“Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves…”
And ye elf and sprite lovers and lovers of the Bard whose words have seeped so deeply into the fabric of our language that even those who’ve never seen them toss them out with a knowing nod – get thee soon to the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater at 100 Gay Street in...
That’s Suuthern flyin squerl, ya”ll
I’ve written about these small nocturnal hang gliders before but I posted a pic of a group from my home, on Facebook, the other day and it produced more than 70 likes in one day (and I know it wasn’t the quality of the photo,) so I thought I would share our little...
A milkweed by any other name
Every year as summer approaches and the days begin to heat up I marvel at the beautiful orange explosion that protrudes from an unkempt patch of daylilies and Queen Anne’s lace that was once (BC – before children) a more kempt flowerbed. The butterfly weed (Asclepias...
A hangover of hoverers
As we turn to bask in the full glow of the summer sun, mornings begin to heat up quickly and as they heat they become quieter. The Neotropical migrants that arrive in waves in April and early May filling forests, glades, parks and backyards with the lustful music of...
A record-breaking weekend (part one)
What could be more fun than a weekend of fellowship and great birding? Maybe setting a new record for total number of species recorded during the annual Great Smoky Mountains Birding Expedition? This year was the 29th installment of the Great Smoky Mountains Birding...
When it rains – the tough go hiking
We’ve had a good run in the watershed. The Town of Waynesville has sponsored spring and fall guided hikes in its 8,000-plus acre watershed since 2007. The hikes provide a great way for residents and other interested parties to see this wonderful resource that has been...