rabbits in my garden

One of the recurring signs of the natural world in my urban garden is the presence of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). My daughter and I have been observing them for years. At this time of year, their nocturnal habits are noticeable because the motion lights in my and my neighbor's yards are repeatedly switched on by their movements. I've always enjoyed their presence - but I've noticed that's probably a minority viewpoint --- many people wish they weren't around! One easy way to determine this is to simply do an internet search for information about this species; many of the top results deal with "controlling" or eliminating rabbits! How sad. I'm glad they're here! Learn some ecological information about this common - and fascinating - species at: http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/cottontail.htm  

time for a new doorway

I have had a series of forays into internet space, and while some continue, they don't all offer exactly what's needed in every circumstance. My daughter - and my wife and I, continually harass or tease each other - or discuss or view the world through the various lenses of culture, nature, literature, photography or art, and more. Sometimes those discussions are serious - sometimes, definitely not. So this new blog is another "doorway" of sorts, to aid in furthering all kinds of those discussions.

On some winter days in the past, we shoveled out some smallish swamp woodland winter ponds for skating. It hasn't been cold enough for that lately. So this is a good memory - of the naturalist's daughter - on one of those winter ponds. Then the next photo shows her, some years later, at the pond just before our current stretch of weather (ten days ago, when there still was no ice to skate on). What will the future of these woodland ponds be? All of the surrounding ash trees will likely be gone. I hope there will still be ice - at least now and then.

But what will it mean if these "normal winter" events just happen much less often? If there is so much less snow cover in some winters, when cold weather does arrive, frost depths reach levels that may not be survivable by some species in normal winter dormancy (frogs, toads, some plants). There is much more to be learned about these questions -- and these are only touching the edge of the larger questions about our changing climate.  Now, there is snow - and the ponds have ice - at least this year!