The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine Edition 2021-4
The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine Edition 2021-4
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The fourth issue of 2021 of The Wannabe Naturalist magazine (Edition 2021-4) is available now. Inside this issue we look at the relationship between photography and storytelling, and nature, the environment, and life.
In this Edition:
- Photography Destination: Cuba
- Gardeners Know the Dirt: Dahlias
- Guest Photographers: Glacier Photo Guides
- What to Read: Where the Crawdads Sing
Saying farewell to NOLA
We arrived in New Orleans in 2017 on Fat Tuesday (also called Mardi Gras.) The festivities were winding down (see morning-after picture of Mr. Opossum), and most residents were preparing for Lent. Mardi Gras, is French for “fat Tuesday.”
This holiday is the day before Ash Wednesday, and it begins a season of fasting, called Lent, for many Christians leading up to Easter Sunday.
June and I weren’t strangers to The Big Easy, we got married here in 1998. And June grew up here, and her parents and sister still lived in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana.) June followed a familiar pattern, leaving New Orleans after college only to return with a husband several years later.
For me it was a fresh adventure. I’m not new to seeking out greener pastures; my Dutch forefathers were explorers, so it’s in my DNA, and June and I both have the traveling bug. Life dealt us a hand that did not include children. We embrace our freedom, and we frequently do what most parents can’t—we pack up and move. It’s time for another one of those moves.
If you overlook the heat, humidity, hurricanes, and terrible Internet, living in New Orleans is a great experience. And, it is an experience. And it’s because of the people . . . and Saints football.
I am disappointed that there isn’t more emphasis on protecting the environment and fighting climate change, but Laissez les bons temps rouler (“let the good times roll!”), Oil & Gas, tourism, and storm recovery are the main industries in this city. Everyone knows that New Orleans is only one major hurricane away from being washed out to sea.
Change happens slowly in a city that has survived storms for the past 300 years.
I was fortunate to be part the Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners associations in New Orleans, two organizations doing an excellent job informing and teaching the public about gardening, nature, and natural history. Spending time at the New Orleans Botanical Garden and paddling the bayous in my kayak will remain my favorite memories when we relocate to North Carolina next month.
During our time here in New Orleans, I had the opportunity to work with The Idea Village as an entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR). Also as a mentor at Propeller, an impact accelerator and business incubator. The entrepreneurial spirit in New Orleans is alive and well, reaching a diverse group of startup business owners, only lacking in climate tech companies to combat the changing environment.
The business community and institutions of higher learning in New Orleans have the capacity to deliver the changes and solutions needed in order to meet the challenges of climate change. Let’s hope it happens soon.
One of the companies I worked with, IDScan.net, honored me by acquiring seven of my photography images for their office as well as several books for their staff. Thank you, Denis and team!
We leave behind family and lots of friends, so we’ll be back to enjoy the festivals, charbroiled oysters, and softshell crab po’boys!
I cannot wait to share my photography from North Carolina with all of you.
Cheers to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2022!
Eugene Brill,
Publisher of The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine
All Magazine Editions
- The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine Edition 2021-1
- The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine Edition 2021-2
- The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine Edition 2021-3
- The Wannabe Naturalist Magazine Edition 2022-1
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Embroidered Cloth Wannabe Naturalist Patch$24.50 -
Nature Embroidered Patch ― Blue Ridge Mountains and Tree$24.50 -
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Organic Kids Hoodie Sweater with the Official Logo$67.50
Articles of Interest
Anole FAQs
Hours of research went into writing about anoles. For more than three years I followed the life-cycle of our backyard lodgers. This article covers FAQs from the book The Lovable Little Garden Lizards by Eugene L Brill, photographer, and author.
What is a Wannabe Naturalist?
A wannabe naturalist is someone that aspires to be an amateur naturalist. From birdwatchers to gardeners, they care about the natural world and want to preserve it. Someone that cares about nature so much that they want to study and preserve it.
