On the porch of our cozy cabin in the woods, in the absence of the city soundscape, I could hear the leaves above shudder from the impact of each raindrop. Despite this week being spring break, while others escape to … Continue reading Misty Mountain Getaway
by Emily Ulrich I never found snow or ice interesting back home in Connecticut, I guess a sort of an enactment of the law of diminishing returns: the more I saw of it, the less appeal it had. It was … Continue reading The Intricacies of Ice Storms
It is the beginning of March, and already, bird song has noticeably increased in the mornings, spring peepers are calling in the evening, and trees are beginning to bud. Lately North Carolina has been the stage for a dance between winter … Continue reading Winter’s End at Morrow Mountain State Park
Remarkably, the past few days have seen daily high temperatures in the 60 to 70 F range. Under the full sun, I repeatedly felt shocked to find patches of snow in the shaded corners of buildings around my neighborhood. Yet, just over … Continue reading Fast and Flurry-ous: a Brief Visit from Winter
I am embarking on a mission that is a little unconventional. Six days ago, we all kissed 2015 goodbye and rang in the new year, full of hope for changing our lives for the better. We wrote resolutions in our journals … Continue reading Putting Our Best Foot Forward at Horton Grove Nature Preserve
This week I went back to the basics: revisiting my absolute favorite park in the Durham area. Only 15 minutes from my home, Eno River State Park was the location of my first hike when I moved here, and has been … Continue reading The Meeting Place: Eno River State Park
It’s really hard to beat a sunny day off spent in the great outdoors that ends with a gently snoring, happily tired dog curled up next to me. In fact it is my goal for this Friday November 27, the day … Continue reading Opt Outside at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve
by Stephanie Panlasigui. Walking through the redwood forest, trailed by fifteen or so fifth graders, I found the perfect spot. It was time for a duff shower. We all bent down to scoop up some duff, and bravely held it … Continue reading Down in the Duff at Jordan Lake
“But, California has seasons too, doesn’t it?” Friends commonly pose this question when I express my giddiness at the arrival of autumn. This is my third autumn in North Carolina, and I absolutely adore the season — the crisp mornings, … Continue reading Autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Living in Durham, I am lucky to have a handful of State Parks within a 45 minute drive. As we are creatures of habit, I tend to go to the same three parks when I have the chance to go … Continue reading Local Gems: Treasuring North Carolina’s Parks
As a new dog owner, I have realized that one of the many changes in my life is how I experience nature, exemplified by I took a trip to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina. I had … Continue reading A Girl and Her Dog: Duke Gardens
