Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road

Author: Mike Dunn

  • Patterns of Spring

    We find the works of nature still more pleasant, the more they resemble those of art. ~ Joseph Addison This Spring has been incredibly beautiful here in the woods. Always a favorite time of year for me, it has been heightened by the almost perfect weather in recent weeks. The fresh green color of the Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Into the Haw

    The rivers flow not past but through us. ~John Muir The Haw River flows along the boundary of the community where we live. It is a beautiful, rocky, river that flows 110 miles from its headwaters in Forsyth County, through Jordan Lake, to its confluence with the Deep River, where they combine to form the Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • First Bison

    There’s so much for you to see outdoors. The one requirement, you have to be there to see it. ~Greg Dodge The first bison calf of the season was reported yesterday from Yellowstone National Park. It is the first of many hundreds to be born over the next couple of months. Act now and you Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Bald is Beautiful

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    With the exception of a body of rocks looking like the ruins of an old castle, near the southwestern extremity, the top of Roan may be described as a vast meadow, without a tree to ob­struct the prospect; where a person may gallop his horse for a mile or two, with Carolina at his feet Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Sunset Birds

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    Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty, if only we have the eyes to see them. ~John Ruskin While we saw a variety of wildlife on our Florida adventure, I was a bit surprised we had not seen as many birds as I had hoped. As I mentioned in an Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Big Cypress

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    If, in the name of progress, we want to destroy everything beautiful in our world, and contaminate the air we breathe, and the water we drink, then we are in trouble. ~Marjory Stoneman Douglas, in response to critics saying that conservationists were trying to halt progress in Florida by preserving Big Cypress Swamp Big Cypress Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Everglades

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    There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known. ~Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author of The Everglades: River of Grass, 1947 Sitting by the fire yesterday afternoon, I can hardly believe I spent last week in the Florida heat Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Color Me Cryptic

    Theories pass. The frog remains. ~Jean Rostand, French biologist and philosopher While walking down by the intermittent stream in the woods this week, I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned, but didn’t see anything at first. When I stepped in the direction of the flash, it happened Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • The Procession

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    Come with me into the woods where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible. ~Mary Oliver I have been busy these past couple of weeks, busier than I like, especially for this time of year. It is the time Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Swan Song

    The Earth has music for those who listen ~George Santayana Over the years, I have been privileged to lead thousands of people to some incredible natural areas in our state and beyond. We often take time to reflect on our experiences and I have seen and heard some wonderful stories about how a place or Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn