Roads End Naturalist

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


Category: Uncategorized

  • Ice Art

    Ice has a social life. Its changeability shapes the culture, language and stories of those who live near it! ~Robert Macfarlane I went for a walk in our cold woods on Monday and came across some remnant ice patterns left from a combination of heavy rain followed by frigid temperatures while we were away for Read more…

  • The Birds Are Back

    Many people think of winter as bereft of birds after autumn migrations, but in fact this can be a bountiful season for bird-watchers. ~Val Cunningham It is the time of year when I yearn to be with the birds of Pungo. There is something magical about their abundance, their flight, and their sounds. And the Read more…

  • December in the Woods

    Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods. ~William Wordsworth I’m trying to get into our woods every few days to see the changes that are occurring as autumn transitions to the bones of winter. The big change this week was the sudden accumulation of oak leaves on the forest floor. Read more…

  • What the Cameras See

    The trees will tell their secrets to those who tune in. ~Steven Magee I check the trail cameras once a week or so and am always anxious to see what secrets they uncover in our woods. The past few weeks it has mainly been squirrels chasing each other around and deer, lots of deer. November Read more…

  • November Treat

    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 It’s been awhile since I posted. Not sure where the time goes, but here we are. Last week I had a last minute idea to run down to my favorite Read more…

  • Happy Halloween

    Like delicate lace, so the threads intertwine, oh, gossamer web of wond’rous design! Such beauty and grace wild nature produces… ~Bill Watterson Yes, ’tis that special holiday, ’tis Halloween. And we manage to gravitate toward all manner of spooky things and transfer our fears anew to many elements of the natural world such as bats, Read more…

  • September Deer

    I don’t have to take a trip around the world or be on a yacht in the Mediterranean to have happiness. I can find it in little things, like looking out into my backyard and seeing deer in the fields. ~ Queen Latifah It is deer season. They are very active in our woods as Read more…

  • The Allure of Moving Water

    Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.   ~Lao Tzu One of our refurbished pools has a small waterfall. Since the pool was dug on a slope, a waterfall seemed like a logical addition. Besides the aesthetic aspects, there is an added benefit of the sound of moving water, Read more…

  • Winter Wonderland

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    Through the weeks of deep snow, we walked above the ground on fallen sky… ~Wendell Berry I alluded to this trip in our last post when I whined about missing our “big snow” at home while we were away. Well, we were away in our happy place, Yellowstone. And, even though it is experiencing a Read more…

  • Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday

    He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter…. ~John Burroughs May you find happiness and peace this holiday season. A few images from winters past… Read more…