What’s going on with monarchs in my yard right now? Summer is speeding by at its usual quick pace. Far behind my monarch raising efforts of last year, I am truly enjoying this slower place and the special moments to be savored in the care and process this special species. This is still a special…
We had some excitement this week at our house! On Wednesday, my husband called me to “quick come here and bring your camera” while he was getting ready for work. When I met him in our bedroom, I could see what he was excited about! There was a large black animal in the dry creek…
Today, I feel compelled to write about monarch conservation. We are in the height of monarch breeding season here in the midwest, and I am seeing post after post on social media about these amazing creatures. In fact, earlier this week, I found four monarch eggs on the common milkweed patch at my house. No…
A few months ago, I wrote about the noise that frogs were making in our retention pond behind our house. It was really loud this past weekend when we had a couple of nice days. But, on Sunday, mid-day, my son and I noticed that they were quiet so we went out to the edge…
Today, I presented nine times on prairies! In the morning, I saw four kindergarten classes. I like students of all ages, including kindergarten. The weather was fine, although a little overcast and cooler. They listened to me talk for about 10 minutes, and then, went on an I SPY walk in a man-made prairie looking…
Today is Poetry Friday. Sadly, I missed the last couple of weeks, just due to a busy schedule and not being able to slow down to write a mindful poem. Yesterday was warm, sunny, and I found time to sit listen, watch, reflect, and write. I hope you enjoy these poems. Thanks to Reflections on…
Current Day & Lessons From being a Volunteer Today, I am reposting a blog I wrote two years ago after something happened to me as a long-time volunteer. Luckily, the garden and monarch habitat persists, but I have moved on. In hindsight, despite the difficulty I had leaving this group of students who attended an…
Some weeks ago I posted one of my academic papers from my graduate coursework in Environmental Education and Natural Resources. I am finding, roughly six months out of school, that I miss academic writing! I know that sounds crazy, but I love information and the synthesis of it following a period of researching a topic….
My second garden club group is coming to an end. I have mixed feelings about letting it go. Last week, I turned in my resignation to the principal at a local elementary school where I have served as a co-curricular advisor for their garden club. I started in the fall of 2017 and will end…