Blowin’ in the wind

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
It’s finally warm enough for me to leave my windows open at night. This lets me wake to the sounds of Wild Turkeys gobbling and Phoebes scolding, rather than the ring of my alarm clock. I don’t even mind the occasional midnight interruption of [...]

When I Say, “Arbor” You Say, “Day”…

Did you ever say, “I want to be an arborist when I grow up?” Me neither, but after another successful Arbor Day Celebration, it has me considering a career change! (Part-time of course) The day was filled with so many activities and so much to learn about trees …

Thoughts on the Food Chain

Preparing for the Spring Wildflower Foray, I did a pre-hike of the Wildflower Trail here at T.C. Steele State Historic Site. So far this year the trail hasn’t really lived up to its name. Spring has sprung cold and wet. I wasn’t finding many blooms — yet I wasn’t disappointed. As with most hikes, I came upon something unexpected …

One native, one not. Both beautiful!

A spring rainstorm has painted the gravel along on the ‘Road of Memories’ with fallen Redbud blossoms. Close by, a Lilac echoes the color, in a lighter hue. Martha Stewart couldn’t have planned a better combination …

In Search of Shrinking Violets

If you’re like me, you classify violets as blue, yellow or white. If you’re wildflower authority Kay Yatskievych, you know that violets are far more varied. Her book Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers lists 22 species …

A New Track Record!

Hundreds of Boy Scouts from a 4-state area converged on the Indiana State Museum last week, for the 2nd Annual Pinewood Derby, and the World’s Largest Pinewood Derby track did not disappoint …

Guest Blog: Native American Plant Use

Niila Myaamia! (I am Miami!) If you have been outside, or even looked through a window lately, you can see all the changes that are going on in nature. The rain has encouraged some of the first wildflowers to peek out and the sun enticed them into blooming. There are ephemerals of all types! On a recent walk I saw everything from wild geranium to …

Spring “cleaning” at the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site

How do you prepare a six-mile section of the Whitewater Canal to turn a wheel, maintain water flow and float a canal boat for the thousands of visitors who want to ride on this unique piece of Indiana history?

Straight From the Front Lines

“I never thought once in my life I’d be serving in the military, but there I was in the Union Army, ‘fresh fish’ as they called me. Standing there with my newly issued rifle we drilled, marching together to prep for battle. On such a beautiful day I don’t think any of us expected what was to come …