Small Joys

After living on Maui for 6 months, I returned home to New York in March. I had been away from NY since May 2025 and was terribly homesick. Since being back, I’ve realized how much I missed my home state. As much as I love my lifestyle, jumping from job to job every few months (not for the faint of heart), I had missed the familiar ecosystems of central NY. Seeing many of my favorite spring ephemerals for the first time in 3 years has been lovely. Going on walks in the local forests has been a small joy and incredibly grounding to me as I go through many transitions in my work and personal life. Red trillium (Trillium erectum), large white trillium (Trillium grandiflora), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and spring beauties (Claytonia caroliniana) just to name a few of my favorites. I desperately needed this reconnection.

I absolutely love seasonal jobs. Granted it is not the best option for stability or great income, but I have learned so much from my travels. Living and working in Haleakalā national park was such a special and rewarding experience. I learned so much about the native and endemic plant species, got to explore breathtaking backcountry sites, went snorkeling and diving during my free time, and met amazing people. I’m thrilled to start my new position in Fort Drum as a research analyst. I cannot wait to learn more about monarch butterflies and their phenology. Heres to another summer of learning and adventure <3

Fresh morels (Morchella americana) - one of my recent (and favorite) finds.

Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) perched in a crabapple (Malus spp.)

One of my favorite plants on Maui- kanawao (Broussaisia arguta), a rainforest species in the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae).