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Nature Obscura: A City's Hidden Natural World
With wonder and a sense of humor, 'NATURE OBSCURA' author Kelly Brenner aims to help us rediscover our connection to the natural world that is just outside our front door - we just need to know where to look.
Through explorations of a rich and varied urban landscape, Brenner reveals the complex micro-habitats and surprising nature found in the middle of a city. In her hometown of Seattle, which has plowed down hills, cut through the land to connect fresh- and saltwater, and paved over much of the rest, she exposes a diverse range of strange and unknown creatures.
From shore to wetland, forest to neighborhood park, and graveyard to backyard, Brenner uncovers how our land alterations have impacted nature, for good and bad, through the wildlife and plants that live alongside us, often unseen. These stories meld together, in the same way our ecosystems, species, and human history are interconnected across the urban environment.
Through explorations of a rich and varied urban landscape, Brenner reveals the complex micro-habitats and surprising nature found in the middle of a city. In her hometown of Seattle, which has plowed down hills, cut through the land to connect fresh- and saltwater, and paved over much of the rest, she exposes a diverse range of strange and unknown creatures.
From shore to wetland, forest to neighborhood park, and graveyard to backyard, Brenner uncovers how our land alterations have impacted nature, for good and bad, through the wildlife and plants that live alongside us, often unseen. These stories meld together, in the same way our ecosystems, species, and human history are interconnected across the urban environment.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2020
About the author
Kelly Brenner
2 books66 followersKELLY BRENNER is a naturalist, photographer and writer based in Seattle. She is the author of Nature Obscura: A City's Hidden Natural World which was a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards and the Pacific Northwest Book Awards. Her freelance work has been published in Popular Science, National Wildlife Magazine, and The Open Notebook, among others. On her website, she writes about urban nature, wildlife habitat design, books, poetry, folklore, and a variety of other natural history topics. Learn more at metrofieldguide.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
November 24, 2021
Years ago I got an iPod, and I really liked it. It was smaller, and could contain more music, and audiobooks than a walkman (yeah, I'm old enough to have had one or two of those). Anyway, I got into the habit of walking my dog Kata listening to audiobooks, and could be seen around the neighbourhood with my dog laughing my head off over Woosters antics. After a couple of years I stopped taking my iPod when I went for a walk with my dog because I had realised I was no longer noticing the birds, and the plants that I saw during the walk. In fact I was noticing my surrounds so badly, that I really could just as well have sat at home with a book
What Kelly Brenner is trying with this book is simply to ask people to notice their surroundings, the life that is going on all around us, the spiders, the moss, the crows, and all that. There is no need to go into the country side to watch nature, because nature is all around us, even in the towns, or the cities. We just don't always notice it.
I absolutely adore this book. It is about nature, which I am interested in, but it is more than that. Brenner hits the right amount of personal history mixed in with the more scientific teachings. It can be a tricky balance. Put in too much of one or the other, and the book may become dry or unfocused, but here it is just right. And the second thing is that she is clearly so passionate about her subject, that one just gets swept along with her.
She is exploring the nature around where she lives, so much of what she is describing doesn't apply to the nature around where I live in Iceland. There are no dragon flies around here, the spiders are considerably smaller, and so on. But the principal of what she is expressing, how to look at the nature around you, that applies where ever one is. And I learned quite a lot from this book. I listened to the audiobook, which was well read and all, but I think I may have to get myself the printed version. I just liked it that much.
What Kelly Brenner is trying with this book is simply to ask people to notice their surroundings, the life that is going on all around us, the spiders, the moss, the crows, and all that. There is no need to go into the country side to watch nature, because nature is all around us, even in the towns, or the cities. We just don't always notice it.
I absolutely adore this book. It is about nature, which I am interested in, but it is more than that. Brenner hits the right amount of personal history mixed in with the more scientific teachings. It can be a tricky balance. Put in too much of one or the other, and the book may become dry or unfocused, but here it is just right. And the second thing is that she is clearly so passionate about her subject, that one just gets swept along with her.
