In the boggy lowlands of southeastern North Carolina, one of our state’s most famous residents lies in wait. If you cross paths with a Venus flytrap, look, but don’t touch — especially if you’re a bug.
Home Sweet Rock Pile
One of our state’s most common fishes has a rare talent. In the fresh, clear waterways of the mountains and Piedmont, bluehead chubs build nests for their young, stone by tiny stone.
Keeper of the Hemlocks
In the Piedmont, a slice of mountain paradise hangs on — a holdover from the last Ice Age and, under the stewardship of a longtime naturalist, a bastion of wild wonders.
Return to the Roanoke
As reliably as redbuds and daffodils, hickory shad herald the coming spring. This time of year, they migrate up eastern North Carolina rivers by the thousands, anglers in pursuit, as the fresh waters of their birth beckon them home.
A Simmer of Hope
The best part of a winter weekend? A big pot of chili or gumbo, cooked low and slow. For the Ramblin’ Man, February is the perfect time for a Sunday kind of stew.
Talking Trash
An eagle-eyed explorer becomes an amateur archaeologist when the winter-bare woods across North Carolina reveal piles of cast-off tools, kitchenware, and other glimpses into long-gone homesteads.
Away in a Menagerie
The gift of a friendly beast, whether hamster, gecko, or goldfish, can inspire holiday joy and wonder — so long as the critter doesn’t attempt a Christmas Eve escape.
Birds of Paradise
Handcrafted decoys have evolved from a practical tool for hunting waterfowl into a prized art form. Yet for some collectors, their value lies in cherished memories of the Carolina coast.
Most Improved Sports Fan
Sometimes, when his house full of Tar Heel fanatics huddles up around the TV, the Ramblin’ Man gets to feeling a little sidelined. Hard as he tries, “tackle” and “net” conjure visions of mountain streams, even during football and basketball seasons.
