WriterByNature.com

November 6, 2007 6:30 pm

Thanks to New York State’s DEC, Cornell University and three nurseries, 330 trees will help control the erosion of this riparian floodplain.

I was astonished to learn that the trees from one of the nurseries, RPM, were seeds one year ago.

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October 17, 2007 7:55 am

I like this time of year. I want to feel good about the beauty around me. But I cannot ignore the impact of the extreme drought conditions on my favorite trails.

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July 10, 2007 4:34 am

The common cattail (Typha latifolia ) is my logo because it is useful in all areas of survival.

I have always enjoyed eating the early spring shoots. I’ve woven the leaves into mats for sitting, added pollen to baked goods, harvested the mature stalks for shelter insulation, and gathered the mature seed heads for pillow stuffing.

This time of year, I love nibbling the shoots, raw in salad or steamed.

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April 16, 2007 6:10 am

Growing up in coastal Connecticut, I’ve witnessed the power of a “Nor’easter.”

Counterclockwise air currents being pushed from the northeast, draw moisture from the south, creating a storm as dangerous as a hurricane.

When a Nor’easter dumps snow, the impact is devastating. This particular Nor’easter has me glued to the window. Even the gossip which passes for news has made the weather the #1 story. (more…)

March 30, 2007 5:09 pm

This is the sound of spring peepers and wood frogs singing a duet when the weather was warm last month.

The swamp was too deep for me to get a glimpse, but the duet is still beautiful.

February 15, 2007 4:59 am

No kidding. You can actually freeze snowballs for summer use. (more…)

February 9, 2007 4:19 am

This was originally written as a magazine submission. It was not published, but I believe this information is important. This is not something you can practice. I visualize this situation in order to imprint it. I hope I never fall through ice, but if I did, I’d be more likely to survive. (more…)

January 14, 2007 1:29 pm

The rain has not been steady, the air is warm and there’s no
breeze. It’s enough for a quickie hike and a few wildlife photos.

The mist hung heavy over this lake, but I could still spot
the heron.

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August 6, 2006 4:05 am

Here is a list of residents of the pond.

Using the same micro hike observation technique, find the plants and animals listed - and add your own observations to the list. Combine with home-made pondscope project for a delightful way to spend time outdoors. (more…)

July 20, 2006 1:00 am

This is a quote from Edward Duensing’s Talking to Fireflies, Shrinking the Moon: Nature Activities for All Ages

It’s not only a nature study, it a terrific application of math skills. (more…)