She is exploring the nature around where she lives, so much of what she is describing doesn't apply to the nature around where I live in Iceland. There are no dragon flies around here, the spiders are considerably smaller, and so on. But the principal of what she is expressing, how to look at the nature around you, that applies where ever one is. And I learned quite a lot from this book. I listened to the audiobook, which was well read and all, but I think I may have to get myself the printed version. I just liked it that much.
March 10, 2020
Loved, loved, loved this beautifully written, seasonally-organized guide to discovering the natural world hidden in overlooked urban spaces. Brenner's careful observations of the tiny creatures most of us never bother to look at, much the less really see (such as tardigrades, damsel flies, spiders) gave me a newfound appreciation for the tenacity of life in urban environments, how it still manages to survive despite everything humans have done to degrade natural habitats. I loved the chapters on fungi, lichens and hummingbirds in particular. Much of this I already knew but it was still fun to read. She lives in Seattle, so the spots she visits will be familiar to most Seattlites and I do think that this book is most applicable to this particular audience. However, any urbanites curious about the flora and fauna around them will find this a fascinating, informative and evocative read. Highly recommended!
August 22, 2020
What a wonderful book! Kelly Brenner is a great writer and does very well in describing the nature around her in the city. She has a great way of getting you interested in creatures you hadn't thought about before. I learned about musk rats, slime molds and other cool things. Definitely recommended!
November 10, 2021
Nature Obscura: A City's Hidden Natural World by Kelly Brenner explores the microflora and microfauna of an urban landscape that many of us either don’t see or simply take for granted.
Brenner, a naturalist blogger, organizes her book around the seasons. She visits the same location, even her backyard, at different times of the year to record the changes in plant and animal life brought about by the changes in weather. She is meticulous in her explorations, recording and documenting what she sees and hears in the minutest details. Her reverence for all living organisms, including the microscopic ones, is evident. She gently lifts a piece of bark or a rock or a shell so as not to disturb the habitat of what lies beneath. And what she doesn’t know or can’t identify, she solves by soliciting the help of experts.
Not all her locations are urban since she visits nature reserves, parks, shores, wetlands, forests, and graveyards. Her curiosity, sense of wonder, and enthusiasm at what she discovers is palpable. Who would have thought that mold, fungi, moss, and lichen could generate such excitement or have a multitude of varieties? Brenner shows the same level of enthusiasm for the hummingbird as the hardy but minuscule tardigrade that is so weird-looking, it might be a suitable candidate for a science fiction movie.
In writing that is accessible and conversational, Brenner’s work is full of interesting insights and observations. Above all, it is a meditation on the connectedness of all living things, from the most minuscule creature whose presence and movement can only be detected with a strong microscope to the majestic trees and the flora and fauna who inhabit them. Through her explorations and discoveries, she shares the wonder of nature and introduces us to the scientists who have advanced our knowledge about the natural world. She invites her readers to conduct their own explorations by providing instructions and tools for those harboring urban naturalist aspirations.
Recommended.
My book reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
Brenner, a naturalist blogger, organizes her book around the seasons. She visits the same location, even her backyard, at different times of the year to record the changes in plant and animal life brought about by the changes in weather. She is meticulous in her explorations, recording and documenting what she sees and hears in the minutest details. Her reverence for all living organisms, including the microscopic ones, is evident. She gently lifts a piece of bark or a rock or a shell so as not to disturb the habitat of what lies beneath. And what she doesn’t know or can’t identify, she solves by soliciting the help of experts.
Not all her locations are urban since she visits nature reserves, parks, shores, wetlands, forests, and graveyards. Her curiosity, sense of wonder, and enthusiasm at what she discovers is palpable. Who would have thought that mold, fungi, moss, and lichen could generate such excitement or have a multitude of varieties? Brenner shows the same level of enthusiasm for the hummingbird as the hardy but minuscule tardigrade that is so weird-looking, it might be a suitable candidate for a science fiction movie.
