Category Archives: Connecting to Nature

Cierva Cove, Antarctica

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Lawrence Wade

Photos and text by Jane Ball. Jane is a frequent contributor to the Old Naturalist. She has traveled the Earth and is a true guardian of our Planet. To me, Cierva Cove in Antarctica is one of the truly magical places … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Photography/Art, Whales & Oceanography | 6 Comments

Open Ocean Odysseys

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Lawrence Wade

Readers Robert Pitman, James Cotton, Diane Kaplan, Jen and Jordan Ganley share their stories about being at sea. Mom’s the Word Robert Pitman, Whale Biologist, NMFS I was aboard a Japanese research vessel and we approached a pod of sperm … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Whales & Oceanography | 5 Comments

The Beauty and Value of Fungus in a Forest Ecosystem

Posted on December 27, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

A fungus photo essay by Jen Ganley who is from New England; Janine Pung who is from Minnesota; and Jim Cotton from Redwood country, Northern California; Maria Montero, from Minnesota. Thanks to Ron Spinosa of the Minnesota Mycological Society for … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Photography/Art | 2 Comments

Finding Balance in Nature

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

I am thrilled to share this posting that includes the voices of so many people who love nature. I hope you have time to enjoy the creative energy that they have expressed through their photography, stories, poetry and art.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Poetry, Photography/Art | 2 Comments

Teach me How to Be a Forest

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

Most humans walk by us and think, “It is just a tree.” But a few humans stop and listen and realize we are so much more than “just a tree”. Listening to trees Consider this a “mindfulness” activity that includes … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Guardians, Photography/Art | 11 Comments

Mind in the Waters

Posted on August 12, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

Some of us would rather spend our lives underwater. The welcome arms of nature allows us to become part of something that is greater than ourselves. Editor note: Click the photo to get a full screen view.     Poetry … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Poetry, Photography/Art, Summer | Leave a comment

How I Feel About Nature

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

All photos  by Alex Munoz Alex Munoz is an accomplished photographer and this is his second posting at Old Naturalist.  His first post was titled Raw Beauty Unleashed and was published in Dec. 2017. Alex Munoz is from my home … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Photography/Art, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Fish Whisperer

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

  First snorkel holding onto a rock in the rapids A large muskie swam up and rested beside me Ecstatic wondered if I should be panicked. Hoped that I was not wearing anything shiny that looked tasty to a muskie. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Connecting to Nature | 8 Comments

The Big Woods and the Fight to Save Lone Lake Park

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

Lone Lake Park is a forest remnant of what was known as the Big Woods. The Big Woods was over 2,000 square miles, extending in a band 40 miles wide from what is today Mankato to Monticello. In the 1800’s, … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Guardians | 5 Comments

The Bass Ponds – A Hidden Gem

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

The Bass Ponds are part of the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge. It is an urban wildlife refuge in shadow of the Mall of America, a busy highway and the Minneapolis International Airport. Besides being a refuge for animals, the Bass … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Connecting to Nature, Spring | 6 Comments