A Playful Presence in the Woods
The North American River Otter By Wiley Wood The tracks look dog-like, big pugmarks in the snow coming up from the lake, crossing the ski trail and climbing the bank on the far side. But the coyote, if it is one, is dragging something heavy in its mouth, making a long, shallow dent in […]
Norfolk’s Year-End Weather and a 2015 Summary
Unusual Weather to Finish the Year By Russell Russ The closing months of 2015 brought warm weather and below-average amounts of rain and snow. While unusual for Norfolk, but it seemed a fitting end to a strange weather year. Numerous months throughout the year ranked high in several categories. Warm temperatures, rainfall deficits […]
It’s Only Natural—February 2016
A Legacy of Conservation By Hans M. Carlson The end of 2015 was dry, and before all the recent rain and snow the swamps and ponds were very low. It was nice to walk dry-shod into new places, but ecologically the low water in the wetlands was worrisome. So many amphibians rely on being […]
Through the Garden Gate—February 2016
February, Time Travel By Leslie Watkins What if you could travel through time, predict the future and divine meteorological events? And what if by doing so you could create food, clothing, shelter and a less stressful existence–an existence that would afford you more time to enjoy leisure activities, have deeper relationships with loved […]
Norfolk’s October 2015 Weather
A Beautiful Fall Foliage Season By Russell Russ This year was a near-typical October for Norfolk. Temperatures were about right for this time of year. Many locations had early morning frost on at least ten days. Even the weather station in its higher elevation saw frost on six mornings. Rainfall continues to be below […]
It’s Only Natural—December 2015
Hunting and History on Canaan Mountain By Hans M. Carlson It’s the opening of deer season and a beautiful late fall day. The leaves are off the trees and the sun is casting long shadows out into the woods. Early this morning about a dozen hunters made their way into Great Mountain Forest, and […]
Through The Garden Gate—December 2015
December Is For The Birds By Leslie Watkins It’s very nice to sit by a cozy fire with a cup of coffee and watch the birds on a snowy winter day. Brilliant blue jays, cardinals, and gold finches are a delight as they flit from perch to perch. They perform a carefully choreographed ballet, each […]
Through The Garden Gate—November 2015
November is Elemental By Leslie Watkins Earth, wind, fire and water—without any one of these elements, there is no life and no garden. While each plays its part in supporting life on earth, soil is most closely associated with gardening. The living soil, so easily taken for granted, is a seething eight-inches of bacteria, […]
