Queen Anne’s Lace: Why the Purple?
What is the purpose of the purple flower in the center of Queen Anne’s lace? The answer is: no one knows. Maybe it’s a target for pollinators.
Read MoreRoyal Beauty: Marie Antoinette…and Poison Ivy?
Poison ivy was once an admired and sought-after garden plant, grown in gardens like Versailles and Buckingham Palace, as a beautiful American specimen.
Read MoreScience Outdoors: Close Encounters
I write about the adventures waiting to be had nearby. My books are set close to home to open the possibilities of real-life nature exploration in every child’s environment.
Read MoreSlugs and Fireflies
Firefly larvae are carnivorous. Slugs are a favorite item on their menu. If you want a summer night filled with fireflies, you have to welcome slugs.
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A Goldenrod Safari
A hungry predator crawls through a leafy jungle. Slow cautious movements make no sound. The well-camouflaged predator waits, motionless. Powerful forelegs stretch wide to grab its unwary prey. Beware the goldenrod jungle! A single goldenrod plant is a complex habitat, the leaves, stems, and flowers providing food and shelter for a bewildering variety of strange, hidden creatures. Spiders, insects of all shapes and sizes, even birds use the goldenrod plant as a hunting ground, preying on the thousands of species that come to drink the nectar or eat the leaves. Tiny dramas of life and death...
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