Category Archives: Connecting to Nature

Acorns to Oaks

Originally published in September 2013 How many acorns will survive and become mature oaks?  Even if none survive, the project will not be a failure, but a success, because the land had someone caring for its future. There is a … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Fall, Nature Notes, Student Resources | 8 Comments

Winter Birds

All photos by Old Naturalist Download the Winter Birds response sheet. Answer the questions using the text below. Click here for the Winter Birds PDF. Not all northern birds migrate south for the winter. A few birds eliminate the dangers … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Connecting to Nature, Winter | 4 Comments

Orquideario La Encantada Oaxaca Aventuras # 2

Cerca del pueblocito de Huayapam en el estado de Oaxaca, Méxíco es un tesero escondido. Se maneja por un camino de tierra y detrás de una puerta se encuentra una reserva de orquídeas, se llama, ‘Orquideario La Encantada’. Nuestro guía … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Guardians | 3 Comments

The Cloud People – Zapotec Culture Expressed Through Art

I had the honor to visit the taller (workshop) of Jacobo and María Ángeles, from San Martin Tilcajete a pueblo near the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. They are artists who carve and paint alebrijes, magical wooden creatures. To the artists, … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Photography/Art, Spanish | 6 Comments

Spring Is Cancelled – Nature is not!

Thanks to all of the contributors to this post: Sabrina Harvey, Mary Goehle, Jules Ikhaml, and Jenny Boldt. Many of us living in the North Country are pretty sure that Spring is not going to come. But, there are those … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Notes, Photography/Art, Spring | 8 Comments

Road Less Traveled

Photos and text by Josh Lewandowski and Hue (pronounced Way) Dao. Follow Josh and Hue’s  yearlong adventure:     @joshlewandowski    @hue2go You know the pictures, the ones with high-top econolines, moneyed sprinters, and colored vanagons perched precariously on lonely canyon rims or … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature Notes, Photography/Art | 8 Comments

Winter Nature School – Mystery Hike # 3

This week on our nature hike, we will look for a number of mysteries that need to be solved. What to Do: 1. Participate virtually by watching the YouTube video below. 2, Take a screen shot or a sketch of … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Nature School, Winter | 1 Comment

Imbolc- From Darkness Towards the Light

Imbolc, Candlemas or Groundhog’s day has always been one of my favorites because the light returns in the seasonal cycles that earth travels in. It is the hope of springtime and warmth. A time to begin planning and planting and … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Winter | 2 Comments

Cierva Cove, Antarctica

Photos and text by Jane Ball. Jane is a frequent contributor to the Old Naturalist. She has traveled the Earth and is a true guardian of our Planet. To me, Cierva Cove in Antarctica is one of the truly magical places … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Photography/Art, Whales & Oceanography | 6 Comments

Open Ocean Odysseys

Readers Robert Pitman, James Cotton, Diane Kaplan, Jen and Jordan Ganley share their stories about being at sea. Mom’s the Word Robert Pitman, Whale Biologist, NMFS I was aboard a Japanese research vessel and we approached a pod of sperm … Continue reading

Posted in Connecting to Nature, Whales & Oceanography | 5 Comments