Somewhere beneath the shadowed canopy of a bottomland forest, a winged hunter patrols the water.

It's large, fast, and beautifully striking. Its dark brown body is marked with slender green rings, while the males carry enormous blue eyes that seem…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Often misunderstood and overlooked, the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a silent sentinel of our backyards, forests, and even city parks. As North America’s only native marsupial, this fascinating creature plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance—and it’s…

In North America, June 21 marks the longest day of the year and ushers in the start of our cherished summer season. Enter the Summer Solstice. There is a little magic and a little madness in the air. The Earth…

Did you know you're electric?

Seriously—your body hums with natural electricity. Every heartbeat, every thought, every blink of an eye—even your emotions—are powered by tiny electrical impulses carried through the nervous system. Your nervous system is a living circuit board…

   Deep within the cool, clear rivers of the Ozark Mountains lives a creature that looks like it stepped out of a fantasy novel. With wrinkled skin, stubby legs, and a flat head, the Ozark hellbender isn’t winning any beauty contests—but…