The term litter conjures up in one’s mind a messy affair, such as the town park strewn with the remnants of schoolchildren’s lunchablesin the ditch along our favourite scenic drive, its beauty tarnished by unsightly coffee cups, napkins and cigarette butts discarded by irresponsible drivers. Litter! Yuk! Its presence acts as one of those ugly… Read more »
Despite the disheartening weather I see as I look out my window today (slush everywhere, drab grey clouds and blowing snow), I have received some secret information that spring is nigh. I thus sit, resting happily assured that the day’s weather is but a last ditch attempt by winter to lord its dominance over its… Read more »
You can fairly smell spring now, it’s so close to popping into our lives. But let’s face it – those last weeks of (dare I say the word?) winter often feel the longest of all. The calendar may say one thing, but every other sense tells us that this season isn’t yet ready to release… Read more »
The Common Loon (Gavia immer): in a way very few other species have managed to do, this bird has come to represent for many Canadians the meaning of the north. The magical paddle through still waters at dusk; those lovely summer mornings watching the mist rise from the lake–these already cherished moments are made yet… Read more »
Turn on the television on any day at any time, and you will be sure to find at least one show featuring animals; open any book, and there will almost surely be at least one reference to animals. While it may seem that we live in an entirely human-dominated world, animals are in fact all… Read more »
It was hailing today. First the rain was coming down. Then, as the temperature dropped, the rain turned to hail, and the bone-chilling cold started to set in, I began to think about how hard it must be to be a wild thing during our frigid winters. How on earth can so many species make… Read more »
The term Cucurbitaceae may not sound immediately familiar, but the species within this plant family are some of the most conspicuous at this time of year: the squashes, gourds, melons and, last but not least, the glorious pumpkin—Cucurbita pepo. Halloween, to many, would be nothing without this emblematic fruit. The Jack O’ Lantern, with its… Read more »
Well, it’s time to admit that summer really has left us once again. Fall is officially and conspicuously here. Not only are the pumpkins and Halloween candy filling the grocery store shelves, but the air has taken on a crisp feel, and (depending on where you live) the leaves are showing clear signs of fall’s… Read more »
Ahh, vacationing in Portugal… the sun, the beaches, the ancient cities, the history. What could be nicer than tripping through the European countryside, relaxed and feeling that lovely expansiveness that comes from time spent in another culture? But what, one may ask, does such a location offer for the nature enthusiast? Portugal is, without a… Read more »
I must admit that my nature geek rating sometimes ventures into the red zone during these balmy summer months. I search through my plant keys seeking out the diagnostic features that will allow me to identify one plant from another, check out the butterfly charts to see if that one my mom saw in Argentina… Read more »