I’ve been turning over rocks, logs and searching for critters before I could walk. Botany is a newish love (last twenty years only). I can always count on plants, bryophytes, and fungi even when birds and other animals are hard to find or absent. I do have a special fondness for any underdog species, and that includes our salamanders.

I work as a naturalist and outdoor educator here in the Pacific NW, but am originally from NY, and have a great affection for Eastern US species too. Teaching is a passion, but so is some good old fashioned identification hikes with other naturalists.
INaturalist has been a wonderful on-the-go resource to learn new taxa, and I appreciate all of my mentors here who share their knowledge so generously!