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Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights
Ask a Fairy: Fall 2024 Answers
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a FairyThimble and Blossom let us know that they loved all of the nature questions you had for them this year, and were thrilled to receive a selfie too! Although it was a warm fall and they were able to enjoy the North Country into November this year, they had to continue south in search of warmer climates for the winter. Before they left, they took a moment to write their answers down and share them…
North Country Voices: Paul Hetzler
By Dan French on
Blog: North Country VoicesThis installment of North Country Voices is a little different than usual. You might recognize the name Paul Hetzler from any number of articles posted to our page about different features of North Country nature, and you may remember the articles for their jokingly light yet incredibly informative writing style. Paul recently finished a new book titled Birds of Happiness Aren't Blue and we…
Event Recap - Girl Scout Survival Day!
By Wejden Jemmezi on
Blog: Just Our NatureAs part of a unique program, I recently had the opportunity to attend a Girl Scout event that left me both inspired and enlightened. This experience not only allowed me to connect with our community's youth but also taught me valuable skills and deepened my appreciation for nature. What struck me most was the girls' enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge. Their curiosity about our surroundings was…
Seasons of Change: An Ode to Fall
By Donatella DeFazio on
Blog: Just Our NatureThis photo essay captures the beautiful transformation of leaves as the seasons transition from fall to winter. The change from lush greens, to shades of red, orange, and gold, tells a story of renewal and the texture that autumn brings at St. Lawrence University. I invite viewers to pause and appreciate the wonders of nature we see every day. Each tree has its own process and story to tell.…
Event Recap - Pumpkin Party in Heritage Park
By Dan French on
Blog: Just Our NatureOver the weekend of October 26th and 27th 2024 the excitement for the upcoming holiday came to a head. We love the fall season at Nature Up North because it’s a season of change. Trees are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, snow is in the mountains, and wildlife is beginning its winter preparation. Halloween often signals the shift from fall to winter, so we wanted to do something to…
Ask A Fairy: Fall Weather brings Fall Fairies!
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a FairyThimble and Blossom are back on North Country Trails this fall! While they migrate south for warmer weather each winter, Thimble and Blossom stop over for a couple months on our trails to enjoy the fall foliage, tuck in the bears for hibernation, and to answer all of your nature questions! They stopped by Nature Up North to tell us how excited they are to see who can find their homes and to…
Why Autumn Pruning is Bad
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureWhen I was younger, an old-time arborist I knew used to say “The best time to prune trees is when the tools are sharp.” This guy was beset with shoulder injuries and knee problems because he also believed “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Sadly, both of these old saws are dangerous lies.
Although tree-care companies have year-round expenses and need income in all seasons, a truly…
Anarchy is Bad for Picnics and Restaurant Patios
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureI’m not one to shed a tear when authoritarian rulers die, but once they’re gone, outdoor dining becomes a lot more dangerous. As summer wanes, the original queen in every yellowjacket (or other social wasp species) colony dies. Turns out that having a few thousand babies in the course of one season is enough to tire any Queen Mum to death.
As the original queen starts to forget the names of her…
The Colors of Distress
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureRecent studies show that trained dogs can sense Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, many forms of cancer, and other serious ailments long before symptoms show up. We may not be able to match such an impressive feat, but it turns out we’re not entirely inept when it comes to prescient diagnostics. There are two simple ways to detect grave illness in trees before they start looking overtly ill. The…
Goldenrod Was Framed
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NaturePlease don’t blame late-season allergies on goldenrod. Well, not unless you’ve discovered bees going up your nose lately. It turns out that pollen from goldenrod, which is in glorious bloom throughout the region right now, is too heavy to waft on the wind. These plants rely on bees and other pollinators to convey their sticky pollen grains from one flower to another, which is why goldenrods don’t…
