Category Archives: Nature

Mastodon in Our Town

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Roger Gosden

Not Mastodon the heavy metal band from Atlanta, but a heavy, leathery mastodon from Virginia. It is the first found east of the Blue Ridge. A local bricklayer was hunting on private land one day in 1983 when he found … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Nature | Tagged College of William & Mary, elephant, extinction, fossil, George Cuvier, mammoth, Mammut americanum, mastodon | 2 Comments

Caffeine gives Bees a Buzz

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Roger Gosden

Writers, as well as lots of other folk, believe they need to be caffeinated to discover their creative side and help burn the midnight oil. The downside of drinking coffee and other caffeine-rich drinks is physical dependence, with withdrawal symptoms … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee-line, Nature | Tagged bees, caffeine, coffee, energy drinks, waggle dance | Comments Off

Mountaintop Removal

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Roger Gosden

“Remember to remove the I Love Mountains bumper sticker before heading into coal country.” That was advice I gave myself before touring counties where mountaintops are being “removed” by open mining in the heart of Appalachia. I wasn’t a declared … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Nature | Tagged Appalachia, John Grisham, mountaintop removal, Nicholas County, open coal mine, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Virginia Nature Journal for August

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Roger Gosden

Cottage gardens were at one time part of the domestic economy, but now they’re mostly recreational. Like horse-riding, boating, fishing, target-shooting, and racing of various kinds, gardening has evolved from an occupation to a passion. Besides the advantages of growing-your-own … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Seasons in Virginia | Tagged Andrew Marvell, cottage garden, nightshades, Thomas Jefferson, vegetable gardening | Comments Off

Black Bear like a Hairy Bell-ringer

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Roger Gosden

Yesterday was a beautiful experience, but this morning was a revelation. Shortly after 7:30 am I took my breakfast outside on the front deck, but had to duck down when I saw Sooty already looking for his (hers). He didn’t … Continue reading →