Stories

Marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) thrive in the wet, mucky edges of streams, rivers, and wetlands.

Grey tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) are a marvel of adaptation. Their skin can shift from gray to green, allowing them to blend seamlessly wit

The pileated woodpeckers in our back yard are a mated pair, their bond formed through a shared life cycle that plays out across the seasons.

This post is part of a project in the works; " An Ogemaw County Year".  The blog and eventually the book will encompass nature noticing,...

Perched on the feeder is a tiny bird with a striking appearance—a red-breasted nuthatch.

I realize I have come face-to-face with a red fox. The creature, with its vibrant red fur and bushy tail, is a stunning sight against the ba

This post is part of a project in the works; " An Ogemaw County Year".  The blog and eventually the book will encompass nature noticing,...

I realized i had a cluster of witch hazel shrubs. Their yellow, spidery blossoms were a stark contrast against the browning leaves of late a

Fascinated, I watch as a raccoon scrambles from the top of the feeder to the tree trunk with surprising agility in the moonlight.

But those who fish the Rifle river, or any river, in September know a different story. The air is crisper, the river quieter.

It doesn’t take long before I see the first Monarch flutter by, its distinctive orange and black wings standing out against the blue sky.

Their eerie, haunting calls echoed only briefly through the stillness, a sound that was both beautiful and melancholy. A perfect reminder th

Despite its many benefits, goldenrod is often mistakenly blamed for causing allergies. The real culprit behind late summer and early fall ha

At first, I was puzzled by this change in color. The brown birds at my feeder looked so different that I wondered if I was seeing an entirel

That’s when I saw it – a large snapping turtle, half-submerged in the shallows, basking lazily in the morning sun. Its shell was encrusted w

The turkey moved with purpose, and soon, I realized why. It had discovered a patch of wild blueberries, the tiny berries hidden among the gr

This post is part of a project in the works; "An Ogemaw County Year".  The blog and eventually the book will encompass nature noticing,...

Each July and August I collect seeds from the tickseed, which indeed do look like ticks, and then start them indoors each spring and plant t

Leaning over the edge of my kayak, I peer into the depths and spot numerous small depressions scattered across the sandy bottom. These are t

This post is part of a project in the works; " An Ogemaw County Year". The blog and eventually the book will encompass nature noticing,...