I've made a major revision on the site. As the number of photographs
has grown so has the amount of time it takes for each page to
load on your screen. Photos are now
listed in a seasonal listing which lists the flowers by the time
of year in which they bloom. I also have a miscellaneous photos
page which contains any shots I can't otherwise categorize.
Hopefully, this will make the site easier and faster to use.
Let me know what you think of the changes.
This time of year leads a lot of folks to stay in and enjoy
a good book and a hot cup of tea. While that certainly has its
moments, don't forget that winter offers a chance to get a whole
different view of the natural world. Check out the bark on some
different trees, Persimmon
and Black Cherry are
some good ones. You can see vines
wrapped around trees in some fantastic shapes and sizes.
It's also important to realize how import winter is in the natural
world. We here in southern Appalachia are blessed with amazing
biodiversity. A big reason for that is the deep, rich soil in
the area. This accumulates here because for a few months each
year, the temperatures are low enough to slow the process of
decomposition down. If, as is the case in the tropics, decomposition
were constant the organic components of the soil would never
build up and we would have a thin, nutrient poor soil base.
Cold temperatures also help to keep our insect populations in
check. Fleas and tick populations in particular are reduced by
extended periods of cold. Not to mention that when it snows the
views are beautiful!
We are, despite the cold snap, approaching spring. Great Horned
Owls are breeding, and in some cases already have eggs in the
nest! This great predator is the subject of this month's nature trivia.
Wood Frogs and Spotted Salamanders will both be breeding within
the month, and by the end of the month the first of the spring
ephemeral wildflowers will become evident.
I've started to receive requests for spring programs and will
be posting a schedule of walks in the near future. In the meantime
if you would like to arrange a spring program, now is the time.
Booking ahead is the only way to ensure your date.
