Lunar New Year

Happy Lunar New Year! The leafy cover of the fruit of smooth ground-cherry (Physalis angulata) reminds me of a paper lantern.

Marbled Orb-Weaver

Here is a male marbled orb-weaver (Araneus marmoreus var. marmoreus) to get you in the Halloween spirit.

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Migration of the Monarch Butterfly

Every fall, monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) fly all the way to Mexico to spend the winter. As the temperatures warm in the spring, the monarchs travel north again. I had heard this story many times, but I never really looked into the details. Monarch butterflies typically only live for a month. They eat, they mate,… Continue reading Migration of the Monarch Butterfly

Morning Light

I’ve been working on capturing the early morning light with my camera. Technically, it is not an easy thing to do. This was taken about 30 minutes after sunrise, as the sunlight started to filter through the trees. The golden light was absolutely beautiful. To take a picture like this, you have to find the… Continue reading Morning Light

Mother Nature is Decorating for the Holidays

When I was looking at this sweetgum tree in November, it reminded me of a Christmas tree. The spherical fruits are dangling off the branches, hung like ornaments. The pine needles that fell from a nearby tree are scattered like tinsel. What do you think? Was Mother Nature decorating for the holidays?

Mushrooms

With all the rain we’ve had recently, it’s a great time to observe mushrooms! I saw this large mushroom on a hillside in the woods this weekend. Did you know that mushrooms are the fruit of the fungus growing under ground? Have you seen any interesting mushrooms lately?

National Bird Day

January 5, 2025 is National Bird Day. Take some time today to notice the birds outside. What are they doing? Are they looking for food? Are they singing? How many different kinds of birds do you see or hear? How many can you identify?

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