In writing that is accessible and conversational, Brenner’s work is full of interesting insights and observations. Above all, it is a meditation on the connectedness of all living things, from the most minuscule creature whose presence and movement can only be detected with a strong microscope to the majestic trees and the flora and fauna who inhabit them. Through her explorations and discoveries, she shares the wonder of nature and introduces us to the scientists who have advanced our knowledge about the natural world. She invites her readers to conduct their own explorations by providing instructions and tools for those harboring urban naturalist aspirations.
Recommended.
My book reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
July 15, 2020
I was a bit disappointed in this one, although probably because it didn't match with my expectations. I expected this to be about nature you can find in an urban setting, but with a few exceptions (hummingbirds, crows, tardigrades) this was all about creatures she found in very wild places. I was hoping to be surprised by things you can find in the city, but Seattle has several very large, very natural parks and this is where she found most of her subjects. There were some interesting observations here to be sure, but it wasn't what I had hoped for.
December 8, 2020
It's okay... Proponents of this book say it is well written, but there is no lyricism, nor any florid prose. It feels like a freshman effort. My headcannon is that she has a large following in the Northwest and that's why this book is getting so many positive reviews. I imagine her next book will have more insight. This one was too simple for my taste. The subject matter is right up my alley, but I wanted more. Compared to the other amazing books I am reading right now, this one seems wan.
August 22, 2021
Cool facts about the nature that exists in Seattle, and it made me want to go out and explore my yard and nearby parks with a closer eye. However I felt the writing was a little clunky and hard to follow at times, leaving me frustrated as a reader.
May 31, 2023
If you read and loved The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature, you'll love this one as well. Brenner encourages the reader to pay attention to their surroundings, particularly the small living creatures, plants and fungi that are often overlooked. There are plenty of little insects, arachnids, lichens and slime moulds to appreciate if only you stop to look! There is a wealth of information about them and the author's enthusiasm is contagious.
November 16, 2021
I would have liked this more if I lived in or near Seattle, WA. I don't, but her observations are very similar to my own, although she owns a better microscope. She also has more patience for just watching & doesn't have any dogs to help. I found a few things I plan to observe more closely & I could have added to some of hers. The different way some wildlife lives in cities compared to the country is interesting.
If you live in a city or even the suburbs, you'll probably get a lot out of this. Well narrated & fairly short.
If you live in a city or even the suburbs, you'll probably get a lot out of this. Well narrated & fairly short.
June 30, 2023
From moss to tardigrades to hummingbirds, Brenner manages to paint a beautiful picture of the world that surrounds her- the urban landscape of Seattle. This was an interesting look into the many creatures that reside there. Some sections were a little clunky or too short for me, but I overall really enjoyed this. I think having a general knowledge of Seattles urban landscape made this a more enjoyable read for me, having visited many of the places Brenner frequents and having seen some of these animals before.
May 18, 2020
Packed with interesting information about the local flora and fauna of Seattle.
June 7, 2022
"Becoming an urban naturalist requires very little besides the senses you already possess. Perhaps the most important are simple curiosity and a sense of wonder. After that, everything else can be learned. Cities are great places to explore because they offer a diversity of habitats." I can tell you that in my backyard alone in Omaha, I have quite the interesting collection of diverse lifeforms: fungi, squirrels, opossums, cardinals, moths, spiders, rabbits, dandelions, owls, and robins. And that's just what I've seen in the past two weeks. I enjoyed some of the chapters in this book more than others, maybe because some of the chapters focus on lifeforms that I just finished reading entire books on so it didn't have a fresh feel to it. The author focuses most of her observations on what she encountered in her local habitat, the Pacific Northwest, so some of it was really "specialized " and I imagine especially fascinating if you live in that region. I love the idea of being an urban naturalist and I like the tips in the last chapter on how to lean into that a little more. There is an awesome list of resources at the end too.
