Friday, April 25, 2025
A bowl full of jellies
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Explore Outdoors ~ Treetop Fungi
During an early spring storm, a couple of small branches blew down from the oaks lining the driveway. I always enjoy looking at what's growing on them - usually a fun selection of lichens and other fungi that are too high to see. They resemble the sorts of things one might find clinging to driftwood at the ocean's edge. Sometimes the treetop fungi look just as surprised to see me as I am to see them.
Next time the wind blows down branches from a tree, check out what's growing on them!
Friday, April 18, 2025
Stories Start with a Seed
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my attempt at a poppy! |
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Friday, April 11, 2025
When a Tree Falls....
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photo by Carrie Marshall |
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025
Spring is a Season for Hatching!
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025
Sing a Song of Salamanders...
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Explore Outdoors ~ Spring Comes In
Spring officially started last week, but depending on where you live, signs of spring may have been sprouting up since February. Maybe it's the sound of running water (the creek at the bottom of the road is burbling along - noisy compared to a couple weeks ago!) or the abundance of bird calls. Maybe bits of green are poking up through the snow...
This week look for signs of spring!
Friday, March 21, 2025
Oh my Crikeys! It’s tadpole season
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Explore Outdoors ~ End of Winter
Spring officially begins tomorrow! So this is a great time to walk around and see what the dregs of winter look like, and what the beginning of spring brings. Down at a neighbor's yard I found some mummied cherries and a catkin just waking up from a long winter's nap.
What end-of-winter changes do you see around your neighborhood?
Friday, March 14, 2025
More than Mushrooms: an author interview!
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Explore Outdoors ~ Bird Tracks on my Porch
The birds know, without a doubt where the source of the suet and seed is. And, after a dusting of snow, the chickadees have no qualms letting us know that they are waiting for a refill! The woodpeckers have another way of communicating - they're drumming on dead trees and at daybreak it's enough to get one up and moving!
What are the birds telling you where you live?
Friday, March 7, 2025
Animal Homes
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Explore Outdoors~ Frozen
In 15 days, spring will be here! I can't wait. It's been a cold winter, which makes it feel longer than normal. Even when the sun shines and melts snow off the roof, it freezes overnight!
What does the world look like outside your door this week?
Friday, February 28, 2025
Bird Fiction for Middle Grade
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Explore Outdoors ~ Almost Snowcones
When the beech leaves dry up over winter, they curl into cones - perfect for catching snow. Some years I find perfect snowcones. This year, not so much. But still, they're fun to find on a winter walk.
How do the leaves in your neighborhood catch the snow?
Friday, February 21, 2025
Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove...
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Explore Outdoors ~ Lichens
One of my favorite winter activities is Lichen Looking. That's because trees don't have leaves during this season - or if they do, the leaves are dried and rattly. And they don't have flowers. But they do sport lichens and other fungi. And, in this case, it was neat to observe how the snow gathered on the curls of lichen and bark.
I found this tree at a city park. What sort of lichen can you find in your neighborhood?