Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Category: Ozarks

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
What’s Not to Love?

I titled this photo “What’s Not to Love?” because I love (almost) everything about living back here in the middle of nowhere.

Heading home is always a pleasure. Once I turn off the pavement, the half hour it takes to … Read the rest “What’s Not to Love?”

21 April 2018
2018 Spring Awakening Watch – First Native Flowers of the Ozarks

It’s mid-March 2018 and I’m watching for the first native flowers of the Ozarks to start blooming. I particularly love the ephemeral blooms of early spring, like the bloodroot and Dutchmen’s breeches. Scroll down to see pictures and keep up … Read the rest “2018 Spring Awakening Watch – First Native Flowers of the Ozarks”

20 March 2018
Vernal Witch Hazel Flowers and Hazelnut too!

Today I went out to take cuttings from the Ozark Witch Hazel in the hopes of rooting them. I wasn’t looking for an American Hazelnut, but that’s what I found! I found the Witch Hazels, too. But I already knew … Read the rest “Vernal Witch Hazel Flowers and Hazelnut too!”

8 March 2018
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
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
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
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
Through Ice and Mud We Go – Bringing Hay to Horses

Through Ice and Mud

Whether through ice and mud, or snow, or rain or wind, kind of like the postman’s creed to deliver mail, we must deliver hay to the horses.

It’s easy to stay in touch with the wheel … Read the rest “Through Ice and Mud We Go – Bringing Hay to Horses”

7 December 2017
The Color of Cherry Leaves | Ozark Backroads Collection

These cherry leaves were such a brilliant golden yellow. They shined like a beacon in an otherwise bleak and dreary landscape.

Glad I brought the real camera along for the ride to town yesterday. I think this would … Read the rest “The Color of Cherry Leaves | Ozark Backroads Collection”

22 November 2017
Last of the Fall Colors 2017

I spent a little time down the road today trying to capture the last of the fall colors for the year. The wind has been gusting pretty hard and many of the leaves have fallen.

It seems that every year, … Read the rest “Last of the Fall Colors 2017”

6 November 2017
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) at the creek’s edge in late August. It’s one of the showiest Lobelia species that grows in the Arkansas Ozarks.

28 August 2017
Just a few Photos of Butterflies, Kings River, and a Ginseng

Not enough time to make a decent post lately, so figured I’d at least put up a few of the photos I’ve taken in the past few days of August. Click on them to make them larger.

3 August 2017
Kings River, Looking at Rocks and Evading the Rain

Rain’s a’coming.

We hiked around a few gravel bars along Kings River yesterday.

Wild Ozark is not far from the headwaters of this locally important waterway, but other than what we see from the window as we drive over the … Read the rest “Kings River, Looking at Rocks and Evading the Rain”

5 July 2017
Tall Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana)

Thimbleweed is a graceful, interesting native Ozark plant that grows along forest edges (also native to many other areas of the eastern United States). It is most often found in the dappled shade of liminal spaces between forest and clearing.… Read the rest “Tall Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana)”

3 July 2017
Woodland Flowers of June at Wild Ozark

It’s been awhile since I’ve wandered with the camera, but this morning on my way to town I brought the camera just so I could capture some of my favorite woodland flowers blooming along the driveway and county road.

The … Read the rest “Woodland Flowers of June at Wild Ozark”

7 June 2017
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
Black Cohosh or Doll’s Eyes? Companion Look A-Likes

Black Cohosh or Doll’s Eyes?

Trying to differentiate between black cohosh and doll’s eyes before they come into bloom, has been frustrating. It’s very easy to tell once they begin the blooming process as the flower stems originate in different … Read the rest “Black Cohosh or Doll’s Eyes? Companion Look A-Likes”

21 April 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
Ginseng Habitat Demonstration Garden

Announcement: The garden will NOT be open during May 2019. It will be open during April, and from June through September.

The Wild Ozark Ginseng Garden

This is a restored habitat where you can see and learn about American ginseng … Read the rest “Ginseng Habitat Demonstration Garden”

11 January 2017
Ozark Backroad Photo Journey – Come Along for the Ride

Whenever I go away from the house alone, I take my camera. A simple run to the post office or to town becomes an Ozark Backroad Photo Journey. I generally try not to do this when I have passengers or … Read the rest “Ozark Backroad Photo Journey – Come Along for the Ride”

28 August 2016
Mailbox and Back in Under an Hour

Yesterday I brought my camera with me when I went to the mailbox. If I had walked, I know it would have taken more than an hour because I would have seen so many more opportunities to stop and take … Read the rest “Mailbox and Back in Under an Hour”

20 July 2016
Installing a Culvert Retaining Wall was Today’s Homestead Project

Today I built a culvert retaining wall for the culvert on the shop driveway to keep it from washing out around the sides. I was grateful for the overcast and dreary day so I could do this work without getting … Read the rest “Installing a Culvert Retaining Wall was Today’s Homestead Project”

8 July 2016
Dirt Road Photos – Ozark Sunset Silhouettes

Scene from the dirt road in the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas.

The Ozarks from a Scenic Dirt Road

I was driving home from my daughter’s house this evening as the sun began setting on our beautiful Ozark hills. Just so happened … Read the rest “Dirt Road Photos – Ozark Sunset Silhouettes”

20 March 2016