Tzila "Z" Duenzl

Dallas, Texas, USA

I have been immersed in Nature since I was very little. My father always had me outside, and spent a lot of time showing me how to observe everything going on in Nature around me, for which I am eternally grateful. I am amazed, awed, humbled, and 'peacefulled' by what I see every day. I am self-taught in my knowledge of natural things, using every reference book/field guide and/or person who can tell me what the name of a thing is. I have studied: plants/herbs/wildflowers( every local locale I've lived in; especially 'folk' uses, for health and food), intertidal life (lived on the Monterey Peninsula of California for 30+ years), birds (Texas is great for that!), animal behavior, every habitat I come across ('riparian' is my favorite), insects...basically whatever I come across!! I have given presentations on the Folk Uses of Local plants; made donations of my collections (shells, pressed plants, wildflower seeds, fossils) to various institutions and organizations; and been a Nature guide and raft/kayak guide. My newest idea is to get the understanding to anyone and everyone that "THERE IS NATURE EVERYWHERE" by taking 'city' folks on "Urban Walk-abouts", showing them the Nature in the smallest and least expected places in their city environment.

In Nature everywhere!