Look For It Now: Dogday Harvestfly
As high summer reaches its peak of heat and humidity, we are annually serenaded by the high-pitched whining song of the cicadas as they emerge from their nymphal exoskeletons and prepare for life as adults. Here at VINS we have been listening to the song for weeks, and the other day were surprised to find…
Look For It Now: Banded Garden Spider
Autumn is nipping at this summer’s heels, but don’t put your field guides away just yet! There’s still time to take in plenty of flora and fauna in our own backyards. The meadow here at VINS is full of bright and hardy flowering plants and flowers. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)…
For moles, a life of toil in the soil
By Bill Amos for Northern Woodlands’ “The Outside Story“Illustration by Adelaide Tyrol Two months ago a predictable eruption began on the lawn surrounding our house. Rough clumps of rich, dark subsoil appeared upon the still barren ground.“Those **@#$&%** moles again,” my thoughts went. But moles do no lasting harm to a lawn despite making an…
Look For It Now: Red-spotted Newt
This little fellow was running around the peas in my garden the other morning. What a sight to see! He is a red-spotted newt, also known as a red-spotted eft or eastern newt. This particular newt has three life stages, including the aquatic larva or tadpole stage, the red eft or terrestrial juvenile stage, and…
Snapper Time!
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So, if you ask me, we’ve added quite a beauty to our exhibits here at VINS. Featuring powerful jaws and a snorkel-like snout, this Common Snapping Turtle – now on exhibit in Fledgling Corner – is sure to turn heads. Recently acquired by the VINS…
