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Stick insects, known locally in North Carolina as walking sticks, belong to the order Phasmidae, derived from the Greek phasma, meaning phantom. This is because they blend like apparitions with the leaves and sticks where they rest. Though not as adaptable as chameleons, they can slightly adjust their colors to […]

With the end of August fast approaching, summer is drawing to a close in the mountains. There will still be hot days, but cool nights and the gradual fading of the insect chorus signals the end of a season. Baked by summer sun, these tawny grasses are slowly turning brown. […]

These flowers have recently started to bloom along my creek, where they attract butterflies and especially hummingbirds to their brilliant red blossoms. In Peterson’s classic Field Guide to Wildflowers he said it was “America’s favorite” and it has a foreign audience as well, having been exported from Canada to France […]

Driving from North Carolina to Tennessee the highway goes over several high mountain passes. In places the road is so steep there is an illusion of the road traveling straight up to the sky. Though most of my days I am in the forest and get little view beyond the […]

As opposed to divine light, this is a sun worshipping vine reaching toward the rays of the sun. I shot for a backlit look and played with a variety of angles, finally settling for this one which gave a tiny bit of the sun shooting into the picture. I think […]

Okay so if you are waiting for great suggestions on how to be the best you, I’d suggest asking the person in the mirror. If you want to know more about the amazing plant Salvia, commonly known as sage, here are a few facts. They like sun, and fairly dry […]

The ringneck snake is found in much of the U.S., a fairly small snake generally only a foot long, though some subspecies are slightly less and some grow up to around 18 inches. They seem somewhat more social than many snakes, often resting in pairs or even in groups of […]

In celebration of National Dog Day, here is a photo taken tonight of my canine best friend, Siggy. He usually feels underappreciated, but at least today is just for him!

I spend quite a bit of time driving between Tennessee and North Carolina. This drive never gets old for me because it changes through the seasons, and even in a day. When I just drove over there were half a dozen storms on the hour and a half drive, punctuated […]