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!

Ice Trees

Glistening trees in Canton. Photo: Justin Dalaba

By Paul J. Hetzler on February 19, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

The willows are weeping, but then so is every other flavor of tree in northern New York right now. The storm that hit the northeast on President’s Day brought significant ice to New York state’s northern tier, ice which has persisted for nearly a week now. If your birches are bent, spruces sagging or crabapples crooked, don’t let the ice get you down as well. As long as we don’t get a heavy snow…

Icy trees and an icy Grasse River. Photo: Justin Dalaba

Cedars encased in ice. Photo: Jacob Malcomb

Clifton-Fine Arena. Photo: Justin Dalaba

By Justin Dalaba on February 18, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

Sub-zero temperatures and the first blizzard snowstorm of 2016 greeted the Adirondack Whiteout Weekend in Clifton and Fine, which kicked off on Friday, February 12th. Several of the outdoor events were cancelled or rescheduled due to the extreme cold, but that didn’t seem to stop attendees from making the best of their day. The planned events stretch from Cranberry Lake to Star Lake, drawing in…

Grandmother and granddaughter learning to curl. Photo: Jane Eifert

Greg Vaverchak curling. Photo: Justin Dalaba

Justin talking to curling volunteer Brian. Photo: Jane Eifert

Bridge in Wanakena. Photo: Justin Dalaba

The Pine Cone Grill. Photo: Justin Dalaba

Snowmobile Tracks on Cranberry Lake. Photo: Justin Dalaba

The proposed Canton site. Source: S2o Design

By Jacob Malcomb on February 16, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

Whitewater parks could one day make a splash in St. Lawrence County, according to a recently released report on the St. Lawrence County Whitewater Park Project. At a public meeting on February 9th in Canton, Scott Shipley of Colorado’s S2o Design and Engineering presented the results of a study examining the feasibility, and economic impacts, of a proposed network of whitewater parks…

Phase 1 of the Potsdam Whitewater Park. Source: S2o Design

Phase 2B of the Potsdam Whitewater Park. Source S2o Design

The Class V run at Stone Valley is a draw for expert kayakers from the US and Canada.

The Clear Creek Whitewater Park in Golden, CO. Whitewater parks often become multi-use spaces. Photo: Kent Kanouse, Creative Commons.

Bumblebees nest in the ground during the winter. Photo: Craig Chambers, Flickr Creative Commons

By Samantha Haab on February 10, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

The winter weather may have taken its time getting here this year, but I think we can agree that the North Country has once again been transformed into the icy, frigid landscape we have come to know and love (or at the very least, tolerate begrudgingly). With snow covering the ground, ice coating our walkways, and Jack Frost nipping at our noses, agricultural pollinators are probably the…

True to their name, carpenter bee larvae spend the winter in wood. These are carpenter bee galleries in a split 2x4. Photo: Creative Commons Belchergb

Sugar maple leaves in their fall glory. Photo: David Pynchon

By Paul J. Hetzler on January 25, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

Remember that kid at school who was good at everything? Smart, athletic, popular, usually in a higher income bracket—seems like there was one in every class who must have taken more than their fair share when luck was handed out. And didn’t you find them annoying some days? I imagine that’s how the rest of the forest community feels about sugar maple, Acer saccharum. Also known as hard…

Declining maple growth could have profound impacts on the maple syrup industry.

A snowy owl near Hammond in March 2014. A relatively common sight during last year's harsh winter, snowy owls have been more rare in the North Country this year. Photo: John Holmes

By Paul J. Hetzler on January 22, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

“Make me one with everything.” If you had to guess, you’d probably say that was either a request to a short-order cook at a diner, or else a supplication to the Divine. This winter, I think someone whispered that line in Mother Nature’s ear, because even though it is not yet half over, she has already made us a winter with everything. It’s as if she glanced at her weather playlist and hit…

Snowshoe hare tracks. Large feet enable them to move quickly over deep snow. Little snow cover diminishes this advantage. Photo: Meredith Wolpe.

Lampson Falls was practically ice-free on January 4th. Photo: Justin Dalaba

Warm winter weather can trick some buds to begin swelling and breaking early.

By Paul J. Hetzler on January 4, 2016

Blog: Just Our Nature

This winter took a long time to wise up. Snow lovers lamented, but I was among those who enjoyed the break from snow shoveling and firewood hauling during our pseudo-September. However, I noticed some less positive effects of the tropical weather. For one thing, the buds on my currant bushes decided it must be spring and began to open. Coltsfoot, dandelions, and Johnny-jump-ups bloomed. Buds on…

Spring peepers could be heard as late as December this year.

By Paul J. Hetzler on December 23, 2015

Blog: Just Our Nature

What fearless animal has an adorable face, plows snow all winter and has a six-million acre park named after it? One of 29 species worldwide, the North American porcupine is the largest New World species, growing to 36 inches long and weighing as much as 35 pounds. That makes it the second-largest North American rodent (behind the beaver), but still only half the size of an African crested…

Female blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), commonly known as the deer tick. Photo: Lennart Tange, Flickr Creative Commons

By Paul J. Hetzler on December 11, 2015

Blog: Just Our Nature

In northern New York State, autumn temperatures have been between seven and eight degrees above average, allowing us even more time to procrastinate fall chores. This has been welcome to those who have to work outside, and anyone concerned about their heating bill is loving the warm weather too. Obviously, skiers and other winter enthusiasts aren’t happy, but I think the rest of us should get…

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). Photo: Ferd Brundick, Creative Commons.

By Paul J. Hetzler on November 30, 2015

Blog: Just Our Nature

Not that long ago the winter holiday season started after Thanksgiving, but it seems like every year it inches closer to the middle of the calendar. Now Santa just barges in the day after Halloween, presumably to take advantage of half-price candy, but still it seems a bit rude. I blame the insidious “holiday creep” (not to be confused with the Grinch) on global warming. Or maybe it’s…

What's Your Nature?

Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights

Ice Trees

Clifton-Fine Adirondack Winter Whiteout Weekend 2016

The St. Lawrence County Whitewater Park Proposal: 7 Things to Know

The Secret Lives of Bees in Winter

Maples in Peril

A Winter With Everything

Moody Weather Tricks Local Species

Porcupine Trails

Late Season Tick PSA

Natural Holiday Decorations