Steve Roark, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Wildflowers

1 week ago | therogersvillereview.com | Steve Roark

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The majestic yellow poplar tree

1 week ago | newportplaintalk.com | Steve Roark

During the spring you can look at the mountains and tell where the streams and small drains are by looking for the streaks of green that the early leafing yellow poplar produces. It prefers to grow where the soil is deep and moist. Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the state tree of both Kentucky and Tennessee, and its size, beauty, and usefulness is worthy of the title. The name is misleading, for it is not in the poplar family, which includes aspen and cottonwood.
Outside: Yellow poplar has misleading name

1 week ago | therogersvillereview.com | Steve Roark

During the spring you can look at the mountains and tell where the streams and small drains are by looking for the streaks of green that the early leafing yellow poplar produces. It prefers to grow where the soil is deep and moist. kAm*6==@H A@A=2C W{:C:@56?5C@? EF=:A:76C2X :D E96 DE2E6 EC66 @7 3@E9 z6?EF4<J 2?5 %6??6DD66[ 2?5 :ED D:K6[ 362FEJ[ 2?5 FD67F=?6DD :D H@CE9J @7 E96 E:E=6] %96 ?2>6 :D >:D=625:?8[ 7@C :E :D ?@E :? E96 A@A=2C 72>:=J[ H9:49 :?4=F56D 2DA6?
More Appalchian English

2 weeks ago | newportplaintalk.com | Steve Roark

Every now and then I like to celebrate our heritage and list words that I’ve heard spoken in the mountain dialect. There is a difference between those raised in the country and those raised in the city, with the country folk using more dialect than those from the city. My parents and kin were of the country variety, so I had a rich collection of words to enjoy. In past articles I’ve covered A through C words. This one does the Ds. See how many you have heard used.
Outside: We 'done' made it to D in Appalachian English

2 weeks ago | therogersvillereview.com | Steve Roark

Every now and then I like to celebrate our heritage and list words that I’ve heard spoken in the mountain dialect. There is a difference between those raised in the country and those raised in the city, with the country folk using more dialect than those from the city. kAm|J A2C6?ED 2?5 <:? H6C6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ G2C:6EJ[ D@ x 925 2 C:49 4@==64E:@? @7 H@C5D E@ 6?;@J] x?
Outside: Dandelion, a wildflower you recognize

3 weeks ago | therogersvillereview.com | Steve Roark

Everyone knows the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), which is usually somewhere in your lawn unless herbicides are heavily used. This European import is probably enemy No. 1 on the lawn weed list, but it is still an interesting study, being both an edible and medicinal. kAm%96 72>:=:2C 3C:89E J6==@H 7=@H6CD 2C6 >256 FA @7 >2?J ;28865\65865 A6E2=D E92E 7@C> 2 7=2E 5:D4] %96 ?2>6 :D 7C@> E96 uC6?49 H@C5 56?E 56 =:@?[ H9:49 >62?D “=:@?D E@@E9]” |2?J :?D64ED 82E96C A@==6? 7C@> E96 A=2?E 2?5[ :?
Dandelion: A flower you know

3 weeks ago | newportplaintalk.com | Steve Roark

Everyone knows the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), which is usually somewhere in your lawn unless herbicides are heavily used. This European import is probably enemy No. 1 on the lawn weed list, but it is still an interesting study, being both an edible and medicinal. The familiar bright, yellow flowers are made up of many jagged-edged petals that form a flat disc.
Outside: When does spring really begin?

4 weeks ago | therogersvillereview.com | Steve Roark

In our area, spring seems to be a crapshoot with all the cold snaps in between warmups. And when I looked into it, I found that there is more than one opinion of when spring begins. So, here is a rundown of the possibilities. kAmu@C 46?EFC:6D 7@=<D 92G6 9F?8 E96:C 92E @? 2DEC@?@>:42= DAC:?8[ 42==65 E96 '6C?2= tBF:?@I[ H9:49 E9:D J62C @44FCD @? |2C49 a_] %96D6 {2E:? H@C5D >62? “6BF2= ?:89E]” %96 DF? 92D DE625:=J 366? 4C66A:?8 9:896C :? E96 D@FE96C?
When is spring?

1 month ago | newportplaintalk.com | Steve Roark

In our area spring seems to be a crap shoot with all the cold snaps in between warm ups. And when I looked into it, I found that there is more than one opinion of when spring begins, and so here is a rundown of the possibilities. For centuries folks have hung their hat on astronomical spring, which this year occurs on March 20, called the vernal equinox. These Latin words mean “equal night”.
Outside: Do the world a favor this month

1 month ago | therogersvillereview.com | Steve Roark

These days it’s easy to get on an environmental guilt trip. Drive your car to work, you pollute the air. Buy a box of crackers, you end up with a box and wax paper to add to the landfill problem. Run your heat pump, add carbon dioxide and support global warming. But, in honor of March being Arbor Month in Tennessee (April for Kentucky and Virginia), let me suggest doing something to feel good about, a simple act with numerous pluses: Plant a tree.