Nick in NC
@nicknc.bsky.social
gardener, amateur naturalist. neurobiologist. mennonite.
Views my own. All photos mine. May include predator-prey interactions, spiders, and snakes.
https://sweetgumandpines.wordpress.com
Views my own. All photos mine. May include predator-prey interactions, spiders, and snakes.
https://sweetgumandpines.wordpress.com
And he comes from behind to win New Year Catan, surprising even himself!
January 1, 2026 at 8:39 PM
And he comes from behind to win New Year Catan, surprising even himself!
What is going on here?!? 🌱
Williamsburg, VA
at first, I thought it was wisteria strangling an old tree, but all of the tissue seems to be the same plant.
Williamsburg, VA
at first, I thought it was wisteria strangling an old tree, but all of the tissue seems to be the same plant.
January 1, 2026 at 4:17 PM
What is going on here?!? 🌱
Williamsburg, VA
at first, I thought it was wisteria strangling an old tree, but all of the tissue seems to be the same plant.
Williamsburg, VA
at first, I thought it was wisteria strangling an old tree, but all of the tissue seems to be the same plant.
Roadtrip food:
Wawa hoagie > Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich.
Wawa hoagie > Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich.
December 31, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Roadtrip food:
Wawa hoagie > Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich.
Wawa hoagie > Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich.
The great thing about iNaturalist is that when you are in a strange city for the holidays and social batteries are depleted, it can tell you where to go to recharge.
Desmognathus fuscus, northern dusky salamander, Williamsburg, VA. #herps 1 of 3
Desmognathus fuscus, northern dusky salamander, Williamsburg, VA. #herps 1 of 3
December 31, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The great thing about iNaturalist is that when you are in a strange city for the holidays and social batteries are depleted, it can tell you where to go to recharge.
Desmognathus fuscus, northern dusky salamander, Williamsburg, VA. #herps 1 of 3
Desmognathus fuscus, northern dusky salamander, Williamsburg, VA. #herps 1 of 3
Front approaching. First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach, December 29.
The park marks the site at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay where the first British colonists made landfall in 1607.
The park marks the site at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay where the first British colonists made landfall in 1607.
December 31, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Front approaching. First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach, December 29.
The park marks the site at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay where the first British colonists made landfall in 1607.
The park marks the site at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay where the first British colonists made landfall in 1607.
This John Adams quote hits pretty hard right now.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
December 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
This John Adams quote hits pretty hard right now.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Flintlock musket demo at the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown.
December 30, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Flintlock musket demo at the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown.
This is the most amazing lizard photo I have seen in a long time.
It's Dec. 1st, which means I begin my recap of the year's favorites by posting a creature per day for the duration. They may be something rare, something pretty, something silly, something I just love for Reasons, or something all of the above.
Here's an anole cuddled in a moth cocoon, for Day 1. 💚
Here's an anole cuddled in a moth cocoon, for Day 1. 💚
December 30, 2025 at 3:28 AM
This is the most amazing lizard photo I have seen in a long time.
Reposted by Nick in NC
I have no idea where this year went but it's December 1st again, so here we go
Day 1 of my 2025 Favorites: I tried my hand at tide-pooling shenanigans, and found PISTOL SHRAMPS 😍
They use that giant claw to kill things with a shock wave, and that's just fun.
Day 1 of my 2025 Favorites: I tried my hand at tide-pooling shenanigans, and found PISTOL SHRAMPS 😍
They use that giant claw to kill things with a shock wave, and that's just fun.
December 2, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I have no idea where this year went but it's December 1st again, so here we go
Day 1 of my 2025 Favorites: I tried my hand at tide-pooling shenanigans, and found PISTOL SHRAMPS 😍
They use that giant claw to kill things with a shock wave, and that's just fun.
Day 1 of my 2025 Favorites: I tried my hand at tide-pooling shenanigans, and found PISTOL SHRAMPS 😍
They use that giant claw to kill things with a shock wave, and that's just fun.
Reposted by Nick in NC
A few years ago, through luck and vibes, I managed to produce this blue colored bean variety.
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
A few years ago, through luck and vibes, I managed to produce this blue colored bean variety.
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
On the blog today, the last #SixonSaturday of the year. 🌴 🌱
Miscellany (Six on Saturday #98; December 27, 2025)
We have reached the last Saturday of 2025, so it is time for the annual Miscellany Six on Saturday Post: six, hopefully interesting, photos from this year that did not make it into an earlier post,…
sweetgumandpines.wordpress.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM
On the blog today, the last #SixonSaturday of the year. 🌴 🌱
Two-year-old daughter:
“No singing, Daddy. No! Hurt my ears.”
“No singing, Daddy. No! Hurt my ears.”
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 27, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Two-year-old daughter:
“No singing, Daddy. No! Hurt my ears.”
“No singing, Daddy. No! Hurt my ears.”
