Sterling Nature Center
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Scenes From a Yellow Wood
It was a crisp October Sunday. One might say it was the Platonic ideal of a fall day in Central New York — the kind of day that makes me feel a little guilty if I don’t spend at least part of it outdoors. If Mother Nature is going to provide an autumnal paradise, you Continue reading
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Irresolute
I am writing this on the first day of 2025. I kicked off the year with a couple of my New Year’s Day rituals. First, Jen and I completed a short “First Day” nature hike at Sterling Nature Center. We tromped through drizzle and high wind gusts, guided by a naturalist. The weather could have Continue reading
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Green October
Fall 2024 has been a rough-weather period for large swaths of the United States. At this writing, parts of Florida sit devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and significant portions of the Southeast are still reeling from Hurricane Helene. Meanwhile, my little corner of upstate New York is playing the part of a meteorological Continue reading
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Among Fallen Giants
Sterling Nature Center, in nearby Cayuga County, has a trail that leads to a secluded beach. This beach is like many along the Lake Ontario shoreline — rocky, windswept, and bounded by high bluffs. It is distinct in one regard though; the beach is strewn with fallen trees. The beach timber is a result of Continue reading
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A Secluded Beach
One of my favorite local places to walk is Sterling Nature Center. It’s just over the county line in Cayuga County, about a 20–25-minute drive from my house. (It took a bit longer to get there today as the nature center is just down the way from the local RenFaire, which is now in full Continue reading
About Me
Researcher. Marketer. Teacher. Father of adult children and dogs. 20th Century holdover. Central New York native. Long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. History nerd. Traveler. Vintage advertising enthusiast. Hat wearer.
a.k.a. V.J. 