Roads End Naturalist

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

Category: Natural History

  • The Most Wonderful Plant in the World

    “This plant, commonly called Venus’ fly-trap, from the rapidity and force of its movements, is one of the most wonderful in the world” and “is one of the most beautifully adapted plants in the vegetable kingdom.” ~Charles Darwin One of the tree species Mike didn’t include on his recent tree bark quiz, probably because it’s Read more…

    Written by

    Melissa Dowland

  • Party Surprise

    I put 100 hickory nuts on my bureau at dusk one fall evening…by midnight, she had stored them all. At midnight…counted another 100 hickory nuts and spread them. The next morning, every nut was gone. She had picked up and stored 200 in one night. ~John Terres, on how many nuts his captive flying squirrel Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • New Beginnings

    ,

    Native plants give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours. ~Lady Bird Johnson You may have noticed a slight reduction in the number of posts the last few weeks. A major reason is that I have been busy with a new chapter in my life, a new adventure. It Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Another Winter Season

    We are not the only species who lives and dreams on our planet. There is something enduring that circulates in the heart of nature that deserves our respect and attention. ~Terry Tempest Williams I ended my winter tour season last weekend, a little earlier than usual, but it finished on a spectacular note. I had Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Memories Of The Snow that Wasn’t, But Still Is

    Snow has made everything earthly clear and quiet. My mind is simple and patient. – Tuomas Anhava, Finnish writer The predicted big storm fizzled once again. We certainly live in a region in which weather forecasters are challenged to get it right when it comes to predicting snowfall. Of the predicted 5 to 6 inches, Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Refuge Renewal

    ,

    In such surroundings – occasional as our visits may be – we can achieve that kind of physical and spiritual renewal that comes alone from the wonder of the natural world. ~Laurence Rockefeller It is the season of renewal for me, the season of experiencing some of the wild spectacles of this place I call Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Standing with Swans

    Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way. ~John Muir I’ll just say it…I love being around the swans at Pungo. There is something magical about these birds and every winter I find myself drawn to them and wanting to Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Christmas Week Birds

    To be standing together in a frosty field, looking up into the sky, marveling at birds and reveling in the natural world around us, was a simple miracle. And I wondered why we were so rarely able to appreciate it. ~Lynn Thomson While visiting Melissa’s family in Richmond, I often take walks around a section Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Persimmon Seeds

    I talk to trees and animals. We have interesting conversations about food, weather, and love. They sometimes can predict the future. ~Shan Sa, author There is perhaps some truth in that sentiment, at least as far as the weather goes. Or so it seems based on the many tales and proverbs about how to predict Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn

  • Swamp Sounds

    ,

    Natural, ambient sounds give us a picture over time and define place…every landscape has a rhythm to it. ~Dr. Bryan C. Pijanowski There is, indeed, a rhythm to paddling in a swamp, and the sounds help define it. Putting our canoes in at Gardner Creek a couple of weeks ago, we could hear the sounds Read more…

    Written by

    Mike Dunn