An archive of all of the Naturalist Blog articles written by the Baltimore Woods education team
After moving cross-country from the deserts of California, I’ve experienced the drastic seasonal changes of Central New York. And during this transitional season of autumn, I began to wonder...why do the seasons change? And why are they so different across North America?
As the seasons change from summer to fall, I enjoy pausing to observe differences in the landscape and surroundings. Leaves change from green to gold, red, orange, and purple, birds depart southward while a new cast of feathered friends arrives for the winter, and the days and nights gradually become cooler.
Last week walking the trails everything outside was calm and quiet and all my senses seemed to heighten as I bumbled along. This moment in the season is a transitional time and I can sense it in nature and within myself.
The sights and sounds along the trails had changed dramatically since early summer and I felt like a newcomer to the forest. How easy it can be to forget that we, too, are a part of the natural world! So many things in our day to day life tune that connection out, but it comes back so quickly.
Do you remember those days when you were young? When it didn’t matter how wet you got, every puddle was an invitation to splash, your clothes soaked, eyelashes clinging together and your heart full of joy!
In my garden is where I find a connection to my food and an appreciation for the gifts of nature that make it possible for plants to grow. The sun, rain, bees and other insects, and the warm nights all contribute to the plentiful harvest.
August is the last magical month of summer. It feels like an old friend who is preparing to leave and I feel an urgency to spend as much time with them as possible, doing all the things we love!
Have you ever taken a closer look at the world from a bugs’-eye-view? Summer is a great time to pause and marvel at the world of insects and spiders crawling on meadow plants and scuttling along the forest floor.
When you think of your childhood, what comes to mind? Maybe you remember spending hours playing with friends or running around outside. Right now, Baltimore Woods is filled with campers playing games outside and exploring the preserve. For many of us, summers were all about playing games, running around outside, and having fun. So, why did we stop?
There are moments when I spot a young animal and while observing the way they behave or something the parent does, it reminds me of a moment with my own children. When we take the time to observe nature we can find so many similarities to our own lives and sometimes it can trigger a memory or lend us some wisdom.
