Sleek, shadowy, and often misunderstood, the North American black rat snake is one of those creatures that tends to appear like a slinky forest surprise: stretched across a sunny trail, coiled in a barn loft, or draped along a tree…

Along U.S. Route 67 in West Alton, Missouri, a quiet little conservation victory is unfolding beside the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

And yes, it involves turtles, traffic, tallgrass prairie, and a rock berm doing the good, muddy work.

In 2023…

When to Put Plants Outside in Spring

Are you totally lost when it comes to plant care? Confused by all the rampant plant-loving vloggers and bloggers out there and don't know who to trust? Allow me to be your guide…

Crafting Brick Books 
with a Bog Librarian

A cozy, mystical DIY for turning ordinary bricks into decorative stories you can stack anywhere—garden, porch, hearth, bookshelf, or secret little nook of your choosing.

There’s something deeply satisfying about a “book” that…

Picture this. You're traipsing through the Irish countryside, boots sinking into mossy peat. The air is cool and wet, rich with the scent of decay and growth all at once. You stoop to examine a clump of sphagnum moss and—what's…

Welcome to another twilight wander through the wonders of the wetlands. Tonight, we're chasing the flicker of magic itself—fireflies.

First things first: there’s no difference between a firefly and a lightning bug. Just two names for the same glowing marvel…

An ever-so-intricate Corona Floralis weavicus (also known as a woven floral crown) is perfect for celebrations, rituals, woodland wanderings, swampside serenades, and anywhere someone needs to look just a little more magical (or menacing). I may be a…

The Fall Equinox (or Autumnal Equinox) is a threshold moment. When day and night balance on the scales, each claiming equal time before the long slide into winter darkness. It arrives around September 21–23 in the Northern Hemisphere, marking…

Picture this: you’ve wandered near a quiet pond on a sunny day and spotted a turtle as it slips from a log back into the water with a plunk. Chances are, you’ve just spied a Pond Slider. These semi-aquatic turtles…

Hello, maximum sunshine! Why maximum, you ask? There is a special reason for that. Let's break out the sunglasses and find out exactly what the summer solstice is all about.

On or around June 20th or 21st, the Northern Hemisphere…

     I had a lot of fun with this one and I will definitely be making more of these awesome pieces. This time I’m showing you how to make your own Mossy Wall Garden. It’s great to add a little bit…

Have you ever wandered through your backyard or along a forest trail and wondered, "Can I eat this?" or "What on earth is that little flower?" — then Backyard Botanist is for you.

In each post, I guide you through…