Happy Halloween!

One of the most notorious creatures of the Halloween Season is The BAT. Partially due to the Dracula story, and the current popularity of all things Vampire – these furry mammals have gotten the
worst possible attention. Bats create fear, and today’s post – if you’ll read it – will hopefully help you get over it!

Bats are the only flying mammal. A bat’s wing is formed of fine double-layered skin stretched between the greatly lengthened fingers and forearms. Like …

We are now deep into the season of Autumn, the world around us changes, offering a feast of color to the discerning eye. Today, two more acclaimed poets provide
their thoughts about this iconic autumnal month – October – as it comes to a close.

“But see the fading many-colour’d Woods, Shade deepening over Shade; the Country round Imbrown; a crouded Umbrage, dusk and dun, of every Hue, from wan declining Green to Sooty Dark.” –
James Thomson, “Autumn”

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The Farmer’s Almanac is a great place to read ‘old wisdom’ – folklore our ancestors believed to be true. Sometimes this wisdom was based in scientific truth, as was
later discovered. But sometimes there was no basis at all in fact.The almanac is also a great place to find tips that make life easier, and quotes you can apply to your life.

Check out some of these autumn Almanac tips. Then, you be the judge. Truth or tale?

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Here are more great autumn factoids from Chris Hardman’s Ecological Calendar.
These facts give us insight into the natural world around us, and help us to make sense of what’s happening during this season with mammals, birds, insects and more, as well as in the sky.

OctoberOrators  One would expect to hear birdsong in spring, but some species renew their warbling ways in autumn to establish winter feeding territories. Entire families of
Carolina wrens, northern mockingbirds, and northern cardinals serenade the cooling days in North …

“Some trees, as small hickories, appear to have dropped their leaves instantaneously, as a soldier grounds arms at a signal; and those of the hickory, being bright yellow
still, though withered, reflect a blaze of light from the ground where they lie. Down they have come on all sids, at the first earnest touh of autumn’s wand, making a sound like
rain.”  – Henry David Thoreau, “Autumnal Tints”

These yellow leaves carpet my front …

Today’s activity provides an opportunity to learn more about mushrooms! After rains, these creations seem to pop up everywhere. Different sizes and
shapes, from round and squat to tall and flat. Different colors, from orange to white to gray and brown. You may find beautiful orange mushrooms living on old trees, and small gray-brown
puffballs next to an old log.

What is a mushroom?
It is actually the fruiting body of a fungus, …

Today’s post features four pairs – so similar in characteristics that most people may not know why they are different species in the natural kingdom. The information is taken from “What’s the Difference – Suble Distinctions in Nature” – Sierra Club Knowledge Cards available through Pomegranate Communications, Inc., http://www.pomegranate.com. Read on to learn more…
What’s the Difference Between: An Elk and a Caribou?

“There is a midsummer. There is a midwinter. But there is no midspring or midautumn. These are seasons of constant change. Like dawn and dusk they are periods of
transition. But like night and day and day and night they merge slowly, gradually.” Edwin Way Teale, Autumn Across America.

Mid-autumn. The leaves are falling. Some days I can sit on the patio and see, when gusts of breeze tickle the tops of the oaks, leaves rain down like huge flakes of …

Way back in the springtime, I blogged about how to experience ‘place’ using our senses. It’s time to experiment with that again, this time with autumn in mind.
So much of my connection with nature has to do with taking the time to be ‘in’ nature. I’m the first to admit that it’s not always pleasant – but it’s ALWAYS worth it. A feeling of being truly alive comes with an experience outside in nature.

Today’s post features some great questions that we all have wondered about. Interesting stuff!
Q: What is the Harvest Moon?