Reposted by Nick in NC
Scottish mathematician, astronomer & polymath Mary Somerville was born #OTD in 1780. #WomenInSTEM
William Whewell coined the term "scientist" in a review of Somerville's book, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. Used as gender-neutral term as the common term at the time was "man of science."
William Whewell coined the term "scientist" in a review of Somerville's book, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. Used as gender-neutral term as the common term at the time was "man of science."
December 26, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Scottish mathematician, astronomer & polymath Mary Somerville was born #OTD in 1780. #WomenInSTEM
William Whewell coined the term "scientist" in a review of Somerville's book, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. Used as gender-neutral term as the common term at the time was "man of science."
William Whewell coined the term "scientist" in a review of Somerville's book, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. Used as gender-neutral term as the common term at the time was "man of science."
The Scadoxus puniceus that I overwinter in the greenhouse is about twice the size of the plants in the ground. Might be environment or might be genetic: this one came with the varietal name “Magnificus.”
Flowering today. Winter dormant period of this clone is only about 6 weeks. 🌴 🌱
Flowering today. Winter dormant period of this clone is only about 6 weeks. 🌴 🌱
December 26, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The Scadoxus puniceus that I overwinter in the greenhouse is about twice the size of the plants in the ground. Might be environment or might be genetic: this one came with the varietal name “Magnificus.”
Flowering today. Winter dormant period of this clone is only about 6 weeks. 🌴 🌱
Flowering today. Winter dormant period of this clone is only about 6 weeks. 🌴 🌱
I do miss reading bedtime stories.
I got better (or meaner) as we went along. By the time Frodo was stung by Shelob, I left them in suspense for 24 hours.
I got better (or meaner) as we went along. By the time Frodo was stung by Shelob, I left them in suspense for 24 hours.
December 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I do miss reading bedtime stories.
I got better (or meaner) as we went along. By the time Frodo was stung by Shelob, I left them in suspense for 24 hours.
I got better (or meaner) as we went along. By the time Frodo was stung by Shelob, I left them in suspense for 24 hours.
All the state parks were closed today, so our Christmas afternoon walk (sunny, 71 F) was in Brumley Nature Preserve North. Saw a kingfisher and some interesting trees growing after being completely flattened in a storm.
December 25, 2025 at 9:19 PM
All the state parks were closed today, so our Christmas afternoon walk (sunny, 71 F) was in Brumley Nature Preserve North. Saw a kingfisher and some interesting trees growing after being completely flattened in a storm.
December 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Nick in NC
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years
An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Happy Christmas to all who celebrate!
(festive cardinal outside my bedroom window when I woke up this morning)
(festive cardinal outside my bedroom window when I woke up this morning)
December 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Happy Christmas to all who celebrate!
(festive cardinal outside my bedroom window when I woke up this morning)
(festive cardinal outside my bedroom window when I woke up this morning)
Reposted by Nick in NC
THREAD.
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
December 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
THREAD.
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
It’s Columnea microcalyx season again. The trailing stems are well over 6 ft long now. 🌴 🌱
December 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
It’s Columnea microcalyx season again. The trailing stems are well over 6 ft long now. 🌴 🌱
Clearly my brain has some weird bias, probably generated by maps, because I instantly interpreted this gorgeous painting as eastern Maine (ocean on the right).
December 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Clearly my brain has some weird bias, probably generated by maps, because I instantly interpreted this gorgeous painting as eastern Maine (ocean on the right).
Reposted by Nick in NC
#sixonsaturday 20-12-25 : acacia boormanii, hellebores, a weird tomato, agave, phormium and a flowering rhododendron 🌱
fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/six…
fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/six…
December 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
#sixonsaturday 20-12-25 : acacia boormanii, hellebores, a weird tomato, agave, phormium and a flowering rhododendron 🌱
fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/six…
fredgardenerblog2.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/six…
The night I first met the very cute girl who, a decade later, became my wife, we watched The Princess Bride.
So that’s going to be my choice for a Rob Reiner rewatch tonight.
So that’s going to be my choice for a Rob Reiner rewatch tonight.
December 18, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The night I first met the very cute girl who, a decade later, became my wife, we watched The Princess Bride.
So that’s going to be my choice for a Rob Reiner rewatch tonight.
So that’s going to be my choice for a Rob Reiner rewatch tonight.
Reposted by Nick in NC
When I interviewed Spinal Tap and Marty DiBergi this summer, none of them broke character, for the whole hour. Except Rob Reiner, once, losing it when Michael McKean's David St Hubbins talked about minimalism. I didn't use this in the feature and hadn't published any audio, but this is joyful.
December 15, 2025 at 10:24 AM
When I interviewed Spinal Tap and Marty DiBergi this summer, none of them broke character, for the whole hour. Except Rob Reiner, once, losing it when Michael McKean's David St Hubbins talked about minimalism. I didn't use this in the feature and hadn't published any audio, but this is joyful.