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On warm, sunny days out at the arboretum I will occasionally catch a Steller’s Jay or an American Robin performing an interesting behavior called sunning.

This time of year, you can find lots of interesting creatures in seasonal ponds and puddles, as well as under rocks in streams and rivers. This column looks at the larvae of a couple of different genera of mayfly. 

The white-breasted nuthatch is one of my favorite birds, and its curious, carefree spirit is an essential part of the oak savanna habitat of the arboretum. I always look forward to hearing its vocalizations and watching it hop and skip around on a tree.

January and February can be a quiet time for most insects, but on sunny days, or when it’s over 50 degrees, you may come across a couple of types of Dirt-colored Seed Bug. 

I want to introduce you to one of my favorite plants early so you can tune in and watch as it starts to grow. The buds on the one in my backyard are already starting to open.