Author Archives: Lawrence Wade

Listening to Nature

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

At 6:30 this morning, it was just starting to get light and I was walking Mr. Mook. I heard the spring call of a chickadee, somewhere in the woods. Since it was December, the call was such a welcome and … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature | 2 Comments

Listening when there is no sound

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

Celebrated Minnesota naturalist, Sigurd Olson wrote in his book, Listening Point, “I named this place Listening Point because only when one comes to listen, only when one is aware and still, can things be seen and heard.”  I believe that … Continue reading →

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Childhood Lost II – The Importance of Forts

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

 What are some magical things you remember about your childhood; playing football, hide and seek, flashlight tag, building forts? I worry that many children today never experience the childhood that I once took-for-granted. Last week at school, we were reading … Continue reading →

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Sit Under a Tree

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

When was the last time that you sat and observed nature? Find a great spot and sit or stand there for 10-12 minutes. While you are there, write down everything you see, hear, and feel. Why I do it: Life … Continue reading →

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Using Wooly Bears to Predict the Weather

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

Background Information: The old Farmer’s Almanac said that you could predict the harshness of a winter by observing the color patterns on wooly bear caterpillars. It was said that if the orange band in the center of the body is … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall, Insects | 1 Comment

Wooly Bear Week

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

Over the past week, I have seen 4 wooly bears crossing the trail or hanging out on some plants. This is in spite of the fact that I have spent most my daylight hours teaching school. Wooly bears are fuzzy … Continue reading →

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How a Brownie Reflex Camera Helped Me Become a Naturalist

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

I must have been 8 or 9 years old and I was exploring Sespe Creek. I saw a bird I named the “whopper” because when it was frightened, it made a call of “Whop-Whop”. I really wanted to know what … Continue reading →

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Adios Monarcas

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

There wasn’t a big going away party this week, but there should have been! The first wave of monarchs has left for their wintering grounds in Mexico early in the week. All summer long, the monarch butterflies have been silent … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects | 1 Comment

Childhood Lost

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Lawrence Wade

Why television, mobile phones, facebook, ipads and other electronic devices are ruining our children’s early years. When I was a kid we got three television channels, and none of them worked very well. It was Bonanza on Wednesday, Rawhide on … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature | 1 Comment