Pam’s Perspective From the… Pam Otto is the Manager of Natural Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District December 21, 2012 Where were you when winter arrived? No, I’m not talking about the Winter Solstice, that astronomical event that occurred at 5:11 a.m. yesterday and marked the beginning of our coldest season.
Cold, Snowfall, Winter, Winter Storms
A week ago, when the weather forecasters first gave us details of the winter storm to come, they supplemented their predictions with plentiful advice. You know, sensible stuff like having flashlights and blankets ready in case the power goes out, and stocking up on nonperishable food items. I couldn’t help but think of this as
Blizzard, Storm, Winter
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Years ago a thoughtful naturalist, or perhaps a naturalist with too much time on his or her hands, compiled a list of traits that typify us nature nerds. In the style of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might
Christmas, Naturalist, Winter
Well, there’s no doubt, winter is here. And I’ll bet, if you’re a bird lover, your feeders are hung by the chimney, or wherever, with care. But when was the last time you filled your birdbath? Even though snow blankets the ground right now, and snow, after all, is just fluffy, flaky water, finding a
Season, Water, Winter
There’s one in every neighborhood. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the place on the block that’s always hopping—comings and goings at all hours, a near-constant stream of traffic in and out. Sometimes, as you walk by, you might even be able to hear the indistinct chatter that emanates from…your local evergreen. Bedecked in
Evergreen, Tree, WinterDuring a winter like the one we’ve had, it’s easy for people to put nature on hold. In fact I’ve heard, “It’s too ______ (cold, cloudy, snowy, windy, downright nasty) to go outside,” more times over the last several weeks than I care to count. But you know what? Despite the cold, clouds, snow and
Walk, Weather, Winter
This latest weather blast has me thinking of winters gone by, particularly those of my childhood. Back then, girls weren’t allowed to wear pants to school unless it was winter and you lived a mile or more away from the school. Since we lived just across the street, I spent many a day envying my
Birds, Feathers, Fly, Winter
Can you say subnivian? Granted, it’s not the sort of word you’ll use every day. Or even every week. But it does happen to be a particularly appropriate topic here and now, given the sort of winter we’ve endured. Subnivian means “beneath the snow” and refers to the space that forms between the snow and
Beneath, Snow, Subnivian, Winter