‘Arb Sightings’ Category
Pasqueflowers in bloom (finally)
Prairie wildflower season has officially begun. Pasqueflower (Anemone patens) is the earliest blooming flower on the prairie. These were just photographed at Kasota Prairie today, and the pasqueflowers near the rock outcrop prairie overlook site in the Arboretum will soon be following suit. The name means “Easter flower” and these plants usually flower in late [...]
Junco Madness
This strange heaping of snow has stalled spring and left the dark-eyed Juncos in a frenzy searching for food at the Arboretum bird-feeders. It looks like a bustling bird food court out there! Juncos are a common type of sparrow who are often seen flitting about beneath the edges of trees. They have a light [...]
First Day of Spring
No signs of spring in the Arboretum yet. But don’t worry… it’s coming.
Make your own maple syrup — feel like a pioneer
In an age of grocery stores, dancing celebrities and robotic floor sweepers, we can sometimes feel pretty far removed from our pioneer ancestors. That’s when it’s nice to be able to do something as rugged and self-sufficient as turning tree sap into food. Yes, you too can be like the native people and [...]
Groundhogs Set to Prognosticate!
Having entered the doldrums of winter, it is now, more than ever, that we need a holiday to bolster our spirits. Thank goodness Groundhog’s Day is nearly here! Unfortunately, Groundhog’s Day is not nearly as prominent of a holiday as one might think it should be for such a critical time of year. Surely Groundhog’s [...]
Cicada-killer wasps
Most gardeners have had the occasional encounter with a wasp. Whether it’s a confrontation with a paper wasp or an unfortunate misunderstanding with a hornet, most of us are personally familiar with the havoc and anxiety that a wasp can create. Then there are the cicada-killer wasps. When it comes to panic-inducing capabilities, the cicada-killer [...]
Unnatural Father’s Day Hike
Hey. After not finding the time to make the next glorious and thorough blog post, I’ve decided that I just need to make quick and simple posts. So, just wanted to say that our first ever Father’s Day Weekend Unnatural Event was a great success. Not a huge turnout, but the 30+ folks who came [...]
First Post of the spring, Butterflies are back
Hey all: First…. an apology. I’ve been the new Naturalist here at the Arboretum for over 4 months, but this is the first time I’ve made time to post. Rest assured that posts will be coming MUCH more regularly in the future. That aside, the butterflies are back! As of May 2, I have seen [...]