A beautifully written journey back into a rural Napa Valley and all its natural wonders, now largely given way to the vineyards, country clubs and luxury homes of what is now one of America's most expensive places. An award winning scholar's coming-of-age memoir replete with gorgeous archival and contemporary color photographs of creatures and places of a bygone world. Childhood creeks and woodland haunts come alive through tales of youthful encounters with large black and white kingsnakes, elusive "super-sized" pileated woodpeckers and mountain lions lurking at the edge of the senses, all brought to light in a lyrical recollection of nature discovered over the back fence of the author's childhood home.