Last week we took a look at the secret lives of honeybees, and how they work through spring, summer and fall in order to produce enough honey to get them through the winter. We promised, at the end of that column, that this week we’d supply you with tips on how to find active bee
Bees, Fly, Honeybees, sting
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Boy, talk about a honey of a deal. At a time when most insects are whiling away the hours in some sort of inactive state, be it egg, larva, pupa or adult, as well as a
Bees, Fly, Honeybees, sting
Remember the Sesame Street ditty, “One of These Things Is Not Like the Others?” It seems like at one time or another, every cast member—Big Bird, Kermit, Grover, even Mr. Hooper—took a turn singing this song, which encourages kids to spot the one different object in a group. I remember thinking I was a little
Fagaceae, Plant, Tree
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Okay, before we get started with this week’s column, there’s something I’ve got to say: If you’ve got an uninvited critter hanging around your house or yard, and you’d like it to leave, take care of
Critter, Trapping, Wildlife
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Fall in Kane County can be pretty spectacular. Birds are migrating south and, oooh! We’re getting glimpses of species we don’t normally get to see. The leaves on the trees are changing and, aaah! Just look
Box Elder, Bug, Insect
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Generally speaking, we humans have little use for snags. When our sweaters get snagged, we grimace. When our plans hit a snag, we grumble. And if our boat strikes a snag in the water, we’re sunk.
Racoon Tree, Red Oak, Snag“What can I do?” It’s a common query, one you’ve probably asked yourself at one time or another when you’ve encountered someone, or something, in need of help. You know there should be some obvious course of action, but for some reason it’s just not apparent. Mark Glabinski, our custodian and caretaker at the Baker
Clean Up, Environment, Outdoors
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District The other day Joan Kramer, our gardener extraordinaire, came into the office and announced she’d found a friend in the garden. Now, that in itself was nothing new. Joan’s always bumping into old friends, and making
Bug, Insect, Swallowtail Caterpillar
The other day Joan Kramer, our gardener extraordinaire, came into the office and announced she’d found a friend in the garden. Now, that in itself was nothing new. Joan’s always bumping into old friends, and making new ones, as she works to keep the park district’s Native Plant Garden in top-rate condition. But this little
Black Swallow Tail, Caterpillar
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District A black-throated blue warbler appeared outside the office window the other day, and it got me to thinking. My first thought went something like, “Hey, that’s a black-throated blue warbler!” And then the ol’ bean went
Bird, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Fly, Warbler