January 22, 2023
Nature Obscura is a short and cute collection of natural observations in the urban area of Seattle. Going through all seasons, observing critters and organisms that wouldn't pop in your mind first when you thought of the flora and fauna in your own neighborhood, in this case the area Kelly Brenner lives in. But even though it's overall a nice collection, it did feel slightly random as well. I did like the explenation of the way observations can and should be made, with tips and tricks, motivating you to put down the book and go out to explore your own back yard yourself as well. But on the other h and I did feel that it wasn't enough. It lacked something, that I can't really put a finger to. I have read a lot of similar books in the past so I may be comparing it to those. That said, I'm rating it 3.5 stars, downgrading to 3 here, cause it's just not enough for 4, but it is a good book and I do recommend it. With a side note to Kelly Brenner to edit her story a bit to get rid of overly used words (albeit is her favorite I guess) and bring it a bit more variation to the writing.
October 14, 2020
I love what this book set out to accomplish, and considering the diversity of subjects she undertakes to explain, I think it mostly succeeds. Portions of it will read better in and around Seattle where the flurry of place names have greater meaning. There’s a huge wealth of information about how land use has changed over the last century, and the implications this has had for wildlife; it’s the exactly the type of local knowledge I’d love to gain about my own hometown, but although the author’s enthusiasm and approach to wildlife observation translate beautifully, the details she provides about specific parks and waterways just look like filler to an outsider. Chapters in the second half seemed more generalizable, and consequently more engaging. The breadth of her interests is inspiring, and there are lots of excellent tips for exploring your own urban wildlife.
March 24, 2022
A good introduction into bugs/nature and especially ones hidden in the city. I felt like there was a bit too much story and narrative of the author, but thats just me. I just wanted a bit more of an in depth of the bugs and plants and such.
I really like the interspersed humour and the references to nerd culture though, made it interesting to read.
I really like the interspersed humour and the references to nerd culture though, made it interesting to read.
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November 29, 2023I love how this was split into the seasons - unsurprisingly my favourite chapters were in autumn 🍄🕸️ (lichens, fungus, myxomycetes and spiders)
for my own reference:
summer ☀️🐌🐟: moths, snails, dragonflies and sticklebacks
spring 🌸🌿: ferns, flies, muskrats, ponds
winter ❄️🐦⬛: crows, Anna hummingbirds, moss, tardigrades
for my own reference:
summer ☀️🐌🐟: moths, snails, dragonflies and sticklebacks
spring 🌸🌿: ferns, flies, muskrats, ponds
winter ❄️🐦⬛: crows, Anna hummingbirds, moss, tardigrades
April 23, 2024
Absolutely delightful! 🤩 What a treat to listen and learn so much about the natural world! 🥰
😯I had no idea that there was still so much natural life chock full within urban environments! If you are in the city and have a longing for nature, then this is certainly a great book for you. If you're not in an urban place, then this book is Still a great resource to learn and get new ideas of where and what to look for whenever you're outdoors. Such a fantastic book! 😃
You can tell how much love and passion the author has for her subject, and the narrator has such a smooth calming 😌 voice too. I feel inspired 😎 to have a more observational look 🔍👀 around my yard 🌳 🐦 🌸 🪱 🐛 🦋 🐝 🍄 🏡 now after listening to this audiobook. I highly recommend this one! And I'll definitely be re-listening to this audiobook again very soon. :)
Loved it!! 😍 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟out of 5! 🥰
😯I had no idea that there was still so much natural life chock full within urban environments! If you are in the city and have a longing for nature, then this is certainly a great book for you. If you're not in an urban place, then this book is Still a great resource to learn and get new ideas of where and what to look for whenever you're outdoors. Such a fantastic book! 😃
You can tell how much love and passion the author has for her subject, and the narrator has such a smooth calming 😌 voice too. I feel inspired 😎 to have a more observational look 🔍👀 around my yard 🌳 🐦 🌸 🪱 🐛 🦋 🐝 🍄 🏡 now after listening to this audiobook. I highly recommend this one! And I'll definitely be re-listening to this audiobook again very soon. :)
Loved it!! 😍 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟out of 5! 🥰
May 4, 2024
an easy primer to looking for wildlife in a city. it was especially fun for me as it was based in the same city i am, and talked about creatures and places i've been to, as well as ones i need to visit still!
