Learning By Doing
Wildflower Arranging
Fireweed in Rocky Mountains. Photo © Dogwood Ridge. The scenarios are endless. A slope covered with goldenrod and daisies…the first autumn olives opening…a dogwood in full bloom…a facet of my brain...
Viewing Crystals with Polarized Light
Epsom salt crystals. Photo © Maria Carver. Viewing crystals with a microscope is lots of fun! Home grown crystals from sugar, salt, and other household items, are beautiful on their own, but some...
Raising Mealworms
Eastern Bluebird eating mealworm. Photo © Dreamstime.com. Thank you to the Amstutz family who asked about raising mealworms for bluebirds (February issue). I can hear and see your bluebirds’ happy...
How to Build a Rustic Cottage Flower Planter
STEP 1:Build a simple 24” x 36” x 8” box with a bottom, using sturdy old fence boards. STEP 2:Now you are ready to construct the cottage front. Cut five weathered barn boards to make a cottage...
How to Make a Porch Light Birdhouse
House Wren. Photo © Kevin Shank. Find a wall-mount porch light.Take the top off.If the wiring is still in the light, tear the wiring out.Take the panes of glass out.Spray the panes of glass with...
Building a Horse & Wagon Flower Planter
When I first saw the article about the flower planter contest, right away I started thinking about what my project was going to be. I thought about making a horse and wagon, and I decided to try...
A 16″ Binocular
Did you read Morris Yoder's article, “Two Are Better Than One?” Well, take a look at this. Brandon Martin’s introduction to astronomy first involved using a spotting scope. It didn’t take long to...
Bobcat Bonanza!
Elusive, secretive, camouflaged. This perfectly describes the bobcat, one of North America’s smallest wildcats. My first glimpse of a bobcat was from my deer stand one chilly October evening, ten...
Learning By Doing, How to Build a Chickadee House
Go Watch Them!
I really enjoy bird watching. About three years ago we lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, right along the central major flyway. I was fascinated with the intriguing variety of species that came through our...
From Seeds to Swallows
“Would you like to choose a special kind of vegetable to grow in our garden this summer?” my mom asked me. Photo © Smartstock/iStockPhoto.com. I was excited, and soon began looking through a seed...
Learning By Doing, Building a Miniature Wishing Well
Contest Announcements, May 2021
Many, Many Mushrooms
“This is the last day of our Nature Friend bird contest; shall we go out again this afternoon?” All photos © Ronald Stine family “Is it still raining?” Lily asked. 2104-NFM-p24-25Download “Just...
