The end of Summer is a bittersweet time for the naturalist. Most animals have stopped breeding, birds are hardly singing, many plants have finished blooming and are setting seeds, leaves are starting to drop, and the natural world is making […]
Nature Notes by Bill Dunson
July is a peak season for perennial flowers and flowering shrubs and is thus a great time to observe butterflies. I refer to butterflies as “flying flowers” since that is what they most resemble. Indeed many species are totally dependent […]
There is much to see during a nature walk along the Haw River in middle to late June and early July. River flow and depth of course vary with rainfall but the river is highly “flashy” and rapidly […]
The honeybee Apis mellifera is native to Europe and was brought to N America in the 1600’s by colonists. In southern areas this European bee has intergraded with a “killer bee” or Africanized bee which is a hybrid […]
My philosophy of gardening has gradually morphed over the years from selecting plants that primarily please me to instead selecting almost entirely those plants that benefit wildlife, specifically birds and pollinating insects (especially butterflies and bees). I initially try to […]
Spring comes in many guises in the Piedmont lowlands of NC. It may be the passage of migratory birds, or the calling of frogs of different species, or the awakening of many life histories of animals and plants quiescent during […]
In middle to late March weather conditions in SW FL are becoming very dry. There is very little rain (April is the driest month) and the temperatures are rising into the 80’s regularly during the daytime. This […]
We spend most of our winters in SW FL, but this year we were at our new nature preserve along the Haw River in Graham, NC, Feb. 7-16, 2023. We were attending a “white coat ceremony” for our grandson Blake […]
Life in our area of SW Florida changed dramatically on Sept. 28, 2022, when hurricane Ian passed though (slowly). It came from the Gulf into Charlotte Harbor and moved to the interior. It was listed as a category four […]
My wife and I recently purchased two parcels of 36 acres total adjacent to the beautiful Haw River in Alamance County, NC. Our intent was not only to retire near our son in Durham, but to have a small oasis […]
At our new 36 acre private nature preserve along the Haw River near Graham, NC, there are a surprising variety of aquatic habitats and terrestrial communities affected by animals that live part of their lives in wetlands. Aside from the […]
In middle to late June insects become abundant and butterflies are probably the most exciting to observe and try to identify. Here at our new […]
We drove from FL to NC on April 9 planning to enjoy some of the natural pleasures of springtime at our new home on 36 acres along the Haw River in Alamance County, NC. It is difficult to leave FL […]
Although the exact dates are unpredictable, it is certain that Lemon Lake will dry up possibly several times of year generally in April and in summer. This happens when the balance between rainfall, tidal heights and evaporation are such that […]
Finding butterflies and other pollinators is slim pickings in January and February in SW FL with recurring cold fronts and strong winds. But as March approached this year (2022) we have had a stretch of quite warm weather with mild […]
Winter definitely slows down nature watching in terms of total species to be seen, but there is still a good variety of exotic and native kinds of fauna and flora to be enjoyed. One of the very best times to […]
Our chosen place for escaping the winter climate of eastern N America has been the SW FL coast around Englewood for more than 26 years. Not only is it warmer here than up north but you can continue to enjoy […]
A recent walk at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve (LCWP) near Englewood, FL, in the third week of November with members of the Peace River Butterfly Society was notable for the interesting butterflies seen in addition to other animals. Thanks to […]
My wife Margaret and I are embarking on a new adventure in our elder years. In a desire to be closer to our son who lives in Durham NC, we have purchased an 18 acre property and old ranch house […]
Our groups (bird and native plant clubs) recently had the opportunity to visit one of the least known state parks in NC, which is virtually in VA up near the tiny crossroads of Mouth of Wilson. This park, […]