Category
by Linda Martinson
February 2020
One could write a book about coyotes, but don’t bother because an excellent and engaging one has already been written: Coyote America by Dan Flores. Coyote America has been described as “one of the great epics of our time…a masterly synthesis of scientific research and personal observation….the illuminating five-million-year biography of [an] extraordinary animal.”
Read moreby Linda Martinson, Blue Ridge Naturalist
We often have interesting weather in Western North Carolina. One day this month, during about an hour and a half period mid-morning we experienced; fog, sudden sunshine, rain turning to sleet, gusty winds, sunshine again, and then, a lovely rainbow over the mountains. The last few days have been so cold that the rhododendron leaves are calling for help. It’s sometimes hard to get a grip on the weather in January and in our area in general.
Read moreby Linda Martinson, Blue Ridge Naturalist
Does anyone else feel that the year has flown by? But undaunted by a late start, I have compiled several suggestions for gifts of books that help strengthen our connections with nature. Research results indicate that being in green spaces, parks, forests, and other natural surroundings reduces our stress and anxiety and makes us feel more alert and aware of our surroundings. Spending more time in natural settings increases both short- and long-term memory, as well as improving one’s attention span. Also, hospital patients recover more quickly if they are able to spend some time in green spaces. And so, here are eight books (with some long titles) to inspire us to spend more time outside:
Read more
