Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Category: Nature

Relics of Seasons Past & Sepia-toned Beauty

I went in search of harbingers of spring but found only sepia colored relics of seasons past.

Relics

Not sure what the flower is, but it makes a pretty relic.

This is one of my favorites – a dried wild
… Read the rest “Relics of Seasons Past & Sepia-toned Beauty”

24 February 2018
Namesake of the Dragon – Another Green Dragon Drawing

Here’s the second of the Green Dragon drawings I’ve been working on. I posted the first part of it last week. This part is called the spathe (the hood) and the spadix (the long ‘tongue’) and it is the … Read the rest “Namesake of the Dragon – Another Green Dragon Drawing”

23 February 2018
Frozen Fog in the Distance

We’re not getting snow this winter, but we’ve gotten a few glimpses of frozen fog, or hoar frost, at least.

22 February 2018
Too Many Irons in the Fire

This is a fiery sunset photo taken several years ago and it prompted my idea to write this post about having too many irons in the fire. Dense dark clouds hung low on the horizon, allowing the setting sun to … Read the rest “Too Many Irons in the Fire”

21 February 2018
Armadillo Dilemma: To Kill or Not to Kill

Armadillo hide-out.

So last summer I noticed an armadillo had moved into one of the ginseng nursery beds. It’s been a destructive force in the area since it arrived a couple of weeks ago. I wrote this post while trying … Read the rest “Armadillo Dilemma: To Kill or Not to Kill”

19 February 2018
Day 11 – Nature Journal Series

About this journal entry

My son says my nature sketching looks like a turkey feather. It is not. It is a leaf half submerged in the water, haha. Can’t have the world at large making the same mistake.

About the
… Read the rest “Day 11 – Nature Journal Series”

18 February 2018
Day 10: Nature Journal Series

Old Oak Tree

About this journal entry

I’m not sure this tree is a Post Oak, but she is old and her name is Gloria. Gloria graces our front yard and she has been there for probably 200 years. … Read the rest “Day 10: Nature Journal Series”

17 February 2018
Things I’ve Heard but Never Seen- Spring Peepers

How many things have you heard but never seen? One that confounds me every year is a little frog.

Today was a very windy and warm day, warm enough to make it easy to work up a sweat while helping … Read the rest “Things I’ve Heard but Never Seen- Spring Peepers”

15 February 2018
A Green Dragon Drawing

I’ve been working on a Green Dragon drawing for the cover of NANPS’s summer issue of Blazing Star. There will be another of the spathe and spadix to do next. That one will be used in the article.

Here’s the … Read the rest “A Green Dragon Drawing”

13 February 2018
Guest Post: Climate Change. Just My Thoughts and Observations

A note from Madison: Just to clear up some confusion – This is a guest post. It’s not my article. My own opinion on things is a lot more woo-woo and probably a lot less “scientific”, in spite of my … Read the rest “Guest Post: Climate Change. Just My Thoughts and Observations”

11 February 2018
What Does a Nature Farm Produce?

Today I took a little hike after feeding the horses. I was on a mission to collect moss and lichen-covered branches. These are just some of the things the Wild Ozark Nature Farm produces.

And that’s how a nature farm … Read the rest “What Does a Nature Farm Produce?”

9 February 2018
Things I’ve Learned (Since Moving to the Country)

These are the things I’ve learned since moving out here to Wild Ozark.

I used to think I lived in “the country”, before we moved out here. That was thirteen years ago and I quickly realized once we burnt the … Read the rest “Things I’ve Learned (Since Moving to the Country)”

8 February 2018
An Exploration of our Wild Ozark Bluff

Yesterday we took the day off from our usual daily work and hiked around Ozark bluff that follows our driveway. Every time we travel to and from the house, we look at it and comment that we’d like to get … Read the rest “An Exploration of our Wild Ozark Bluff”

7 February 2018
Hiking to the Wild Ozark Corner Bluff

A while back, I posted about our exploration of the bluffs along the driveway. This time we went hiking to what I call the “Corner Bluff”.

It’s not far away, either, but takes a bit of effort. Getting to … Read the rest “Hiking to the Wild Ozark Corner Bluff”

7 February 2018
Freezing Fingers for Nature Art – Photos, Bringing Hay to Horses on an Icy Morning

It was 12* F as the sun came up over the mountain yesterday morning. I headed outside to feed the animals, and freezing fingers were in the forecast. When I fed the horses, I walked across the creek to check … Read the rest “Freezing Fingers for Nature Art – Photos, Bringing Hay to Horses on an Icy Morning”

6 February 2018
Black and White Cloudscape #nowordsneeded

#nowordsneeded and the title of the photo are all I put on these posts. If you’d like to participate in this Twitter and Blogging meme, use the hashtag in your title and leave a comment with a link to
… Read the rest “Black and White Cloudscape #nowordsneeded”

3 February 2018
Guest Post: A Nature Enthusiast’s Guide to Southwest Missouri

A note from Madison: I get many requests by content providers to do guests posts here on the Wild Ozark blog. Most of the time, the subject matter isn’t closely related enough to nature or any of the site topics. … Read the rest “Guest Post: A Nature Enthusiast’s Guide to Southwest Missouri”

31 January 2018
Build your Herbal Armory!

Useful plants grow all around us. It’s time to start building your herbal armory of plant allies now.

My book, 10 Common Plants worth Knowing in a Long-term Survival Situation, will introduce you to ten at a time. I’ll … Read the rest “Build your Herbal Armory!”

17 January 2018
Day 9: Nature Journal Series

Grapevine & Insect Observation

Nature Journal entry from Day 9.

About this journal entry

On Day 9 of my daily journaling stint, I didn’t feel like getting off of the porch and I wondered if I could find something nearby … Read the rest “Day 9: Nature Journal Series”

3 January 2018
Day 8: Nature Journal Series

Acorn on Weathered Stick

Nature Journal entry from Day 8.

About this journal entry

On Day 8 of my daily journaling stint, I couldn’t help reflecting on the sounds of trees dying in the distance. Chainsaws and crashing … Read the rest “Day 8: Nature Journal Series”

1 January 2018
The Last Snow of 2017

This morning I woke to the sparkly glitz of snow flurries. We’ve hardly had any snow at all this winter so far. Just a bare dusting a week or two ago, and that’s it.

When the sun came out, the … Read the rest “The Last Snow of 2017”

31 December 2017
Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues

When you rely on a spring for water, you need a tank. This is our 1500 gallon water collection tank.

Using a spring for water requires more effort than relying on tap water. Sometimes, just because you turn on the … Read the rest “Using a Spring for Water – Winter Issues”

29 December 2017
How Ginseng Stewardship Also Benefits the Landowner

Someone asked me yesterday about how ginseng stewardship benefits the landowner. It stumped me at first, because I’d never considered it from that angle.

What is Stewardship?

To steward something is to manage or take care of something. The short … Read the rest “How Ginseng Stewardship Also Benefits the Landowner”

24 December 2017
A Couple of Photos from Today: Mossy Oak Limbs and Our Dirt Road

I find certain trees are just as beautiful in winter as they are the rest of the year. This old tree with her mossy oak limbs is one of my favorite photo subjects.

Mossy Oak Limbs

Our Dirt Road

Here’s … Read the rest “A Couple of Photos from Today: Mossy Oak Limbs and Our Dirt Road”

21 December 2017
Sun Sparkles

On this day in 2015, we had snow and sun sparkles. So far this year it’s been unseasonably warm and no snow so far. That could change this weekend, though – snow is in the forecast!

Since we haven’t had … Read the rest “Sun Sparkles”

21 December 2017