A Look Back at 2024

I thought it would be fun to share some statistics from my nature walks this year: I hope you enjoyed coming along on this journey with me! I’m looking forward to many new adventures in 2025. Happy New Year!

Autumn Beauty

I hope you’ve had a chance to get outside and enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn!

Mills Spring Greenway

Have you had the chance to explore the Mills Spring Greenway in Morrisville? I recently went for the very first time, and I highly recommend it! The Mills Spring Greenway runs between Paramount Parkway and Carrington Mill Boulevard. The flat trail is 1.16 miles long. The office buildings on Sync Street are on one side… Continue reading Mills Spring Greenway

Morning Light

I’ve been working on capturing the early morning light with my camera. Technically, it is not an easy thing to do. This was taken about 30 minutes after sunrise, as the sunlight started to filter through the trees. The golden light was absolutely beautiful. To take a picture like this, you have to find the… Continue reading Morning Light

Mushrooms

With all the rain we’ve had recently, it’s a great time to observe mushrooms! I saw this large mushroom on a hillside in the woods this weekend. Did you know that mushrooms are the fruit of the fungus growing under ground? Have you seen any interesting mushrooms lately?

Pine Pollen Season

The pine pollen really started to be noticeable last week. Everything seems to be covered in sticky yellow dust. How long will it last? I read a very interesting article from the NC State Extension Forestry division explaining how to calculate the beginning and peak of the pine pollen season. Essentially, starting on February 1,… Continue reading Pine Pollen Season

Turkey Tail Mushroom

In honor Thanksgiving, enjoy this image of turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor). You can find this mushroom growing right now on decaying logs. I saw this log on the Hatcher Creek Greenway earlier this week. Happy Thanksgiving!

What’s That? March 23, 2024

Have you ever noticed a green slime or jelly like substance on the ground after the rain? What is that? It’s Nostoc commune, or star jelly. It is not a plant. Nostoc commune is a special kind of bacteria called cyanobacteria. Regular bacteria use food to get their energy, while cyanobacteria use light to produce… Continue reading What’s That? March 23, 2024