The black cottonwoods sustained considerable damage during the recent ice storm and thousands of limbs that broke off during the storm are lying on the ground along the river. As spring arrived, these trees sent out the male and female flower catkins. This is a great opportunity to see the flowers up close which are normally out of reach on the tree.
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Nymphalis antiopa are stunning and distinctive, and they’re one of the longest-lived butterflies. They’re often the first to emerge in the spring and the last to be seen in the fall.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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