My Daily Work on TLC’s Nature Preserves

by Kyle Obermiller

Summer is in full swing and you know what that means. The Durham Bulls are aiming for the fences, friends and family vacation to the beach, and the lakes and rivers are full of happy paddlers and swimmers. Most prominently, Mother Nature has turned up the heat. “The Heat is On” has moved up the charts to become the theme song running through my head most of every day.

But no matter the heat, the show must go on! I invite you to head out to Horton Grove Nature Preserve and enjoy the sights and sounds of the prairie from the newly opened wildlife viewing platform or see the new fencing at Johnston Mill Nature Preserve. The annual management of the restoration project at White Pines Nature Preserve has been completed and planning stages for an improved trail system are in the works for the preserve. Furthermore, you can look forward to new trails opening in Horton Grove in the future, giving you more opportunities to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of nature.

Every day is a new task, a new challenge, and a feeling of accomplishment that grows with every drop of sweat put into the work. As the thunderstorms move through on this crisp summer evening I look forward to the battles I will face the remainder of the week. The agenda includes work at Irvin Nature Preserve, Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve and even a trip out to Walnut Hill and Brumley Forest, both of which are future nature preserve projects. It seems that we need a motto similar to the unofficial creed of the United States Postal Service, “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these ‘conservationists’ from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

This is The Dirt, a blog from TLC to outdoor enthusiasts and members who so graciously support us. I am honored to share my experiences with you and hope you find enjoyment and laughter in each update from the field. Check out the first blog in my series here.

About the Author:

Garrett Johnson