It was an “Eek!” heard round the world. Or at least in every corner of our humble campus apartment. My college roommate Alisan, one of three people with whom I shared the tiny unit, had uncorked the shriek, the likes of which I hadn’t heard since my box turtle Arthur crawled […]
Good Natured
Every year when Mother’s Day rolls around, Hallmark reminds us just how many animals are great moms. We see cards with dogs and their puppies; cats with their kittens; a polar bear and her cub. But just once I’d like to see some cards featuring some of nature’s lesser-known, but still great, moms. […]
Good Natured
Some of you might be aware, I’ve been a naturalist my whole life. But it’s only been a career since the year 2000. Prior to then I worked as an editor in the world of trade publications, focusing mainly on magazines in the food industry. My first grown-up job, in fact, was […]
Good Natured
Some of you have noticed, and a few have even called to comment on the fact that my role at the St. Charles Park District has changed. After almost 12 years as manager of nature programs and interpretive services, I’m now the district’s outreach ambassador. I’ll still be producing this weekly nature commentary; […]
Good Natured
It’s a nature fact we all learn pretty early in life: Oak trees produce acorns. Except…sometimes they don’t. Now by this I don’t mean they suddenly switch to making walnuts and hickory nuts, or Fudge Stripes and Deluxe Grahams-despite what the Keebler Elves would have us believe. […]
Good Natured
Judging by the yields in the community garden plots at James O. Breen Community Park in St. Charles, 2019 is a big year for local produce. Even in my little home garden, which isn’t much more than a few determined plants scattered amid some daylilies that refuse to go away, is looking rather bountiful this season. […]
Good Natured
The other night a large, mosquito-like insect was flying around the kitchen. I waited until it landed, then let it outside. Not five minutes later, I spotted another. Out it went, too. Then Tuesday, at work, someone reported, in a frequency only slightly lower than a dog whistle, that we had a GIANT mosquito in the lobby. I went to investigate […]
Good Natured
Last week we relayed the story of two young chimney swifts who found themselves in a spot of trouble, and the people who came to their aid. This week we’re taking a step back and looking at the species as a whole. As you’ll see, Chaetura pelagica is in a spot of trouble too. […]
Good Natured
The other night around 8:30 my phone started blowing up with texts that, at that moment, were going to have to go unanswered. I was in the car with my 88-year-old mother, driving back from an afternoon of celebrating Cousin Ruthie’s 98th birthday. As we rode along we mused as to what all the commotion was about. […]
Good Natured
The heady aroma of fine cigars. The rise and fall of male voices, punctuated with deep, booming laughter. It didn’t take a girl popping out of a cake to tell us, a stag party was underway in the pavilion of the Hickory Knolls Natural Area. Meanwhile, a stone’s throw away at the Discovery Center, another gathering of stags was in full swing: […]
Good Natured