. I wanted to remind them the habitat was reclaiming native neighboring humans, too. Somehow, I refrained.

As I reached deep into the zinnias planted by Pete Densmore of Edmund Park off Rock Springs I spotted another sign of connection to community. Beggar's Lice, nature's own Velcro, decorating my jeans with plump green triangles. Now I knew the universe was telling me to mind my connections. I had to smile. Beggar’s lice, not just looking for a free ride to spread its seed, but a reminder of the web of connections which builds the community for us all.