Retired teacher Larry Weber, of Barnum, is the author of “Butterflies of the North Woods" and “Spiders of the North Woods," among other books. Reach him via Katie Rohman at krohman@duluthnews.com. A ...

Each trip to the gutters is a view of what is happening in nature. I call this “gutter phenology.” ...

In what was already a record-setting fire season for California, two blazes have dealt another devastating blow to communities in the state. The Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire ...

Pine cones are everywhere this time of year. We see them on wreaths, in baskets, door-swags, and of course on trees and the ground. Aside from their decorating uses, pinecones play an important role ...

I think everyone here in the Seacoast area has noticed the huge amount of white pine cones produced this year. Large quantities litter the ground. Red squirrel middens — piles of cones stripped of ...

Trees are very sensitive to the amount of daylight they receive. As nights get longer, cells at the base of leaves start to divide, which starts to block the veins carrying carbohydrates and minerals ...

PINE CONE SIGHTINGS? We enjoy them throughout the year, in a variety of sweet settings. We may see the woodsy favorites in a potpourri bowl, or sitting atop a backyard fence, and crunching on one or ...