December 4, 2023
3.5 rounded up, interesting ecology book but I’m not too into bugs. I enjoyed the chapter on crows and hummingbirds the most, and the moss chapter just made me want to visit the gardens.
August 4, 2022
Great accessible nature writing that left me wanting a lot more. Will definitely follow the author.
April 22, 2020
While I don't live in Washington (or a biome anything like it), this is a great walk through the myriad and diverse life we can encounter in urban and suburban areas. It has inspired me to think about building a nature pond in my backyard. There is also a great section on how to be an urban naturalist.
October 7, 2023
Very interesting and it is obvious that it is a serious and careful work, carried out with passion. I really enjoyed it and there is no way that after reading it you won't feel compelled to pay more attention to what's around you.
April 12, 2020
I very much enjoyed this book. Natural history books are often hard to balance as one can fall too easily into narratives or into annotated bibliographies, but Ms. Brenner finds a nice balance in here. Moving seamlessly across phyla she demonstrates an infectious curiosity. I enjoyed the collections of vignettes that included her process of coming upon the creatures but then moved beyond the personal to share the scientific so that you got to share in her learning. As a marine biologist I, of course, enjoyed the moon snail section, but honestly what I really enjoyed the most were the explorations of the small and the local. I think we too often fall into the lure of the charismatic megafauna (they are charismatic, after all), but there is much grandoure that can be found with the aid of a hand lens. The only criticism I have of this book is that it's Seattle focused. And while that didn't detract from my enjoyment, it was just that I felt like I could have appreciated the book that much more if I was from that city. However, as I write this we in New York are in a "shelter in place" order, there's much to be said for finding an appreciation for the wildlife found in our local moss Serengeti.
April 10, 2021
I love this book! Primarily written about the Pacific Northwest, Brenner’s book focuses on the joys of observing nature. Very nerdy but very readable.
April 7, 2020
Educational. Inspiring. Set in Seattle, the author details her urban naturalist adventures. From her pond to Puget Sound to far-flung slime mold samples, the author narrates her love of the world we live in. This books inspired me to be a more curious, more observant person and to encourage this curiosity for the natural world within my family.
November 30, 2020
A great read about the world around us that we may see but don't really observe. Brenner discusses plants and animals that are right here in the city that we likely don't even realize is there. It may open your eyes!
December 7, 2020
When was the last time you looked at a plant, animal, or insect outside your home and really wondered what life was like when you walked past them and onto the rest of your life? Was your last thought about moss unpleasant, did you last consider mushrooms solely as participants on your plate? Nature Obscura asks you to look outside with that childlike wonder that you may have lost while growing up. I like to consider myself someone who appreciates nature, I like going on hikes and walks through my local parks, but it was always something I was briefly visiting before returning inside to the comfort of my own home and house plants.
Kelly Brenner created a field guide for those of us living in the city of Seattle, and the larger ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. If you live in or around the city, then this book should be required reading upon signing a lease. When there is such a vibrant world existing not just outside, but possibly underneath your porch, there’s no reason you should be ignorant to it! After reading this book I am identifying plants and insects everywhere I go, talking to whoever will listen about how they’ll behave when we cross the street or the seasons change. I have found so much more delight in the ecosystems around me now that it’s been pointed out that they are alive and full to the brim of that life.
I got this book as a Peak Pick with the Seattle Public Library, a wonderful service that introduced Nature Obscura to me when I don’t know if I would have found it on my own. I had two weeks to read it and no hold to wait for, the book starts with winter and progresses chronologically; I checked it out early fall. I was curious to see if there would be an interruption of flow, if by reading it out of order I would be throwing off the arc that Brenner created. In fact, the opposite was true! Each seasonal section of the book is its own little ecosystem that can be referred back to whenever the mood strikes you, and in fact when I purchase this book myself I will be referring back as the seasons change to remind me of what new life, or decomposition of life, I should be expecting in the months to come.
