I am forever scoping out my sites; my little special spots; seeing how the seasonal flora is progressing. This April I found a new spot while scouting for a wild edibles program. It’s a rich, moist, upland site and I was overjoyed to find signs of trout lily – a spring ephemeral. When I returned…
Category Archives: Natural History
Spring is the promise of release; of cleansing; of birth waters bearing down on the valley, washing winter into the Atlantic, heralding new life and new beginnings. Early spring’s message can feel like a paradox. Warm sunny days followed by a snowstorm. Icy rain biting at raw skin followed by a warm breeze that can…
Spring is the promise of release; of cleansing; of birth waters bearing down on the valley, washing winter into the Atlantic, heralding new life and new beginnings. Early spring’s message can feel like a paradox. Warm sunny days followed by a snow storm. Icy rain biting at raw skin followed by a warm breeze that…
Even amid the snow still on the ground, you can hearken to the signs of Spring. Flocks of male Red-winged Blackbirds are back in the wetlands singing and setting up hearth and home for their ladies soon to return. Even in the chill air, you can smell the sweetness that tells the tale of Sugar Maples…
Last summer I was noticing quite a few rabbits around our home. They seemed to be breeding, well, like bunnies. And they ate all our strawberries and then our Brussels sprouts! There has got to be checks and balances. Who would balance this equation? Meet Bobbi. Bobbi is a bobcat (Felis rufus) who moved in…
Sublimation is a sign of Spring; that Ostara is approaching. Snow-melt ascending. But this year, the mists have come weeks earlier. As have the Red-winged Blackbird – another herald of Spring. I look out upon the wetlands and ask, “what will we do?” “Adapt” is the only reply I receive. A steady drip drip drip heralds…
How the Otter Half Lives (in Winter) The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), a member of the subfamily Lutrinae, in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is an equal opportunity player on both land and water. This mustelid LOVES to have a good time! And in winter you can find their slides along the forest floor,…
BRR! It’s cold out there! How do the “wiuts” – the wild ones – survive the winter? Time for a winter ecology lesson – a study of relationships among living organisms during the coldest season of the year and how they relate to their environment during this season. To our New England flora, winter is…
The Longest Night is approaching. How do you keep warm? With good food and good company. Seconds on hugs and lots of blankets. The Longest Night of the year is approaching. Now you may say, “Bah! What does it matter? It will still be dark and cold for months to come.” And of course you…
To Trust in yourself and the Land By Arianna Samhain, Summer’s End has past the ones we tend to come in from grazing and huddle close for bodies’ warmth. What now will sustain us in the dark months ahead? Apple and Autumn Olive Grape and Cherry Beech and walnut Nettle and herbs dried by the…
Hearken to Avalon 