Clouds of small insects floated above our heads. They didn’t try to bite us. Tom and I were kayaking on the lake. We stopped, floated, and watched them. They were too small and fast to identify – they were smaller than mosquitoes, a little bigger than gnats: As we talked to each other about how beautiful … read more Sounds like a dragonfly
Category: Trees
To See A Tree: A naturalist’s journal of the Southern Appalachians. Our ambivalent and ignorant relationship with the natural world
The most lush spring ever
Self-centered creature that I am, I’ve been feeling as though this spring was designed and built JUST FOR ME. With a long winter of struggling through recovery from brain surgery, I felt shrunken and afraid. Then the flowers bloomed. And bloomed. And kept blooming. It has been a spring of tremendous abundance. I hoped to see one … read more The most lush spring ever
Lightening up
I was up at 4 a.m., roaming the house, trying to get away from the noise I was hearing outside. It sounded like an air conditioner, one that was struggling too hard and needs to be fixed. It ran and ran and never shut off for the two hours that I was awake. The sort of … read more Lightening up
Elevation gain
A week ago, I tackled the steep mountain trail that goes to about 3,000 feet, and was delighted that I did the uphill half in 53 minutes. Wanted to do a little better this time. Another objective was to capture a photo of the flower that I was unsure of last week. Today it was clear: When … read more Elevation gain
Certain kind of wind
Cold that comes in the wrong month, big oaks have to bend, light that’s caught in the leaves, a certain kind of wind Air from the Caucasus, memory of other breezes, uneven breath, an old man’s sighs, homesick for an unknown place Movement without purpose, shapes without form, stirred restless without progress, old movies on … read more Certain kind of wind
The silence of the ferns
It was nearly sunset as I crashed through the forest. I usually make some noise while hiking in areas with bears, wild hogs and snakes, so that they have a chance to clear out before I confront them. Plus, I’d just left a community jam session, and the little bit of sing-along got my musical heart beating. … read more The silence of the ferns
Tick, tick, tick
No matter how hot it gets, I wear long pants and a hat when I hike through the woods. Along with bug spray, this is my protection from ticks and chiggers. It’s not enough, though. Chiggers are the larvae of mites, and they hang out near the ground where it’s moist. They jump onto your clothes … read more Tick, tick, tick
Old friends, new friends
A storm was coming. I had to hike early today to beat it, because I was going to do a tough trail. It’s one I haven’t been on in many months. But my recovery seems to be mostly over, and I felt ready to tackle it. The trail starts out with a piece that climbs steadily but … read more Old friends, new friends
The one-legged grasshopper
When we’re at the cabin, we sit around for hours, reading or just looking at nature. Booger Hollow is that kind of place. Sitting still, outside, gives me the chance to observe lots of insects. So I saw this guy. He was moving along the railing and I got closer to watch. Then I noticed he was … read more The one-legged grasshopper
Between heaven and hell
Their branches curve thick and muscled as the arms of thugs on the waterfront. Their leaves sprout glossy and tough, built to survive temperatures 20 degrees below zero. Their roots defy attacks, continuing to grow even when everything else on the tree has been chopped off. This plant is not just a survivor, but a warrior. The pollen is violent: … read more Between heaven and hell