If I had a note about this book, it’s that there weren’t enough pictures. Each season would have another beautiful illustration of different things that would be featured later in the section, but I wanted to see something at every chapter. I found myself flipping back to the page that showed what I was looking at, and then when I didn’t see enough to understand what I was reading I would look it up. Sometimes, not wanting to interrupt my reading, I would just breeze onto the next chapter and sit with the pictures in my mind. It’s a small complaint, and it may have been what drove me to find real life examples in an attempt to fill in the blanks, whatever the case it is still one of my new favorite books and will be on my lips whenever a local asks me for reading suggestions.
I’m not sure what you would get from this living in a different area of the world, with a different ecosystem. I imagine it would give you a better idea of what’s in our little corner and it might push you to ask more questions about the neighborhood you’re living in or passing through. Whatever inquisitive nature and wondrous realizations it brings, I’m sure you will find some joy to know just how important the life of a moth is, or how wide the family of flies can be. Stay questioning and inspired by the world around, respect the land you pass through, and appreciate what it has to show you.
Kelly Brenner created a field guide for those of us living in the city of Seattle, and the larger ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. If you live in or around the city, then this book should be required reading upon signing a lease. When there is such a vibrant world existing not just outside, but possibly underneath your porch, there’s no reason you should be ignorant to it! After reading this book I am identifying plants and insects everywhere I go, talking to whoever will listen about how they’ll behave when we cross the street or the seasons change. I have found so much more delight in the ecosystems around me now that it’s been pointed out that they are alive and full to the brim of that life.
I got this book as a Peak Pick with the Seattle Public Library, a wonderful service that introduced Nature Obscura to me when I don’t know if I would have found it on my own. I had two weeks to read it and no hold to wait for, the book starts with winter and progresses chronologically; I checked it out early fall. I was curious to see if there would be an interruption of flow, if by reading it out of order I would be throwing off the arc that Brenner created. In fact, the opposite was true! Each seasonal section of the book is its own little ecosystem that can be referred back to whenever the mood strikes you, and in fact when I purchase this book myself I will be referring back as the seasons change to remind me of what new life, or decomposition of life, I should be expecting in the months to come.
If I had a note about this book, it’s that there weren’t enough pictures. Each season would have another beautiful illustration of different things that would be featured later in the section, but I wanted to see something at every chapter. I found myself flipping back to the page that showed what I was looking at, and then when I didn’t see enough to understand what I was reading I would look it up. Sometimes, not wanting to interrupt my reading, I would just breeze onto the next chapter and sit with the pictures in my mind. It’s a small complaint, and it may have been what drove me to find real life examples in an attempt to fill in the blanks, whatever the case it is still one of my new favorite books and will be on my lips whenever a local asks me for reading suggestions.
I’m not sure what you would get from this living in a different area of the world, with a different ecosystem. I imagine it would give you a better idea of what’s in our little corner and it might push you to ask more questions about the neighborhood you’re living in or passing through. Whatever inquisitive nature and wondrous realizations it brings, I’m sure you will find some joy to know just how important the life of a moth is, or how wide the family of flies can be. Stay questioning and inspired by the world around, respect the land you pass through, and appreciate what it has to show you.
July 18, 2023
There is a beautiful world right at our fingertips and all we need to do is stop and look. At least, that’s what naturalist Kelly Brenner proposes in Nature Obscura: A City’s Hidden Natural World. From her hometown of Seattle, Brenner takes readers on a journey through tidelands and parks, nature preserves and graveyards, backyard ponds and rooftop moss growths. There’s a wealth of nature to be explored and Brenner is here to identify, catalogue, and describe every creature, microscopic tardigrades and pond skimmers all the way to crows, muskrats, and other larger land denizens. It doesn’t take much effort to find a little nature and even in the urban environment, there’s an adventure waiting just outside our front door.
