Entries by Steve Jones

Mid-January at Alabama’s Gulf State Park: Beach, Dunes, Savannas, and Interior Wetlands

February 5, 2019 in , /by

I toured Gulf State Park (GSP) January 18, 2019 from 8-5:30 with Kelly Reetz, Park Naturalist. See my January 28, 2019 Great Blue Heron Blog Post for my Overview: https://stevejonesgbh.com/2019/01/28/mid-january-at-alabamas-gulf-state-park-overview/ The 2016 Gulf State Park Master Plan identified nine distinct GSP ecosystems: Evergreen Forests Pine Savannas Maritime Forests Dune Ridges / Sand Scrub habitats Fresh […]

Mid-January at Alabama’s Gulf State Park: Overview

January 28, 2019 in , , , /by

I had been to Gulf State Park 20 years ago. Since then, several hurricanes, the Deepwater Horizon Spill, and subsequent settlement funds combined to both force and enable creation of an Alabama seacoast legacy project. Judy and I spent three nights at the new lodge January 16-18, 2019. I view the Park as Alabama’s globally […]

December 26, 2018 at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge: Reaping While Sowing

January 21, 2019 in , , /by

I’ll keep this Blog Post short. My two Alabama grandsons and their step-father accompanied me the day after Christmas to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. My two-part message is quite simple: Take advantage of every opportunity in Nature to sow seeds for making tomorrow brighter. Invest your time, knowledge, and passion for Nature in young people […]

Our Lives Mimic Nature — Lessons Learned from Tree Form Oddities

January 14, 2019 in , /by

We took our two Alabama grandsons to nearby Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge November 25, 2018. I snapped the first three images below from our hike (Post issued December  11, 2018:  https://stevejonesgbh.com/2018/12/11/late-november-at-wheeler-national-wildlife-refuge-tree-magic/). For this mid-January GBH Blog Post I have compiled these three with other photos of unusual tree shapes and forms I’ve photographed over this […]

Mid-November Skies at Camp McDowell

January 8, 2019 in , , /by

I spent two days at McDowell Camp and Conference Center (Winston County Alabama) mid-November 2018. My purpose was to conduct field exploration and staff interviews prior to developing a McDowell Land Legacy Story for the Camp’s 1,140 acres (see my November 27 Blog Post: https://stevejonesgbh.com/2018/11/27/mid-november-camp-mcdowell-land-legacy-orientation/ ) My purpose with this followup Post is to highlight […]

Interpretive Signage at Cheaha State Park: Enhancing Nature Appreciation through Knowledge

December 20, 2018 in /by

Okay, time for the fifth of these Cheaha-themed Great Blue Heron Blog Posts from my mid-October visit to Alabama’s highest point. I believe fundamentally that every lesson for living, learning, serving, and leading is either written indelibly in Nature or is powerfully inspired by Nature. I incorporated that conclusion and its life-guiding forces throughout my […]

Late November Tree Magic at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge — Alabama State Parks Edition

December 12, 2018 in , /by

I issued the core of this Great Blue Heron Blog Post yesterday evening, December 11, 2018. Its text, photos, reflections, and ruminations are applicable to each and every one of our 22 Alabama State Parks and their aggregate 74 square miles of beauty, magic, wonder, and awe. So, permit me to present the original Tree […]