What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
Just Our Nature Posts
The Great Blackbird Migration
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureMigrating birds of all stripes—and wing patches, tail bands, and other markings—are impressive. My hat is off (figuratively only, of course) to all the songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl that fly from their Northern breeding grounds to warmer climes, in some cases thousands of miles, without benefit of Google Maps or a travel agent.
Hummingbirds weighing about the same as a handful of paper clips…
Whitewater Kayaking on the Raquette
By Amanda Brooks on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Kayakers from all over the Eastern US and Canada convened at Stone Valley in Colton on Labor Day Weekend for the Raquette Race, part of the Whitewater King of New York Series. The series includes competitions along four Northern New York Rivers: the Raquette, Black, Beaver, and Moose.
The Raquette section of the race is a Class 5 rapids, the most challenging of the Whitewater King of New York…
The Color of Dry
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureIt turns out that, in terms of fall foliage, the color of too dry is officially known as “Blah.” This would undoubtedly be the least popular color selection if it was included in a jumbo Crayola crayon pack. Basically, it is a jumble of faded hues with a mottled brown patina. This year’s dry summer could mean that “blah” may feature prominently in Mother Nature’s fall hardwood forest palette.
Why…
The Drought of 2016
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureThey say that every cloud has a silver lining, but what happens when all you really need is a cloud? The Drought of 2016 (sounds more ominous when I capitalize it like that) has really beat up on gardens and landscapes. You know it’s dry when dandelions begin to shrivel up, which is the case in my yard. The problems wrought by the drought are (mostly) obvious, but is there a silver lining…
An Enchanted Afternoon: 2016 Fairy House Workshop
By Cailand Sweeting on
Blog: Just Our NatureWhat’s a creative and imaginative way to engage with nature? Build a fairy house! Magic was definitely in the air at our fairy house building workshop this afternoon. Both kids and adults spent time first learning about the basics on how to build their own fairy house before beginning construction. Like any good architect, they first drew up plans and blueprints and considered what materials they…
Vengeful Veggies
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureIt’s not unheard of for people to burn vegetables now and then, especially if you’re as easily distracted as I am. I’ll think, the spinach is on low heat, so there’s plenty of time to run out to the garden for chives. Thirty minutes later I’ll be weeding the tomato patch, chiveless, when the smoke alarm indicates the spinach is “done.” Oops.
While it sounds absurd to think a vegetable might burn…
Nature Up North Calendar Photo Contest
By Jacob Malcomb on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Calling all North Country nature photographers: Nature Up North is hosting a contest for nature photos that will be featured in our 2017 wall calendar. Nature Up North encourages exploration and appreciation of the North Country environment. One way we do this is through the Encounters feature on our website. Encounters enable you to share photos and narratives from your outdoor…
Goosin' Around: The 2016 DEC Wilson Hill Goose Drive
By Jacob Malcomb on
Blog: Just Our NatureEvery summer a roundup reminiscent of old western cattle drives occurs at the Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area in Louisville. But there are several key differences -- rather than riding horses, the “cowboys” paddle canoes and kayaks, and rather than cows, their quarry is Canada geese. And rather than the open range, this roundup occurs in a shallow, expansive, cattail-lined wetland near the…
When Stress is the Problem, Nature is the Solution
By Cailand Sweeting on
Blog: Just Our NatureAre you stressed out? Are you constantly staring at your computer screen? Do you have work-related tasks that seem to require every ounce of the focus and energy you can muster? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you probably have experienced some sort of stress in your life due to the constant bombardment of directed attention tasks. What is directed attention? Directed…
Pink Lady’s Slipper: Too Precious to Pick
By Cailand Sweeting on
Blog: Just Our NaturePink lady’s slipper, or Cypripedium acaule, is a wildflower that belongs to the Orchid family and is known for its beautiful, bulbous, slipper-shaped blooms. As a child growing up in Maine I was taught to never touch—and especially not pick—these precious flowers. I fondly think back to hikes with my Girl Scout troop and remember how coming across a pink lady’s slipper was like finding a hidden…