Nature Obscura is a lovely and contemplative walk through nature with author and naturalist Kelly Brenner. She takes readers through the seasons in Seattle, and bustling metropolis that it is she still manages to slow down and carefully explore the world around her. An entire chapter devoted to tardigrades living in rooftop moss clumps, a section about the slow cycles of change in the insect populations in her backyard pond, concerted effort set towards learning how to identify different species of lichen, or slime mold - this book is deliberate and thoughtful, many would say slow, but setting a pace that begs for each tiny discovery to be fully understood and appreciated. I’m from Washington and familiar with lots of the areas in Seattle she discussed, but still had a lot to learn from this book. I appreciated her dedication to small nature and the often overlooked denizens of the natural world who are often ignored. It was kind and peaceful, and reading this book (the audio version) while on long runs or walks outside felt like the perfect setting to enjoy all these charming vignettes. Nature Obscura is delightful, and readers who enjoy nature and want to feel more aware of the world in their own backyard will connect with Brenner’s informal, but joyful, exploration of the nature hidden all around.
Nature Obscura is a lovely and contemplative walk through nature with author and naturalist Kelly Brenner. She takes readers through the seasons in Seattle, and bustling metropolis that it is she still manages to slow down and carefully explore the world around her. An entire chapter devoted to tardigrades living in rooftop moss clumps, a section about the slow cycles of change in the insect populations in her backyard pond, concerted effort set towards learning how to identify different species of lichen, or slime mold - this book is deliberate and thoughtful, many would say slow, but setting a pace that begs for each tiny discovery to be fully understood and appreciated. I’m from Washington and familiar with lots of the areas in Seattle she discussed, but still had a lot to learn from this book. I appreciated her dedication to small nature and the often overlooked denizens of the natural world who are often ignored. It was kind and peaceful, and reading this book (the audio version) while on long runs or walks outside felt like the perfect setting to enjoy all these charming vignettes. Nature Obscura is delightful, and readers who enjoy nature and want to feel more aware of the world in their own backyard will connect with Brenner’s informal, but joyful, exploration of the nature hidden all around.
September 9, 2021
In Nature Obscura: A City's Hidden Natural World, Kelly Brenner uses lyrical essays and her own curiosity to investigate the under-appreciated creatures of her local landscape. It is a call to action—Brenner wants readers to learn how to observe the nature happening all around them, to appreciate that all habitats are ecosystems, to take wonder in their surroundings.
In particular, Brenner is focused on the creatures that go unnoticed or are purposefully avoided—threespine sticklebacks, slime mold, dragonflies, lichens, flies, spiders, the moon snail. She wants us to see how wondrous they are, and also brush off misconceptions. I loved her anecdotes, from the wonders of crows roosting in huge numbers, and the social hierarchies reflected in their communities, to the fact that muskrats are out there sinking boats. I learned a lot of fun things from the text—I now know about the adorable bee fly, the Anna's hummingbird dependent on human habitats, the joys of moss, the coevolution of neochrome—the ability of ferns to use both blue and red spectrum light.
I will warn that it's very local. Many readers, including me, struggled at a small sense of betrayal thinking this book was about urban nature, as in solely creatures you could find near skyscrapers and in urban gardens—and then Brenner dives into huge wild reserves and parks like Eugene, Oregon's marshes, or Bainbridge Island. While I was hoping for more essays focused specifically on the nature that has adapted and flourishes in urban environments, this is more a book about that within Seattle's confines, which is a rich city in that it includes wide spans of natural waterways and parks. Even then, though, I think there was a lot to enjoy—it was just something I had to get over. I think it's why I most loved the essays that took place in her own backyard, or in places like an Ikea overflow lot or the side of Seattle's waterways.
In particular, Brenner is focused on the creatures that go unnoticed or are purposefully avoided—threespine sticklebacks, slime mold, dragonflies, lichens, flies, spiders, the moon snail. She wants us to see how wondrous they are, and also brush off misconceptions. I loved her anecdotes, from the wonders of crows roosting in huge numbers, and the social hierarchies reflected in their communities, to the fact that muskrats are out there sinking boats. I learned a lot of fun things from the text—I now know about the adorable bee fly, the Anna's hummingbird dependent on human habitats, the joys of moss, the coevolution of neochrome—the ability of ferns to use both blue and red spectrum light.
