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Natural Connections

Feb 24, 2022

Stiff muscles after a day spent in nature can make a person feel old, but nature can also make us feel young. Compared to a butterfly, our lifespan is enormous. Compared to the stars, we are less than infants. The sense of discovery, excitement of learning new things, delight in following our curiosity, and freedom...


Feb 17, 2022

When a sixth grader asks, “Why is grass green?” I’m pretty sure they don’t expect an answer that dives into chemistry and evolutionary history. And yet, that’s what they’ll get! While many of us—even scientists and educators—have a logical (but incomplete) answer ready to go, a little more digging turns...


Feb 10, 2022

Eastern hemlock thrives in the deep shade of its elders, while paper birch craves almost full sun. These evergreen and deciduous trees could hardly be more different…until you look more closely at their tiny, winged seeds and the nurse stumps where they each find purchase. In this week’s Natural Connections we’ll...


Feb 3, 2022

Pileated woodpeckers are impressive birds with chisel-like beaks and striking red, white, and black markings. They eat a variety of insects, fruits, and other mysterious items they might find on the slender twigs of a boxelder tree outside our office window. Learn more about these unique “tree cleavers” in this...