The Forest Demolition Duo
Taking a winter walk in the forest across the road from our cabin, my son, Jim, and I were made acutely aware of two denizens of the deep woods and streams who illustrate the actions of entropy better than any other animals I know. It began where the forest gives way to wetland. This is […]
Footprints in the Snow
Every morning I get up before dawn and go for a four-mile walk. In the winter close to Minneapolis, it takes me through some woods and then on a bicycle path; in the summer, it is along a road in the northern Minnesota forest. One of my favorite times is the morning after a light […]
Plant Power
In the early springtime, before I head up north for the summer, my early morning walk takes me down an asphalt bicycle trail alongside a railroad track. It is not the most inspiring scenery, but it is amazing what you can see if you keep your eyes open. I especially like early morning (I begin […]
Blueberry Picking
Mid-July to mid-August is blueberry time up north. Nothing tastes better than a pie or pancakes made with fresh wild blueberries. Part of our family tradition is going out to the woods on a blueberry-picking expedition. If all goes well, we come back with a gallon or more after an hour or two of picking. […]
Busy as a Beaver
If one lives in the north woods, beavers are a fact of life – always interesting, but sometimes maddening. What is interesting is the products of their industry, e.g., dams and houses (lodges); what can be maddening is cut-down trees, sometimes prized trees in one’s yard. Regardless of what one may think of them, nobody […]
Polar Bear Hair
Continuing with winter themes, I’m sure that many readers have lost sleep wondering why polar bears don’t freeze during long arctic winters. Actually, it is an interesting aspect of biology and one that has recently had some practical applications. Polar bears live in a harsh unprotected environment where they are often exposed to air temperatures […]
How Do Frogs Survive a Northern Winter?
Amphibians are cold-blooded, but they would still die if they froze. Over the years, scientists have finally figured out how most species are able to get through the winter. They use several different strategies, which don’t always work, but they allow enough individuals to survive the cold to be able to reproduce the species. Most […]
How High the Moon?
I must admit to being a moon freak. When I am up at the lake in the summertime, much planning of my fishing schedules revolves about the phases of the moon and when the moon rises and sets. For years I have followed the generalization that with a monthly lunar cycle the moon rises a […]
What Do Woodticks Do in the Winter?
On an unusually warm late December day, my son, Jim, and I were walking through the dense woods behind our northern Minnesota cabin. There was no snow on the ground, and Jim asked about our chances of running into woodticks at this time of the year. In the warmer months, one is almost guaranteed to […]
Introducing Me and My Blogposts – Bruce Carlson
At age 85, blogging is a new experience for me, but several people have suggested that I give it a try. Why get into such a new venture at this stage of my life? Let me introduce myself and then give you some idea of what might be coming from my digital pen. I am […]