The Isles of Scilly, this tiny rocky outpost of Cornwall, the land beyond Land's End. Granite forged in ancient continental collisions, rough edges smoothed by eons of waves, eroded into inviting beaches and grown over with small woods, grass and flowers. Looking out into the open Atlantic, these islands have long been famous for their ships and shipwrecks; many a proud vessel has come to grief on these rocks and much treasure brought back from the depths here. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the Scillys have a delightfully mild climate and are home to world-renowned gardens that support plants from all around the planet, including much of the tropics. Rare birds from Africa and America frequent these isolated bits of land, the first they may encounter after a long flight over the ocean. It was a beautiful place to spend our day and a perfect place to say farewell to a great naturalist.

We received the very sad news today that one of our own…one of the great naturalists of the 20th century…has passed away. Dennis Puleston was truly an inspiration to this extended family of people who work with Lindblad Expeditions and he was likewise much beloved by innumerable guests who have traveled with him over the past couple decades. His knowledge of the natural world seemed endless and he was a teacher to us all. Dennis' conservation works as a founder of the Environmental Defense Fund greatly helped to bring about an increased awareness of environmental concerns and resulted in among other things the unstoppable movement which led to the ban on the use of DDT in the U.S. The expedition staff members gathered together on shore this afternoon in the Mermaid's Inn Tavern of St. Mary's Island in the Scillys to celebrate Dennis and his amazing effect on our lives. It was a time to share stories and recount fond memories of a wonderful, selfless man, and to drink numerous toasts to our dear departed friend. He will be very much missed and remembered by many people, which itself is a lasting legacy.