Author Archives: Lawrence Wade

A Quarter Century at the Friends of the Trail Prairie

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

For the past 25  years, a few of us have transformed an abandoned lot into a native prairie. The prairie is right beside a bike path and walkers often look at us in disbelief. One of our favorite quotes is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Guardians, Photography/Art | 2 Comments

Was Tinker Bell a Firefly?

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

For the past three nights (mid June) I have watched as many as a  hundred fireflies blinking in my yard. This is so hopeful because for years I have rarely seen them. Twenty-five years ago, I remember walking out at … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects | Leave a comment

Isn’t Nature Amazing!

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

The Short Life of an Early Spring Bee. Look at this barren hillside. Who would guess that beneath the ground is a whole colony of bees awaiting the warmth of the sun, so they can emerge. Known as the cellophane … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Spring | 4 Comments

How I Feel About Nature

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Lawrence Wade

All photos  by Alex Munoz Alex Munoz is an accomplished photographer and this is his second posting at Old Naturalist.  His first post was titled Raw Beauty Unleashed and was published in Dec. 2017. Alex Munoz is from my home … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Photography/Art, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Nature Through the Eyes of an Artist

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

Sandra Cowing is a talented water color artist who expresses her love for nature through her creativity. She also gives us an intimate view into her process as an artist. I had a vision in my mind of a foggy … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography/Art | 4 Comments

Fish Whisperer

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

  First snorkel holding onto a rock in the rapids A large muskie swam up and rested beside me Ecstatic wondered if I should be panicked. Hoped that I was not wearing anything shiny that looked tasty to a muskie. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Connecting to Nature | 8 Comments

The Big Woods and the Fight to Save Lone Lake Park

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

Lone Lake Park is a forest remnant of what was known as the Big Woods. The Big Woods was over 2,000 square miles, extending in a band 40 miles wide from what is today Mankato to Monticello. In the 1800’s, … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Guardians | 5 Comments

The Bass Ponds – A Hidden Gem

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

The Bass Ponds are part of the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge. It is an urban wildlife refuge in shadow of the Mall of America, a busy highway and the Minneapolis International Airport. Besides being a refuge for animals, the Bass … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Connecting to Nature, Spring | 6 Comments

Sights and Sounds of Spring 2020

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

Mid FebruaryI heard my first signs of spring. What birds were calling in the cold? (cardinal and  “fee bee” call  of the chickadee) Mid March – Vole tunnels in the grass as the snow melts. Late MarchPussy Willows in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Notes, Spring | 4 Comments

Whale Day

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Lawrence Wade

For the past 24 years I have traveled to North Hudson Elementary in Hudson, Wisconsin for a very special experience. The 4th grade teachers have developed a thematic unit on the oceans that runs from February to May. All of … Continue reading →

Posted in Whales & Oceanography | 4 Comments