I will warn that it's very local. Many readers, including me, struggled at a small sense of betrayal thinking this book was about urban nature, as in solely creatures you could find near skyscrapers and in urban gardens—and then Brenner dives into huge wild reserves and parks like Eugene, Oregon's marshes, or Bainbridge Island. While I was hoping for more essays focused specifically on the nature that has adapted and flourishes in urban environments, this is more a book about that within Seattle's confines, which is a rich city in that it includes wide spans of natural waterways and parks. Even then, though, I think there was a lot to enjoy—it was just something I had to get over. I think it's why I most loved the essays that took place in her own backyard, or in places like an Ikea overflow lot or the side of Seattle's waterways.
December 14, 2023
This is book is splendid. It's an all-time favorite because it aligns so well with my values: "Make time to get outside. Venture out in all the seasons, all year long. Go out at different times of the day. There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."
I like the Author's mentions of a) dichotomous keys, b) the camera lucida concept, and c) the British Quaker and slime mold expert, Gulielma Lister. Her chapters on fly / ant fungi species; dragonflies; a non-lethal, STD-like fungus infection that targets ladybugs; nematodes; crows; and moths blew my hair back.
The Author's speculative mention of Vincent Van Gogh's, 'Starry Night' painting being his 'unusual' visualization of the moth's sensory world where its airborne environment is dominated by different massive swirls of volatile chemicals intentionally produced by plants at night strikes me as more than a literary home run.
The Author's focus on Seattle's hidden natural world is definitely not a limiting factor to readers, like me, living elsewhere.
So, on your outdoor walks bring along a water proof penlight, a hand lens, a few test tubes and sandwich bags for collecting samples, and tweezers or forceps for collecting.
At home, eventually acquire a pair of reconditioned dissecting and compound microscopes from specialized on-line companies. Purchase a few, low-cost dichotomous keys relevant to the plant and animal species of your region. Maybe buy a readily available clip-on macro lens for your phone camera. Use a commonly available notepad app for your phone to record observations when outside.
Rotate through category lists of your favorite plant and animal families for counting the different bird, mammal, insect, tree, and moss species on different days during your regular outside observation sessions.
Making a curiosity cabinet is strongly recommended.
With reference to the Book's theme of 'get outside' and information about possible examples of hidden natural life forms you'll see even inside big cities or beyond the limits of your city, it's a splendid reading experience. The Book is gorgeously illustrated by pen & ink artist, Zoe Keller. I couldn't be happier with discovery of author Kelly Brenner's book, 'Nature Obscura' and recommend it to curious readers who live anywhere.
I like the Author's mentions of a) dichotomous keys, b) the camera lucida concept, and c) the British Quaker and slime mold expert, Gulielma Lister. Her chapters on fly / ant fungi species; dragonflies; a non-lethal, STD-like fungus infection that targets ladybugs; nematodes; crows; and moths blew my hair back.
The Author's speculative mention of Vincent Van Gogh's, 'Starry Night' painting being his 'unusual' visualization of the moth's sensory world where its airborne environment is dominated by different massive swirls of volatile chemicals intentionally produced by plants at night strikes me as more than a literary home run.
The Author's focus on Seattle's hidden natural world is definitely not a limiting factor to readers, like me, living elsewhere.
So, on your outdoor walks bring along a water proof penlight, a hand lens, a few test tubes and sandwich bags for collecting samples, and tweezers or forceps for collecting.
At home, eventually acquire a pair of reconditioned dissecting and compound microscopes from specialized on-line companies. Purchase a few, low-cost dichotomous keys relevant to the plant and animal species of your region. Maybe buy a readily available clip-on macro lens for your phone camera. Use a commonly available notepad app for your phone to record observations when outside.
Rotate through category lists of your favorite plant and animal families for counting the different bird, mammal, insect, tree, and moss species on different days during your regular outside observation sessions.
Making a curiosity cabinet is strongly recommended.
With reference to the Book's theme of 'get outside' and information about possible examples of hidden natural life forms you'll see even inside big cities or beyond the limits of your city, it's a splendid reading experience. The Book is gorgeously illustrated by pen & ink artist, Zoe Keller. I couldn't be happier with discovery of author Kelly Brenner's book, 'Nature Obscura' and recommend it to curious readers who live anywhere.
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