Trees

In Search of Monarchs

In Search of Monarchs

View the May 2023 Nature Friend Magazine They say ignorance is bliss. In some ways, I wish I had never taken that summer evening walk.“Mom, could I head out and look for monarchs again?”I’d waited...

Wildflower Art Contest Honorable Mentions

Wildflower Art Contest Honorable Mentions

View the April 2023 Nature Friend Magazine Moonflower. Artwork © Emily Hulbert. Red-winged Blackbird on cattails. Artwork © John Mark Ramer. Dogwood Dawn. Artwork © Hannah Stoltzfus.

Tree Fruits, Part 1

Tree Fruits, Part 1

Apple orchard. Photo © Dreamstime.com. When are the two best times to plant a fruit tree? The best time was ten years ago! The second best time is this spring or fall, depending on your climate.If...

Exploring Nature, October 2021

Exploring Nature, October 2021

Photo ©Kevin Shank The Shenandoah Valley and surrounding mountains will likely be ablaze in peak fall foliage color the second or third weekend.October is the peak migration time for hawks,...

Parable of an Apple Tree

Parable of an Apple Tree

What was it that caught my eye, that sun-dappled summer day? What was it that caused me to pause and marvel at the apple tree before me? Was it lush boughs, or clusters of scarlet fruit? No, it was...

Hickory Mystery

Hickory Mystery

“Where’s Sparkie?” “She’s over there on that knoll. You don’t have to worry about her. She knows this woods better than we.” Hickory tree. Photo © Stephanie Nicole Castle/Dreamstime.com. “Look at...

Sequoias, Sentinel, and Stars

Sequoias, Sentinel, and Stars

A Mariposa Grove shuttle bus unhurriedly wound its way up the wooded hillside from Yosemite National Park’s southern gate to the famed Mariposa Grove. It paused for a minute to let us and at least...