Articles


From backyards to wilderness areas, I write about how, why and where modern life collides with the natural world. My articles appear in national and regional consumer publications, nonprofit member magazines and online.


Name That Butterfly

SmithsonianMagazine.com, August 2010 Posted on Aug 11, 2010 | 0 comments On a horribly hot July day in 2010, I followed along as a small band of citizen scientists explored several public gardens near Washington, DC. Their quarry? Butterflies. These volunteers — and thousands more like them across the United States — were taking part in the North American Butterfly...
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We’re Not in Zone 6 Anymore

Organic Gardening Magazine, August / September 2010 Posted on Jul 12, 2010 | 0 comments What will climate change mean for our gardens? This is the question I sought to answer in Organic Gardening’s August / September 2010 issue. Read an excerpt here: Most gardeners would find it difficult to complain about early springs or tomatoes before July. And, for many of us, this is how our...
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Changing Climate, Shifting Forests

American Forests Magazine, Winter 2010 Posted on Feb 1, 2010 | 0 comments From California’s redwoods to New Hampshire’s sugar maple forests, climate change will impact forest habitats across North America. In this piece for American Forests Magazine, I explore the changes that may be coming for some of our most iconic forests and trees. Read an excerpt here, or...
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Virginia’s Changing Coasts

Virginia Wildlife, January 2010 Posted on Jan 1, 2010 | 0 comments It is no surprise that the coastline around New Orleans is America’s most threatened — Hurricane Katrina revealed New Orleans’ vulnerabilities all too well. But, many readers will be surprised to learn that America’s second-most-threatened coastline is Virginia’s. As sea level...
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Finding the Silver Lining

Smithsonian Zoogoer, May / June 2009 Posted on May 1, 2009 | 0 comments Clouded leopards are the smallest of the big cats. They are also one of the rarest. In this cover story for Smithsonian Zoogoer, I explore the challenges facing clouded leopards today and their hope for the future. Read the entire article online, or view a quick excerpt below: Once a breeding and training...
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Stalking Morels

Flavor Magazine, April / May 2009 Posted on Apr 1, 2009 | 0 comments Morel mushrooms enjoy an almost cult-like following. The seasonal mushrooms are generally only available for a few weeks in the spring. They are incredibly difficult to see. And, they taste like a slice of the forest: earthy, rich and delicious. So, it’s no wonder that most morel hunters are...
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National Zoo Celebrates Birth of Rare Clouded Leopards

SmithsonianMagazine.com, March 2009 Posted on Mar 25, 2009 | 0 comments Clouded leopards are among the world’s rarest cats, and may be the most difficult to breed in captivity. From a reproductive point of view, these cats are like no other. Recently, the National Zoo has begun to unlock the reproductive secrets of these elusive cats. I wrote this piece for the online...
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