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By RUTH SMITH

As August wanes, many people lament that the summer is coming to an end. In fact, it is. Numerous natural events that we associate with fall, such as bird migration, begin in August. Some songbirds, shorebirds and insect eaters like the Common...

By RUTH SMITH

I recently heard a radio host mention the “dog days of summer” in reference to the hot and steamy weather we’ve been experiencing. His supposition was that the term was coined because dogs get hot and lazy during this weather. The term actually...

By RUTH SMITH

May 1 is halfway between the spring equinox in March and the summer solstice in June. Since the equinox, there have been more hours of day than night. Yet darkness is important to natural rhythms and life cycles.Many people aren’t aware that 80% of...

By RUTH SMITH

As the longest night of the year approaches, many of us spend more time outside in the dark. Walking from my car to the house after work and closing the chicken coop before dinner now occur long after sunset. On several recent evenings, I’ve...

By RUTH SMITH

Summer evenings provide opportunities for a lot of outdoor enjoyment. One free and natural treat of the twilight hours is observing the world’s only flying mammals, the bats. Don’t worry about them flying into your hair. Using echolocation, they are...

By RUTH SMITH

We often call it dirt, but the soil beneath our feet, in our gardens and under the plants of the forests and fields is far more than grit and mud. It is comprised of a complex mix of living and non-living elements that create the foundation for all...

By RUTH SMITH

During a recent evening trip to the shed to fetch some firewood, I heard a strange sound in the woods. I recognized the sound but listened intently to be sure I was hearing what I thought I was hearing. It resembled a truck backing up, but we live in...

By RUTH SMITH

At this time of year many people, not just gardeners, think about plants. Gardens are lush with flowers and ripening vegetables. Meadows, wetlands and forests are rich with the colors and textures of hundreds of species of flora. But one group of...

By RUTH SMITH

If ever there was a time to look to nature for some grounding, a place to escape and a reminder of normalcy, this is one of those times. Recently, I’ve been especially drawn to witness the aerial courtship display of the male American woodcock.This...

By RUTH SMITH

As leaves are shed from broad-leaved trees, details of the forest are revealed. Bird and squirrel nests, and hives of bald-faced hornet all seem to pop into view once the foliage has fallen. Trunks and branches reveal patterns and sometimes holes in...

By RUTH SMITH

It’s autumn, a time when our attention is drawn to leaves because of the spectacular pallet which their changing colors create on the landscape. In addition to enjoying the various hues from afar, it’s worth taking a closer look at trees because even...

By RUTH SMITH

At this time of year, I often hear people say, “The goldenrod is in bloom and my allergies are acting up.” Those two things may happen at the same time, but not because goldenrod is the cause of late summer or fall allergies.Goldenrod grows in a wide...

By RUTH SMITH

If you let the deep cold of winter keep you inside, you’ll miss out on some wonderful possibilities for exploration that don’t exist in warmer seasons, namely the opportunity to walk on water. Frozen ponds and lakes are special places to visit but...

By RUTH SMITH

Spring is usually the season associated with frog calls. It’s a thrill to hear the first spring peepers and wood frogs sending their songs into the chilly April evenings, assuring us that winter is really coming to an end. But that was months ago. We...

By RUTH SMITH

Winter is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the natural world. When I do, I often encounter old stone walls in the woods. These relics of our region’s history tell many stories about past inhabitants and current residents of the landscape.The...

By RUTH SMITH

Take Me Outside: The colorful trees of spring- New Englanders have a right to brag about the fall foliage that graces our hillsides in September and October. The brilliant yellow, orange and red leaves of birches, aspen, maples and oaks are world famous for a good reason. But the vibrancy of the...