Buzz on This: Pollinators Crucial To Our Food Supply
“Pollinator” is a big buzz word these days. You might hear about pollinators in the news or see a sign in your neighbor’s yard dedicating...
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Jun 9, 20235 min read
Boom, Flash: All About Powerful Thunderstorms
For some people, the roll of thunder in the distance is a welcome sound. For others, storms are something to be fearful of. Thunderstorms...
May 26, 20232 min read
How Do Trees Clean the Air?
We have trees to thank for many things. They provide shade on sunny days, they offer food and shelter for many living things and they...
May 23, 20234 min read
The Gall of Insects: Why Some Plants Have Growths
You see a tree with its leaves covered in spots. Is it sick? Should you be worried? You find a stem that looks really swollen in one...
May 16, 20232 min read
How Do Robins Find Worms?
You’ve probably seen a robin in your yard poking around for worms, but have you ever wondered how they locate their favorite food from...
May 5, 20232 min read
What's the Difference: Dirt Vs. Soil
Take a step out into your yard and think about what's below your feet. What's under the grass? If your answer is dirt, you're right, but...
Apr 25, 20235 min read
Milkweed Is a Plant With Many Talents
Calling a plant a weed implies it is unwanted, undesirable or even a problem. “Weeds” are often plants that people don’t want in their...
Apr 21, 20233 min read
What's the Difference: Prairie vs. Savanna
What would you call a grassy field with a few trees scattered about? A prairie? A savanna? Either of the above? Both prairies and...
Apr 14, 20233 min read
Despite What You've Heard, Daddy Long Legs Aren't Dangerous
Have you ever heard that you're only safe from the dangerous venom of daddy long leg spiders because they don't have fangs long enough or...
Apr 11, 20234 min read
In the Animal Kingdom, Scales Serve Many Purposes
Like skin, scales help protect animals from their environments. But not all scales are created the same. Let’s look at some of the...
Mar 29, 20232 min read
Why Do Birds Stand on One Leg? To Stay Warm
Have you ever seen a bird standing on one leg and wondered how it was able to maintain its balance and not tip over? The stance is...
Mar 28, 20233 min read
Which Is Which?: Learn About Our Squirrelly Squirrels
The sight of a squirrel zipping up, down and all around our trees and forests is a familiar one to most people, but the zany behavior of...
Mar 17, 20232 min read
Armies of Frogs and Rafts of Otters: Groups of Animals Go By Many Names
Animals really don’t care what we call them. We could call them Bob, and it wouldn’t make any difference in their lives. But we humans...
Mar 14, 20233 min read
Why Are Some Animals Nocturnal?
Just as you are getting ready for bed, many animals are just waking up, ready to start their day in the dark. And it’s not just owls that...
Feb 17, 20233 min read
Not All Animals Are Red-Blooded Like We Are
Our blood runs red, which makes humans about the same as all the other vertebrates in the animal kingdom. But as it turns out, not all...
Feb 3, 20235 min read
No Fridge, No Problem: Animals Store Food Too
When you are hungry and open your cold refrigerator, what do you see? Maybe fruits, vegetables, milk, leftovers from last night’s dinner...
Jan 31, 20233 min read
Mouse or Rat? What's the Difference Anyway?
Unless you keep them as pets, the sight of a mouse or rat in your home is probably very unexpected. And while we may lump mice and rats...
Jan 20, 20233 min read
Do Animals Go Bald Like Humans?
Hair, or a lack of hair, is a part of our identity. It can be part of our culture, and it's part of what distinguishes us from other...
Jan 13, 20233 min read
Why Is the Sky Blue? The Science of Light
Our mind is a muscle. Curiosity makes our brains stronger and sharper, so never stop asking why. One of the first questions you may have...
Dec 30, 20223 min read
How Do Trees Survive Winter?
Trees are always present in our landscapes, a familiar comfort as they change with the seasons. Through it all, they endure the most...
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