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It’s Nasty Out There
The simplicity of winter has a deep moral. The return of nature, after such a career of splendor and prodigality, to habits so simple and austere, is not lost either upon the head or the heart. It is the philosopher coming back from the banquet and the wine to a cup of water and a… Read more
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Haw-inspiring Hike
One of the reasons there are so many terms for conditions of ice is that the mariners observing it were often trapped in it, and had nothing to do except look at it. ― Alec Wilkinson I must give credit to our friend, Bill, for the title of this post (hope he doesn’t mind). He… Read more
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Cold Snap
Winter’s barren landscapes chide us to give our attention to the splendor of things nearby. When the air is thick and the sky overcast, we need not travel so far to have high expectations, for in her nakedness she teaches us to be less distracted but instead to be more connected, more aware. ~Henry David… Read more
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Puffed Up
Nature now, like an athlete, begins to strip herself in earnest for her contest with her great antagonist Winter. In the bare trees and twigs what a display of muscle. ~Henry David Thoreau, 1858 It is not so much muscle I saw the other day on a walk in the Garden, but rather puffiness. I… Read more
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The Bats of Bracken
…one of the most spectacular wildlife events that you can see anywhere…It’s the largest congregation of bats in the world, and they come out of this cave by the millions. ~Mylea Bayless, a senior director at Bat Conservation International Here is another long overdue post from a wonderful trip to Austin, Texas, a few months… Read more
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Long Distance Traveler
I liked the name, snow goose, and I liked the sight of them. ~Mary Burns, In The Private Eye: Observing Snow Geese Here is a brief update on my post about this year’s Christmas Bird Count on the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge…as I mentioned yesterday, we spent some time observing a… Read more
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Counting Our Blessings
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff We had a wonderful holiday break this past week, spending time with and enjoying both families. The past few days we discussed some of the varied rituals of the holidays – specific foods for the… Read more
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Cold-hardy Blooms
It is an extremely interesting plant – October and November’s child – and yet reminds me of the earliest spring. Its blossoms smell like spring – and by their color and as well as fragrance they belong to the saffron dawn of the year. ~Henry David Thoreau, 1851 I’ll be catching up with some past… Read more
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Returning
When the uniqueness of a place sings to us like a melody, then we will know, at last, what it means to be at home. ~ Paul Gruchow It has been almost a year since I went back to work. Don’t get me wrong, I feel lucky to have landed in such a wonderful place… Read more
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Petals of Ice
[W]hat a severe yet master artist old Winter is…. No longer the canvas and the pigments, but the marble and the chisel. ~John Burroughs, 1866 Yesterday’s post shared some of the intricate beauties of a frosty morning – objects adorned with tiny crystals that reveal new patterns and create sculpted coats on everything in the… Read more
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Roads End Naturalist 