Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Category: Nature

Looking back on 20 years of roughing it in the Ozarks – Happy Thanksgiving 2025

This is a gratitude story about surviving the hardships of making the leap from a suburban life to rural and remote. I wrote this post in 2015 to celebrate a decade out here at Wild Ozark, and these are all … Read the rest “Looking back on 20 years of roughing it in the Ozarks – Happy Thanksgiving 2025”

27 November 2025
Checking our Spring Water Tank and Autumn in the Ozarks

Unless there’s a problem and we have to go up the mountain sooner, we usually check on our spring water tank before winter sets in. Today we went out among the beautiful leaf colors. Autumn in the Ozarks isn’t always … Read the rest “Checking our Spring Water Tank and Autumn in the Ozarks”

6 November 2025
Garter Snakes in my Garden

There are some garter snakes living among the rocks in my garden. I made a short video of doing nothing really, just visiting with the snakes. They watched me while I watched them. And that’s about it.

Wild Ozark Garden
… Read the rest “Garter Snakes in my Garden”

18 September 2025
The kinds of things I notice

Saturday morning, after coffee, breakfast, and feeding the horses and chickens, we discussed the task list for the day. And here’s a story that shows the kinds of things I notice while going about an otherwise typical day out here … Read the rest “The kinds of things I notice”

14 September 2025
Old Witchgrass and Autumn in the Air

I know it’s going to get warm again soon, but for now I’m loving the sights and feel of autumn in the air. I bet you’re wondering what old witchgrass is, though.

This is a new plant discovery for me! … Read the rest “Old Witchgrass and Autumn in the Air”

6 September 2025
A Poem by Joanna Macy

Yesterday I learned that Joanna Macy died on July 19, 2025. I heard about it on For the World podcast (a podcast I highly recommend, by the way!) Here’s a link to it:

https://forthewild.world/listen/joanna-macy-on-the-world-as-lover-and-self-homage

2016 original post:

This is an … Read the rest “A Poem by Joanna Macy”

7 August 2025
Building a raised stone path

Today I made a little progress. I’m building a raised stone path on about a 40* slope from the stone steps to the faucet.

This is a project years in the working. My garden is on a hillside behind our … Read the rest “Building a raised stone path”

24 July 2025
Plant Walk & Nature Journaling at Wild Ozark

There are other Arkansas nature experiences, but this one is probably a little different. The trails we’ll follow are deer trails and logging roads. The drive to get here is gorgeous. And the biodiversity here at Wild Ozark is incredible. … Read the rest “Plant Walk & Nature Journaling at Wild Ozark”

22 June 2025
Spring Wildflower Walkabout

Today I took a spring wildflower walkabout. Mostly, I wanted to see if the Showy Orchid was up yet. I thought maybe there’d be at least some leaves. There was nothing. I’d have to check daily to catch them at … Read the rest “Spring Wildflower Walkabout”

9 April 2025
The Earliest Ozark Spring Flowers

So far, the earliest Ozark spring flowers I’ve noticed have been the endemic Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis). Wriggly tendrils of yellow and orange add little splashes of color to the otherwise barren winter landscape, usually in February … Read the rest “The Earliest Ozark Spring Flowers”

8 March 2025
Lively Little Waterfall

When there’s rainwater runoff, we have a lively little waterfall. It splashes down right at the edge of our driveway and flows across it to the creek.

It usually only flows at a trickle, so only keeps the ground wet. … Read the rest “Lively Little Waterfall”

5 March 2025
Ozark Winter Walkabout

Yesterday it was almost 60*F, and inspired a little walkabout in the Ozark winter to see how the pond and creeks looked, and our little driveway glacier.

For the past few days, the temperatures have been mild, above freezing. But … Read the rest “Ozark Winter Walkabout”

26 January 2025
Our Little Driveway Glacier

At the lowest point on our driveway, there is a spring that seeps. During winters, the seep still flows. And as it does, our little driveway glacier grows. The water spreads out over the driveway and freezes into a large … Read the rest “Our Little Driveway Glacier”

21 January 2025
Frozen Fingers on a Beautiful, Brutally Cold Morning

It’s another beautifully brutally cold morning here at Wild Ozark. After bundling up to go out and feed the horses and chickens, I glanced at the package of Hot Hands and decided, nah, I’ll only be a few minutes. Twenty … Read the rest “Frozen Fingers on a Beautiful, Brutally Cold Morning”

19 January 2025
Owl Spotting Day

Before the snow began the other day, I needed to go into town to inspect one of the properties I have listed. That turned out to be a great Owl spotting day.

On the way down the driveway, the dripping … Read the rest “Owl Spotting Day”

13 January 2025
Snow Days at Wild Ozark

The past two days have been declared Snow Days at Wild Ozark. It’s been brutally cold, but today the temperatures have warmed up to 46*F so far and it is bright and sunny outside.

I haven’t been outside much because … Read the rest “Snow Days at Wild Ozark”

11 January 2025
Nature is Both Brutal and Beautiful

Beautiful brutality are two words that seem at odds with each other, right? But that’s exactly what the natural world really is – Nature is both brutal AND beautiful.

Even the parts most people would consider ugly is still beautiful … Read the rest “Nature is Both Brutal and Beautiful”

8 January 2025
Fiction influenced by Nature

This is a post I wrote in 2014 on this same date. I’ve added an update in italics, and a paragraph at the end about the current situation concerning my (lack of) writing. But re-reading this post makes me want … Read the rest “Fiction influenced by Nature”

28 December 2024
It feels like winter

Well, sooner or later ever year there comes a point where it feels like winter has arrived. This week here at Wild Ozark marked that point. It’s been 19*F some mornings, but this morning was 24*F and that is plenty … Read the rest “It feels like winter”

3 December 2024
Earth Tone Wall Art to Bring Nature Inside

Earth Tone wall art brings a sense of calm, peace, and connectedness to a room. How does it manage to do this?

Nature itself features earthy colors. So when you see them reflected in your surroundings, if you love being … Read the rest “Earth Tone Wall Art to Bring Nature Inside”

31 October 2024
Check the Spring Tank

When it’s a drought, we monitor our water usage more closely than when it isn’t so dry outside. When it gets like this, before I do anything that uses a lot of water, like washing clothes, I take a hike … Read the rest “Check the Spring Tank”

18 October 2024
Checking the Spring Seep

The ‘Seep’ is where the ground stays wet on the far end of the horse’s field. Since it’s been so dry, I wondered if it had dried up too. Because if that spot is dry, then the creek is going … Read the rest “Checking the Spring Seep”

15 October 2024
Northern Lights in the Ozarks

I’d always wanted to see the aurora borealis, and this year I’ve seen it twice. Northern Lights in the Ozarks are pretty rare to see.

How did this Happen?

These colors are the result of the electrons from the sun … Read the rest “Northern Lights in the Ozarks”

13 October 2024
The Things I See at Wild Ozark

The other day as I was driving to the office for work, I saw a beaver at the second bridge. I stopped to watch it and took some video. Then on the way home that day, I saw deer, mostly … Read the rest “The Things I See at Wild Ozark”

3 October 2024
Experiencing Nature and the Rule of 3

There’s a technique for dealing with anxiety that involves observation. It goes by many different names, but the one I know by is called the Rule of 3. I’ve found it to be excellent, not only for anxiety, but also … Read the rest “Experiencing Nature and the Rule of 3”

6 September 2024