Notes from the Land

It’s a quiet morning. The predawn sky is milky white with scattered clouds. The air has that delicious briskness of late fall. Standing silently at the edge of the pond I slowly pan my gaze from left to right, looking for any movement, any sign of the diurnal world waking up.

It begins with the idea of possibility. 

A piece of land becomes available. We go to the land and walk in, full of questions and ideas.

Is this landscape being overrun by buckthorn, honeysuckle or other invasive species?

If you happen to go for an early hike on a dewy morning at Stagecoach Prairie, you may notice beautifully woven orbs of white glistening in the morning sun.

It’s happening slowly. A little more each day. The pulsing pace of summer and all her activities are slowly giving way to the more subdued rhythms of autumn.

“Roaming Stone” marks Belwin’s first long-term art installation, commissioned as part of 4Ground: Midwest Land Art Biennial.

Whatever you call them, this charismatic and iconic animal is certainly something that demands your attention. Learn about the herd at Belwin Bison.

Spring is a time of change and transformation in the natural world. March is also Women’s History month, a time set aside to commemorate, study, and celebrate the vital role of women in our shared American history.

Go for a hike in any wooded area and you are bound to see holes in trees. Some may be from branches that have died and fallen off, some may be from one tree falling and hitting another, but many are probably from the percussion section of nature’s band: the woodpecker. 

Even though winter is in full swing, daylength is increasing each day. Learn about how the photoperiod plays an important role in every aspect of the natural world.

When the late fall and winter dark arrives, most of us retreat into our homes, cozy with warmth and family at this time of year. And yet, there is that other half of day that is mysterious and quiet and has its own set of sounds and smells.

Float up, dive down, quick turn, out and back from the twig perch. Graceful, flowing, surprising in their agility as they move through space. This describes the aerial acrobatics of a group of birds that hunt for food “on the fly.” What are they looking for? Any winged or flying insect that would make a… Continue Reading Birds in the Heartland: Aerial Insectivores

“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. … Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”– Henry David Thoreau Autumn 2010 It’s a partly cloudy morning, temperatures are hovering around 35 degrees,… Continue Reading Sowing Seed: An Act of Faith