October Color

Top Photo: Ashleaf maple, or boxelder. On a walk around the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop I photographed some of the fall color during the last week of October. Here’s some of those images.Read more

It’s Crunch Time!

Top Photo: Fall color (Northwoods, Wisconsin). What does fall have to offer besides the spectacular annual changing of the leaves—the crunching of them under your feet, that’s what. Few things can compare to swishing around in the thick, fall, leaf liter. But, as much fun as that might be, seeking out and crunching individual leaves is even more pleasing. Not every leaf is equal though. I’ve found that certain leaves make a very satisfying crunch underfoot while others leave youRead more

Autumn Meadowhawks and Other Fall Things

Every year around this time I begin to see the first autumn meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum). These small red dragonflies are late season fliers, not emerging from their nymphal aquatic habitats until October. I saw the first one this year on October 27 perched upon smartweed in our wetland. Elsewhere, the leaves are rapidly turning. Many have already fallen. Not necessarily a sign of fall… Enjoy the view.Read more

Two caterpillars of vastly different proportions.

It was only five days after watching a Cloudless Sulphur lay an egg on the Partridge Pea in Catch the Wind that I saw evidence of caterpillars. As I walked by the plants on Tuesday of last week I noticed one of the flowers had been partially eaten. I didn’t have my camera with me (why do I even consider walking the loop without my camera?) but the Otter Box encased iPhone that I had strapped to my belt recordedRead more

Tulip Poplars Susceptible to Drought

The shoreline in the Wetlands grows wider with each passing day as the water level drops. Although there have been storms moving through the area daily during the past week, carrying substantial amounts of rain, they have been scattered storms and not necessarily pouring down water into the Wetlands. Tulip Poplars are more susceptible to drought than some other trees in our area. Under normal circumstances Yellow (Tulip) Poplar begins to turn earlier than most deciduous trees in our areaRead more