Hi, I’m Jenni! 🦖

The curious mind behind Salisbury Castle Explorations.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the natural world. The little creatures most people walk right past, the rocks beneath our feet, and the stories hidden in places we might never think to look.

I’ve always been curious. The kind of curious that has me stopping in the middle of a walk to photograph a tiny spider or picking up a rock because something about it caught my eye. 😂

But somewhere along the way, life happened, and I found myself on a path that didn’t quite feel like mine.

So, in my 30s, I decided to change that.

I left my job, went back to college to study biology, and started chasing a dream that once felt completely out of reach: becoming a paleontologist.

And honestly? It’s been one of the most exciting decisions I’ve ever made.

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a fossil preparation lab, participate in paleontological fieldwork, explore ancient landscapes, and learn from people who have dedicated their lives to understanding Earth’s history.

I’ve held fossils that have been buried for millions of years, stood on rocks that preserve evidence of ancient environments, and discovered just how much there is that I still don’t know.

And that’s probably my favorite part.

There’s always something new to discover.

But my curiosity doesn’t stop with fossils and dinosaurs.

I’m also a nature photographer, a lover of all things wild and wonderful, and someone who gets ridiculously excited over jumping spiders, interesting insects, beautiful landscapes, and pretty much anything that makes me stop and say, “Wait, what is THAT?!”

I’m also a wife and mom, figuring out how to balance family life, college, photography, and the occasional adventure into the middle of nowhere.

Some days I’m in a fossil lab carefully working on specimens. Other days I’m crawling around in the dirt trying to photograph a tiny creature that absolutely refuses to cooperate. And sometimes I’m just sitting at my computer trying to understand something I learned in class.

It’s not always glamorous, but it’s always an adventure.

I created Salisbury Castle Explorations as a place to share the things I’m discovering along the way.

Not because I have all the answers. Far from it!

I’m a student, an explorer, and a lifelong learner. I’m figuring things out as I go, asking questions, making discoveries, and occasionally realizing that something I thought I understood is a whole lot more complicated than I imagined.

And I want to bring you along for all of it.

Here you’ll find stories from my paleontology adventures, fascinating bits of Earth’s ancient history, wildlife and macro photography, and little glimpses into the natural world that might otherwise go unnoticed.

My hope is that something you see here sparks your curiosity, teaches you something new, or inspires you to go after a dream of your own, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Because I really believe it’s never too late to discover something new, change direction, or start chasing the things that make you feel alive.

So welcome to Salisbury Castle Explorations.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Now, let’s go see what we can find. 🦖🌿