Entries by Steve Jones

Nine Years of Wetland Restoration at Webb Pond Preserve

I visited the Webb Pond Preserve (Land Trust of North Alabama) March 8, 2023 with retired Natural Resources Conservation Service forester Brian Bradley, who worked on the 60-acre property’s wetland restoration project. Webb Pond is located in Madison County near Harvest, Alabama, just north of Madison. Brian had sparked my interest in the project several […]

Oak Mountain State Park: Loop Trail from Cabins at Tranquility Lake

January 19, 2023, I awoke early to enjoy dawn on the lake, then hike the Cabins Loop Trail at Oak Mountain State Park, an 11,360-acre wildland gem near Birmingham, Alabama. This short trail runs through diverse habitat along the south shore and peninsula of Tranquility Lake. I introduce the trail and some fascinating natural features […]

Oak Mountain State Park January Saunters into Maggie’s Glen

In concert with the January 19, 2023 Alabama State Park Foundation Board meeting I spent two nights at a Park cabin on Tranquility Lake (Oak Mountain State Park), rewarding me handsomely with one evening and two mornings of short saunters along the Maggie’s Glen Trail. I want to share a compendium of observations, reflections, photographs, […]

Oak Mountain State Park Mid-January Dawns and Dusks

In concert with the January 19, 2023 Alabama State Park Foundation Board meeting I spent two nights at an Oak Mountain State Park cabin on Tranquility Lake, rewarding me handsomely with two evenings and two mornings of dusk and dawn lakeside. I shifted this Post from my normal focus on lessons and conclusions that I […]

Mid-December Visit to the Mississippi River

December 19, 2019 I visited the Tunica River Park along the Mississippi River just 30 miles south of Memphis and immediately across from Arkansas. The Mighty Mississippi stirred my soul. Oh, the stories it could tell. Okay, I’ll admit that a Tunica casino and the overwhelming human urge to risk wealth to beat the 25-cent […]