Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Category: Spring

Woodpecker Holes & Mushrooms

These are the types of little things that catch my eye while I’m out and about. Woodpecker holes and mushrooms. Of course, that’s not the only things that stop me for a photo, but it’s an example of the sorts … Read the rest “Woodpecker Holes & Mushrooms”

13 March 2026
Subtle Signs of Spring

Before the dandelions, or the first ephemeral flowers appear in the shady nooks and crannies among the rocks there are subtle signs of spring.

Dead Skunks on the Highway

Unfortunately, this is probably the first of the subtle signs of … Read the rest “Subtle Signs of Spring”

13 February 2026
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
Earthworm Trails – Mystery Solved!

Have you ever seen soft mud or sand criss-crossed with lines? I’ve always been told that these lines are earthworm trails.

But I’ve never actually seen an earthworm in those places, so I took that little nature mystery solution … Read the rest “Earthworm Trails – Mystery Solved!”

17 March 2024
Kings River in Spring | Ozark pigments in oil

Today (Tuesday 4/18/23), I started working over the underpainting I’d previously done. It was meant for the autumn scene, but I decided to use it for the Kings River in Spring because there are still a lot of autumnal colors … Read the rest “Kings River in Spring | Ozark pigments in oil”

18 April 2023
Hunting the Wild Ozark Orchids

This morning I wanted to go to a granddaughter’s Kindergarten graduation, but the bridges were flooded, so that was nixed. Then I decided that I’d wait for it to quit raining and then go out to get some better photos … Read the rest “Hunting the Wild Ozark Orchids”

25 May 2022
Spring Rains in the Ozarks

This morning the thunder boomed me out of the bed at 0400. Winds shook the house and the lightning strobed like a Halloween haunted house. This is not the sort of weather that gives me the urge to sleep, ha, … Read the rest “Spring Rains in the Ozarks”

5 May 2022
It’s Time to Plan what to do with 2022

The time to plan is before you need to, and I’m trying to get better at doing that.

This post won’t go live until next weekend, but I’m writing it during a relatively calm day in what has been a … Read the rest “It’s Time to Plan what to do with 2022”

6 August 2021
Hermit Journal Updates | Early Spring Activities

It’s been a busy past couple of weeks here at Wild Ozark. Early spring and warmer weather brings a flurry of activity here at Wild Ozark. I’ve been working on our garden, grinding more rocks, and generally just enjoying the … Read the rest “Hermit Journal Updates | Early Spring Activities”

27 March 2021
Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments

Originally, I had planned to do a series of my favorite woodland plants in grayscale. But that was before I found the stone that gives me a sort of green pigment. So changed up the plans a little. Now I’m … Read the rest “Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments”

20 February 2021
Hermit Diaries | May 2, 2020 | Wild Ozark

With the nice weather we’ve had for the past few days, I’ve been working in the garden. My hermit diaries really don’t reflect a life much different than ordinary life out here at Wild Ozark, though. The only real difference … Read the rest “Hermit Diaries | May 2, 2020 | Wild Ozark”

4 May 2020
Coronavirus Hermit| Fences, Gardens, Memories & Lilacs

Coronavirus getup for when I’m not being a hermit.

One day I’ll change the title of this from ‘Coronavirus Hermit’ to plain old ‘Wild Ozark Hermit’ journal entries. I’m digging the staying at home deal, to tell you the truth. … Read the rest “Coronavirus Hermit| Fences, Gardens, Memories & Lilacs”

8 April 2020
Check the Fences… and Waterfalls

I didn’t intend to check the fences on the steep side of our property this evening. I say the ‘steep side’ as if there is only one. Ha. No. Most of the sides on our square-shaped 160 acres are steep. … Read the rest “Check the Fences… and Waterfalls”

1 May 2019
The Sound of a Flock of Goldfinches

Today as I was driving the 4-wheeler down the driveway to go check the mail, I heard the sound of a thousand birds in the trees. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but maybe not. It was a big crowd of noisy American … Read the rest “The Sound of a Flock of Goldfinches”

23 April 2019
Two Screech Owls in a Tree

This morning before I left the house to go to the post office, I briefly thought about whether I should grab the camera or not. I decided to not. It had been a few days since I’d last caught even … Read the rest “Two Screech Owls in a Tree”

8 April 2019
Early April in the Ginseng Habitat

Every year the same flowers bloom in pretty much the same order. And although I have hundreds of images in my files, I can’t help but start heading out with the camera. The blooms start in early April in the … Read the rest “Early April in the Ginseng Habitat”

7 April 2019
If the Creeks Don’t Rise… Springtime in the Ozarks

Wild Ozark will be at Terra Studios tomorrow.

But with the rain we might get overnight and in the morning, the odds are looking poor. If I can’t make it there on Saturday, then on Sunday I should be able … Read the rest “If the Creeks Don’t Rise… Springtime in the Ozarks”

29 March 2019
Orioles at Orange Slices, Bird in the Chimney

Not the sports team, but the oriole birds have been daily visitors for about a week now. Orioles are a species that had been on my sighting wish list since we moved to the Ozarks. They migrate through our area … Read the rest “Orioles at Orange Slices, Bird in the Chimney”

5 May 2018
Enjoy Nature: Phlox and Fiddleheads

Here’s a little inspiration to get outside on this beautiful sunny day and enjoy nature.

Phlox is blooming and casting joyful purple splashes all around the Wild Ozark hills and woods, and the fiddleheads are unfurling.

24 April 2018
Finding the Horses on a Drizzly Easter Sunday Morning

On Sundays I generally sleep late. The alarm goes off every other day at 0500, but on Sundays I have no alarm at all and my body takes full advantage of that fact. I do not ordinarily wake up planning … Read the rest “Finding the Horses on a Drizzly Easter Sunday Morning”

1 April 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
PawPaw Seedling Hiding in the Hickories

There’s a hickory hiding in there with the pawpaw seedlings.

PawPaw seedlings look a lot like hickory seedlings. In the photo you can see who’s who, but without the labels it’s easy to mistake one for the other. One way … Read the rest “PawPaw Seedling Hiding in the Hickories”

7 May 2017
April Spring flowers in the Ginseng Habitat

Lots of flowers in the ginseng habitat right now. The following are just a sample.

Wild Ginger

If you don’t mind getting down on the ground, you can see the wild ginger (Asarum canadense) blooming.

Flowers are usually just below … Read the rest “April Spring flowers in the Ginseng Habitat”

15 April 2017
Early Spring Plants of the Woodlands in Madison County Arkansas

I got a late start photographing the early spring plants this year (2017). They started without me and I’ve already missed some of them.

These are some of the plants unfurling and blooming on April 1 in the woodland habitats … Read the rest “Early Spring Plants of the Woodlands in Madison County Arkansas”

2 April 2017
What’s Blooming at the end of May?

Wild Ozark plants blooming at the end of May

I took a little walkabout yesterday to photograph some of the flowers that are setting berries, blooming, or getting ready to bloom right now.

Yesterday’s post highlighted the orchid I’d been waiting … Read the rest “What’s Blooming at the end of May?”

31 May 2015